Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-01-08
CHAPTER XI

CE1Af L Ett nj.
After his duel with the wife he had SC
foully wronged, Captain Grant had writ.
ten to Doctor Grim. and in answer the
madhorse doctor had gone, with a couple
of his men, to recapture the patient who
had so miraculously escaped, ard whose
flight fortune had undertaken to hide IN
several ways, for the very girl with whom
she exchanged clothes either committed
suicide or else was accidentally drowned.
Nora Warner had hastily drawn O pis-
tol and tired. but her aim was rendered
uncertain owing to the excitement and
the deceptive moonlight, so that her bull
let only inflicted a 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 pam
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
a weak woman. yet their orders lad not
been of a merciful nature. and in the
bushes near by stood a gaunt figure clad
in q long cloak and slouched hat--the
Infamous mad-house doctor himself who
would discharge a man from his employ
should he show a sign of mercy when he
had received no orders in that line.
When. therefore, Nora Warner strug-
gled i'll their fierce grasp. as though she
wouli break away, the men used violent
measures. One of them clutched her del
icute throat in a fiendish manner. Her
hat aad come off, and the long ringlets,
which had been suffered to remain ON her
hnnI I,r;n. hos lo.- oo.co.o.. =. A.
asylum, blew about in the night breeze.
Carol, where is Carol?" she huskily
cried; 81 must see her before they take
me away-see her and tell her."
shut up!' cried one Of the keepers.
A form clad in white came bounding
out of the mill door.
Il am here, Nora Warner. What would
you say to meT' she asked, eagerly.
II came to see you-to tell you that it
was all that he-Roger Dar-good- find
out. Help me- am choking-dying!"
In the name of heaven take your hand
from her throat, you wretch. Don't you
See lou are killing her? Help! helpl" and
in her excitement Carol sprang at the
keeper. seeking to release the one whom
he was choking into insensibility.
Keep back!" he roared, 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 a word more. Doc
Tor Grim now advanced.
lie 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 tiendish care. he was wont to apollo
gize to them because the red-hot iron was
SO cold. the end of the lash worn off a
trifle, the thumb screws aged. and all
such cold-blooded attempts at ferocions
Wit.
This was the wretch who stood before
the two women, and ~suavely begged their
pardon for their having witnessed such a
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
haps they have gone a little too far, but
better that han that she should have
been struck upon the head. which Is the
way we often have to deal with them"
But Nora Warner is not mad. liy
what right do you drag her away from
hcre?' demanded Carol. recovering her
voice when she found she had at least a
polished scoundrel to deal with.
You are no judge of that, Miss.
Learned men have so decided. These
insane creatures could deceive anybody.
They nave deceived me for fully three
weeks at a time, but in the fourth. at
the full Of the moon. they proved them
selves as mad as March harcs. would
stake something that this one now has
been gaining your sympathy by relating a
long rigmarole about a cruel husband.
There. | can see by your face that il Is
the truth. She tells every one that, when
in truth she has the best of husbands,
who provides her a princely home and
all the comforts of life. But | must tear
myself away. ladies. There is my card.
II ever you should wish a place Of re-
tircment for some poor demented rela-
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 scnsclcss form OF Nora
Warner and strobe away.
Th affable doctor lifted his hat In tho