Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-01-29

keeper that had been his best
dalton in the eyes of the %mad-house doc
tor, and, knowing this, the disguised
Jack gave him to understand that he was
by nature quite a bloody minded rascal,
ready to obey all orders without gues-
ton.
lie had already been in the institution
W days, and his soul was sickened by
what he had seen. The doctor had hired
MN for a special purpose, and as yet he
had not been required to indulge in any
work, though he accompanied the other
keepers so as to familiarize himself with
the inside arrangements of the asylum.
one or the men complained of feeling
sick on this e~vening-the result of n
powder which Jack had cunningly mixed
with his supper-the latter had volun-
teered to visit the patients in his stead,
II leave them the frugal repast that
was intended to be their supper. Thus
1t was he entered the cell in which was
confined the young girl.
When Nora realized who it was thus
stood before her in disguise, and that love
for her had been the object to lead him
on, she felt her heart fill with rapture.
"Oh, Jack, you have come to save me,
to take me away from this terrible
place!" she cried.
They could not say much, for the time
was limited, and there might be danger
or some one overhearing them, but Jack
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 go on down the corridor; "he
came out Of her cell, too. Besides, it
seemed to me | missed his usual accent
in that word. Yes, l shall remember to
keep a watch on YOU movements, Lanty
OShane, and 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, Tor his influence over them would
be gone. Already they feared the bogus
Lanty OShane, who could tell such ter
rlDle stories about himself, and seemed
ready to back up the argument at any
time, that they instinctively acknowl-
edged in him a 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 a 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 feelings, 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 so 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 ter
rible torture of the falling water upon
her head. Heaven alone knows what the
result might have been but for that one
thought ever before her-the fact of
Jacks 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 with 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 m~ad-house
doctor. and his keen ear was bent to the
key-hole. He could only hear the mur-
muir of voices, but the very fact OF his
new keeper, the bloodthirsty fellow whom
he had hired especially for any work of
an extra severe nature, being engaged in
a conversation with Nora Warner was
enough to excite his suspicious.
These were partially allaycd upon hear
ing the curses honest Jack gave vent TO
when he learned what torture the wom-
an he loved had already submitted TO.
though, Of course. the doctor was not
supposed to understand what it was
brought them from the lips unused to
swearing.
The mad-house doctor was a man far
above the average in cunning, and, once
his suspicious in regard to the mock !
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