Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-08-27


the deceptive moonlight, so that her bull
let only inflicted flesh wound upon one
of the mems arms instead Of ending his
life. Before she could do more they
were upon her like a couple Of mad pan
Tiers.
Both of them were brutal men, as
might be expected from the business they
carried on. They knew that the person
against whom they were pitted was but
weak woman. yet their orders Lad not
been of mere full nature. and IN the
bushes near by stood a gaunt figure clad
| in long cIoai, and slouehed hat--the
Infamous mad-house doctor himself who
would discharge man from his employ
should ne show a sign of mercy when he
had received no orders in that line.
When, therefore, Nora Warner strug-
gled in their fierce grasp, as though she
woull break away, the men used violent
measures. One of them clutched her del
icate throat in hendish manner. Her
hat nad come off, and the long ringlets,
which had been suffered to remain on her
head during her long confinement in the
asylum. blew about in the night breeze.
Carol where is CarolT' she husRdly
cried Il must see her before they take
me away--see her and tell her
shut upr' cried one of the keepers.
A form clad in white came bounding
out Of the mill door.
II am here, Nora Warner What would
you "a. TO meT' she asked, eagerly.
II came to see you--to tell you that It
was all that he-Roger Dar-good- lind
out. Help mel am choking
"Iu the name of heaven take your hand
fire. II her throat you wretch. Don't you
see you are killing her? Help! ne!p" and
in her excitement Caro- sprang at the
keeper, seeking to release the one whom
he was choking into iusensibility.
Keep back" he c9ared, thrusting her
aside, land thank your lucky stars it
amt you we've come after"
BY this time Nora Warner had COM
pletely lost her senses, and lay like a
log in the arms OF the keeper.
Both Carol and her mother were too
much Mortified to say word more. Doe
tor Grim now advanced.
He was one Of your smooth-tongucd
villains--a scoundrel of the first water
and yet he was always pretending to be
so tender hearted that he often deceived
those who did not know him.
1t was second nature with him, and.
while torturing the poor souls committed
to his fiendish care he was wont to ilJlO-
gize to them because the red-hot iron was
30 cold, the end of the lash worn off a
trifie, the thumb screws aged, and all
such cold-blooded attempts q. ferOcious
wit.
This was the wretch who stood before
the two women, and suavely begged their
pardon for their having witnessed such
spectacle,
My men have generally to deal with
such desperate madmen that they dare
not give one-half a chance for fear Of
their lives They know. also that this
woman is a desperate character. Per
hnps they have gone little too far. but
better that than that she should have
been struck upon the head, which IL the
way we often have to deal with them"
But Nora Warner is not mad by
what right do you drag her away from
heref" dem nded Carol. recovering her
voice when she found she had at least a
polished scoundrel to deal with.
you arc no judge of that, Miss.
Learned men have so decided These
insane creatures could deceive anybody.
They have deceived me for fully three
weeks at time. but in the fourth, at
the full OF the moon, they pro-ed them
selves as mad as March hares. would
stake something that this one now has
been gaining your sympathy by relating
long rigmarole about a cruel husband.
There, l can see by your face that it Is
the truth She tells every one that, when
in truth she has the best of husbands.
who provides her princely home and
all the comforts of life, But ! must tear
myself away, ladies'. There is my card.
If ever you should wish place OF re-
tirement for some poor demented gela-
tive who is better there than in the
world. remember yours sincerely, limo
thy Grim, NJ D..
He turned to his men, and gave them
some hurried orders, upon which they
picked up the useless form of Nora
Warner and strobe away.
The affable doctor lifted his hat to the
ladies'. and Carol responded by tearing
his card in halves and hurting it from
her, which was a plain way Of showing
her dislike of the doctor. who smiled in
| his grim way,
She and her mother went in again. and
| the door was barred. The young girl
was lost again in a new whirl of amaze
| mcnt and nameless horror. Was Nora
/ Warner really insane, as the doctor had
| said2 Somehow or other she could not
| believe it, even though many things seem
| ed to point that way.
/ Even if Roger Darrell were ignorant Of
| the cruel heartless manner in which his
wife was treated would that lessen his
responsibility any?
He must surely have been aware Of the
nature Of the place in which she had
been put, and even a simple mind ought
to he able to read the character Of the
| villainous mad house doctor.
Neither of them seemed to think of
rest. and it was near dawn when some
noise in the unoccupied part OF the ruin
ed mill reached their ears.
A few minutes later, while they stood
listening, in dread suspense, and half
suspecting that the insane asylum doctor
had returned to bear them away to his
den of infamy. so as to hide all evidence
of his iniquity, the widow drew Caro-
to the window.
There they could plainly see MAT
walking rapidly away from the mill
What had he been doing therei Once h
turned and looked back. but they has
no light in the room, and, besides, hi
! attention seemed directed toward tn
, main part Of the old mill.
; Carol recognized Captain Grant, an'
/ her heart beat rapidly as she wondered
whether he sought her.