Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-09-17

told her to be ready and expecting him
at any minute. When he stood in the
doorway before leaving, he called back
the one encouraging word:
Remember"
He did not see the dark form that had
come to a sudden halt down the passage
and stepped into an alcove. 1t was DR..
Grim.
Remember what?" that worthy NUT
tered to himself as he watched the new
keeper 90 on down the corridor; "he
came out Of her cell, too. Besides, it
seemed to me l missed his usual accent
in that word. Yes, / shall remember to
keep a watch on your movements, Lanty
! O'Shane, ard if you trip up, so much the
worse for you."
Thus Jack was Swallowed The doctor
was too shrewd a man to let the other
keepers know that he suspected the new
man, for his influence over them would
be gone. Already they feared the bogus
Lanty O'Shane, who could tell such ter
rible stories about himself. and seemed
ready to back up the argument at any
| time, that they instinctively acknowl-
edged in him leader, and were ready to
| give him the allegiance inspired by fear.
1t CHANGED, however, that Jack was
very circumspect in his actions. Per-
! haps he had caught the cunning eye Of
| the doctor fastened upon him. At any
rate. as time passed on the master of the
mad-house found nothing to complain
about in his actions, though he did not
give up watching him entirely.
| Nora Warner now lived in an agony Of
suspense. She feared for the safety Of
her lover much more than she had done
| for herself.
There were times when fierce joy
would sweep over her as she realized how
near he was to her, this noble man who
! loved her so well that he had taken sides
with her against the one to whom she
owed such a debt of hatred.
| She watched for him continually, and
yet guarded well her feeling for unless
She was careful his betrayal might come
through her, and should such be the case,
| she would die of sorrow.
Whatever plans Jack had formed he
| had TO be 50 careful in their carrying out
that time passed by; but Nora, conscious
Of his strong presence, and the fact that
he was risking all for her sake, felt her
spirits buoyed up.
Twice again had she suffered the te'-
rible torture of the falling water npon
her head. Heaven alone knows what the
result might have been but for that one
thought ever before her-the fact of
ack's presence under the same roof.
On the second occasion she had tainted
dead away, and when Jack came to visit
her in the evening-he managed to have
the keeper remain sick-he saw from her
pale face that something was wrong.
When he finally managed to force the
story from her. he was filed vita the
greatest horror and indignation, and
vowed that not another night should pass
without his making an attempt to save
! her from this place of horrors.
Fortunately for them they spoke low,
| for just outside crouched the mad-house
| doctor, and his keen ear was bent to the
| key-hole. He could only hear the muir
muir of voices, but the very fact of his
new keeper, the hloodthrsty fellow whom
| he had hired especially for any work OF
an extra severe nature. being engaged in
conversation with Nora Warner was
enough 10 excite his suspicious.
Those were partially allayed upon hear
ing the curses honest Jack gave vent to
an he loved had already submitted to,
though, Of course. the doctor was not
supposed 20 understand what it was
brought them from the lips unused to
sw caring.
The mad-house doctor was man far
above the average in cunning, and. once
his suspicious in regard to the mock
keeper were aroused, he was like a tiger
| in the watch.
Although Jack was not fully conscious
| of being watched. except on general prin-
| ciples, he was very careful in his actions.
fearful lest all might be discovered at the
! last minute.
The night fell Gradually the noises
of the house ded away for the doctor
was severe in his rules. and il his most
unruly patients persisted in making night
| hideous with their wild shrieks, he quick
| ~ discovered where their particular fear
! lay, and treated them 10 a dose Of il an
til they learned to obey.
| Jack entered the cell just after the
| hour of midnight, fully prepared for the
venture. He found Nora Warner ready.
| She had been in q fever of impatieuce
and anxiety, fearing lest some little thing
which they had not counted on would oc-
cur 20 mar their well-laid plans.
! Jack had observed the way well, and
| had even gained n couple OF keys which
would aid them in reaching the yard ut
least, though the great gate would still
bar their way. unless they could disco,er
| whore the key was kept.
Softly they glided from the cell and
| along the corridor. Suddenly the death
ike silence was broken by terrible
| shrek as some mailman awoke from his
awful dreams. and so highly strung were
her nerves that Nora could not but utter
cry.
Out Of the mad-house they passed. and
| across the yard. The moon was shining.
and the trees cast gaunt shadows upon
the white ground They came to the
gate, but a hurried search failed to dis
close the key. What was to be done?
! Even while they stood there, irrcsolute.
| a low, hooking laugh smote o. their ears,
and, turning ike a fash. 'aey saw the
| mad-house doc or standing within a few
yards Of them, an evil smile on mis- face
| At almost the same instant the great
| bell in the tower changed out its wild up
| peals of alarm.
| Al was losti