Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-11-26
Before Were Married.
BY HENRY c. PARKER.



opened Il, Tie was not there, She
Went ~ his room, and 10 the stable
Tie his Nel left the house. am sure,
for have been y, my window watch
Ing the road for hours, and | should
nave seen him, The MCmcn are
oreadJ0lN alarmed, aud don't dare to
look anywhere else, I'm rs fright
ened as they are,
Il w'll search for Your father, Miss
Drummond,' sand the doctor quietly
"Me,mwhilc, will YOU s. with my
mother"
lie opened the door. Mrs. Williams
put her arm around the unhappy girl
and led her within, The doctor
waited until his mother had taken 4
chair aud Louise had kuGlt Ivy her
side and laid her head. silently sob
bling upon the elder woman'S lap
Then he started upon a systematic
tour OF the house.
There were several rooms in Fair
view That were not only not used Ivy
the Nmmmund household hut that
were not even Furnished Most VI
them were ON the top floor, and the
doctor decided tn start there and work
down. He really questioned the pro
fessors sanity, and was quite prepared
10 find his dead body in any room he
sane there was also more than Il
chance that he still lived and was
even then prowling about the house.
madly and runminsly intent upon dia-
holical mischief With this thought
i'll mind the doctor went below to find
the serving women before beginning
his search in earnest
Mrs Appleton and Bctsry were in
the diuing-room. The table was laid
for dinner and the women sat side by
side at a little distance from it, he
tween it and the windows, with their
faces toward the hall door
Miss nrummond tells me YOU can
not find the professor, remarked the
doctor, kindly.
Mrs, Appleton stared at him i'm cyl
dent terror. Bctsey stirred uneaSily
and answered, after some hesitation,
YES, sir we can't find him, and We
don't care to look for him very close
for fear of him
As she spoke she glanced from the
hall to the basement door apprchcn-
sivcly. The doctor then perceived the
significance Of their position, They
were in fear that the professor would
como upon them unexpectedly, and
they sat where they could watch both
entrances TO the room
"Tcll me whcrc YOU saw him last.
and when" said the doctor
He addressed his question to Mrs
Appleton, but she seemed TO he para
lived with fear Again II was Bctscy
who replied,
Here, with YOU, We went up
our things and leave the house lie
abused us and struck Martha, and de-
clared he would kill us both That
Was in the Kitchen. before YOU came
down.
Il understand then, that you
haven't seen him since. Have You
heard hlm moving about?"
I'VE heard slight noise rs we wern
coming down stairs that we supposed
was him moving some of lis machin-
cry in the shop. That was III,
What made you decide to stay,
Mrs. Hubbard"
BetScy looked even more worried,
and Mrs. Appleton reached out hand
and caught her arm.
There was dinner to get" said
Mrs. Appleton, harshly, and We
thought it wouldn't be right to &C
while there was a sick person in the
house.
The doctor unhcsitatingly discrcd-
tied this statement. but 1t seemed not
to be the time 10 question It.
Very well. he said, Il am going TO
hunt 70" the professor. | want you to
remain just whore you are until /
come in again and tell you that ! am
through DO you understand me?
don't want you to stir from your
chairs
The women looked AT him without
replying AFRAID that h. might spool
bis plan by adding to their alarm, he
contimcd
Il don't think YOU are In DANCE
from him, but T you are, the least
danger, ! assure you, viii lie in your
staying where You are now
I'VE don't dare TO stir" responded
Bctsey.
SO the doctor left them and went 10
the top story His purpose in having
the two women remain whore They
were was 10 present the professor
from eIuding him. II his madness
had taken on an acute turn il might
be entirely posstbl" for him 10 creep
through the corridors Of the building
IN advance Of the doctor and escape
observation indefinitely for there
were two 8tairWays from the man
floor " the second story, but on.y
one between the second story ami ,hc
top and one from the main NOR 10
he basement II. therefore. the pro-
fe8sor should attemp TO play hide and