Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-09-24

professor entered the room and walked
rapidly toward the bed.
He stopped abruptly when halfway
savage oath,
The whole bed was in view from
where he stood, and his niece was not
in ii. The skirt she usually wore about
the house was thrown over a pillow,
and an empty shoe nj the bottom OF it
made the garment look exactly rs If 1t
covered her limbs stretched out in
slrmher. No pretense whatever had
been made to supplying the upper part
Of dummy, for from the doorway no
one could have seen beyond the waist
of person lying on tn, bed
Amelia's resolution to leave her
urcle's house was not in the least
shaken by either mis- violence i'll for
bidding her to 80 or by his villainous
stimulation of tenderness in persuading
her to wait until he could 30 with her.
Her hewildcrment. due in part to his
ferocity and the shock of his assault,
had measurThly diminished when she
reached the head of the stairs. She
had gone to her room taken the most
necessary articles from her travelling
bag, and wrapped them in a small par
eel. Having arranged the dummy rs
the professor found it, she went up to
the top floor and out by the door that
opened on the ledge
She did not dare to proceed thence
to the road, for that would have
brought her in view of the house, and
she knew that her uncle would see and
pursue her. So she plunged directly
into the woods that terminated NJ me
Fairview property, intending to make
a dc,our and come out upon the road
or some road by which she could
reach the Belmont railway station un-
observed.
Once within the forest, and (for the
time at least safe from pursuit, lne
inevitable reaction set III. Her mind
became seriously da2ed, and, what with
her exhaustion from the nervous shock
she had undergone and her entire UNI
familiarity with making her way
through a forest, she lost her bearings
and, after three hours of wandering
she sank down, helpless, within Il
stones throw of the place she had
started from Amelia had described al
most complete circle, as is generally
the case with persons who are lost in
a snow storm as she was, in a place
where she could not identify points OF
compass or landmarks. Unconscious
ness speedily followed her collapse
and when the professor discovered her
absence, she was lying but a short dis
tai ce away, at his mercy, could he but
know where to go.
For moment the professor was
dumfounded. He did not need 10 be
told how she had made her escape, and
he cursed himself roundly for mo-
thinking of it earlier. 1t troubled him
that a second case of disappearance
from his house should have to be re.
ported. There was no escape from IT
however, and every moment spent IL
reflections or regrets was dangerous tt
his already unenyable standing in the
community. SO he hurried dowI
stairs, and said, with well-foigned emo
ton.
Amelia, poor girl, has wandered
away"
Dr. Williams felt a heavy weight al
his heart Was it because he suspected
the professor of another black crime
The ladies exclaimed Historically, the
professor looked confused and helpless
and the doctor promptly took the INIT
atiyc.
Her nerves have been badly shak
en-, he said. when, where and how
did she go, professor"
"Out by the ledge door, he replied
i don't know how long What are
YOU going to do?"
Find her, Come"
He seized the professors arm anG
dragged him up the two flights of stairs
to the ledge door.
She may not have gone far" he
cried, in a fever of anxiety, for hel
vitality was exhausted We may fine
her at once
I'm afraid not =" replied the pro
fessor, holding back, but the doctor
dragged him on He would not for his
life have let Professor Drummond out
of his sight or clutches.
ii was more than dusk, but without
stopping 10 get lanterns the doctor LED
the professor into the forest. 1t need
ed not instinct to take him straight tC
where Amelia lay for she was in The
course that would naturally be taker
by anybody who left the house to walk
ip the wood.
Il told you" cried the doctor, drop.
ping on his knees beside the uncon.
scious girl, "she lives! There is hope
for her but she must be taken to shell
! ter quickly. Help me, professor"
The doctor had started to lift Amelia
Not to my house" said Professor
Drummond, harshly; "she left II will.
ingly Let her die here"
/ DR. Williams stood up. There was
light enough to see the brutal deterTni.