Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1904-02-18

PARDON Me, DOCTOR, BUT THEY'VE JUST
GOT HER"
TO dinner at noon and to remember not
to cross the Johnsons' pasture, where
rattlesnakes had been seen recently
Barbara went briskly toward the
woods with feeling that on such a
day it was indeed good to be alive.
Well down the road she passed the
great arched gateway of the sanitari-
um, and. looking up the steep drive
way, she could see the buildings perch
ed on the hill. She had not been down
this road for ten years, but she sud-
denly remembered, with Q little thrill
of pity for it's inmates, that the red
the insane pavilion.
She took the little footpath which
led across the lower end of the sani-
tarium grounds and into the pine
woods. She found place where giant
pines lowered many feet skyward and
the ground was covered thickly with
pine needles. Here she sat down and
listened for time to +he tinkle of a
tiny brook hard by and the signing of
had just opened the little red volume
when the cracking Of twig warned
her Of some ones approach. She look
ed UP. Before her, hat In hand, stood
a handsome, well groomed young man,
who regarded her with steadiness Of
gaze decidedly disconcerting. AS she
looked up he bowed gravely,
Good morning, Princess Louise" he
gaid In a cheerful voice, Really de.
hghtful morning, isn't itT'
Barhara's mouth curved seornfully.
Then, all at once, the truth flashed up
on her. This man before her was u
strayed inmate of the insane pavilion,
Her eyes opened wide in alarm and
made her doubly oharming-at least so
thought the young man with keen
sense of pity.
charming spot here" he went on
easily. Let me congratulate you on
your choice"
Barbara's heart was beating wildly.
The man might be dangerous, and she
was at his mercy. She remembered
she had heard somewhere 1t was best
and safest 10 humor lunatics. So,
smothering a desire to scream, she
faced the intruder with as much COM
posure as she could summon.
Il should very much like to sit down
here with you" he was saying. TT
isn't every one, you know, who is
favored with morning interview with
Henry ""
"Oh, yes" Barbara said breathlessly.
"Do sit down. l shall be very glad to
have you sit down with me, Indeed,
I'm awfully-awfully pleased to have
you sit down."
he seated himself with a smile which
In sane person would have betokened
unlimited patience.
"And what is Princess Louise doing
this morning?" he asked.
'I'm-I was reading book on birds,
Mr.. Henry w." she said.
He glanced at her quizzically. "Do
you mind IL 1 feel your pulse. your
highness" he asked quite humbly.
"Oh, no. indeed not" she assured
him, at the same time extending her
wrist to him. He pulled out his watch
and took her wrist lightly in his hand.
Presently he dropped Is and returned
the watch to his pocket,
"Ah, thank y0u," he said as he drew
tablet from his pocket and began
writing rapidly on one of the pages
with a pencil. He laid the tablet aside.
and as it lay on the ground near her
Barbara read in tho round, full hand
on the page:
"Ianet Tolman.
"June II. fuckers Grove Eyes un-
usually dilated. Conversation rational.
Pulse 49,"
eAna now, Princess Louise" the
young man was saying, Il think we'd
better seek the banquet hall"
He rose and slipped the tablet and
pencil into his pocket.
tI'm-it's very comfortable here" she
said, and then as a forlorn hope she
added, but don't let me detain you.'
"But really l insist" he said, with
well bred firmness
Barbara dared no longer hesitate.
Henry "" assisted her to her feet,
and as she gained them he slipped her
arm through his own. She felt his
arm pinning hers firmly against his
side and realized that opposition was
useless. Together they started through
the grove, and Barbara was surprised
to find they took the path leading to the
sanitarium. They gained the grounds
and started up the hill toward the
buildings, Henry "" meantime con-
versing pleasantly and Barbara an
swering him as best she could. She
breathed more freely now, for she was
sure they would soon encounter an at
tendant, who would relieve her of her
dangerous escort.
They had nearly gained the summit