The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-12-14

toward them again aEu pretended 10
fall asleep, thus gaining an opportunity
to study the offender through half-shut
eyes. He was a well-dressed man,
though Maud's mental comment was
that he was cheap"
"Probably wants TO iiirt," she
thought, angrily. 'Well, I'm not that
kind and she involuntarily tossed her
| head. Again the man smiled.
| Just then an older man with a
smooth, hard face joined him, and both
began TO talk earnestly, frequently
CHANGING across at Maud as though she
were the subject of their talk. At last
she could endure it no longer, and beck
| oned to the conductor.
"Those men," pointing directly at
them, care annoying mf very much by
their boldness."
II am very sorry" returned the polite
conductor. II will see that it does not
| happen again" And he moved toward
the young man.
The elder man rose as the conductor
crossed the ear and engaged him in a
conversation which Maud could not
| hear, but the conductor glanced back
at her several times, and she knew
there was some mystery. She would
have shrieked aloud could she have
| heard what the cool STRANGER was say
ing about her.
THE young lady is my niece" he
said, land this young mans sister. She
has been insane for some months,
though quite harmless and quiet. At
! last her mind became so deranged that
we decided to take her to quiet little
camp i'm the woods. Her mother is
there already waiting for her. She likes
to fancy herself travelling alone, so we
humored her by getting seats over here
and letting her pay for her seat. 1t is
one of her fancies to pretend not to
know us Her brother has smiled at her
several times, hoping to get some sign
of recognition. Poor fellow! He is very
fond of her. | suppose we ought to
have told you when we got on, but we
| hoped she would take the journey
quietly. / assure you we will get off
if she is Troublesome and he sighed
deeply.
Sad easel" murmured the conductor
and moved away.
DR.. Herman AIdrich was in the
smoker at the time of the above inter-
view. but when the conductor came
through he stopped socially and told
him of the case.
Dr. Aldrich was a warm friend of the
! Hollands, but had never met Teresa's
cousin Maud. Had he dreamed who
she was his interest would have been
more than professional AS it was he
| hurried his cigar and went back to his
scat, which was next to Mauds. He
looked long at the girls regular pro-
file, and at last she turned her clear
eyes full on him.
In some way, best known by the
man who professed to be her uncle,
nearly all the people in the ear had
| become acquainted with the story of
| the insane lady, and wherever she
turned she met curious or plying
glances.
She grew more and more nervous,
| Rising, she was about to pass down
the car to the ladies' room, where she
could be free from these annoyances
and think what was best to be done.
She had taken only step or two
| when the elder man was by her side,
He laid his hand firmly on her arm.
Matte" he said, you had better
sit right down
At that moment there is no doubt
but what Maud Beecher acted insane.
! She tore herself away from the man
and commanded him to let her pass.
! She swore her name was not Matte,
and, glaring wildly round the car, be-
sought them all to save her from these
wretches. She begged to know if an
American lady could not travel alone
without being attacked by ruffians.
'NNill nobody help me?' she cried,
and, looking about, saw everyone gaz-
! ing pityingly at her. but not one start
ed to her assistance. One woman
tainted, another had Mysteries and the
little conductor hustled up otliciously
and said, quite loud enough for Maud
| to hear: "Shc seems to be getting
violent. We are near Green Pond sta
ton, and think you will have to get
off here
WHAT" she cried, "do YOU think
| avn crazy? Oh. my God, And, sink
ing into her chair, she buried her face
| in her hands.
rs the train slowed up the tWJ men
took her by the arm and commenced
dragging her down the aisle. She
fought them inch by inch, but they
were strong men and she slight girl
of 20; so they had her at the door
when the train stopped. Suddenly her
face frightened.
20. there's Tom Holland-Tom!
Toni" she cried, struggling with re
newed energy.
At that DR.. Aldrich's athletic form
blocked the stairway. IF YOU know
| Tom Holland" he said, Il demand of
these gentlemen proof that they have
any right to coerce you in this way"
Before he reached the end of his SEN