The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1910-03-24
CHAPTER X.

Betty Lancey came back to con-
seriousness and the world OF things as
mortals think they see them, with n
most monstrous smell of sulphur chok-
ing her. AS nearly as she could distin-
guish the room was filled with glass
globes the circumference of fair
sized musk melon. and every globe was
a-twitter with lemon yellow or pale
violet lights. bathing the room with
odd sputtered flashes
Realities reverted slowly. Betty
made out a ceiling. donelike and cor
rugated, later a floor. and eventually
deserted that she was nesting on a
couch piled soft and easy with pun
gent pillows. Barely had she discern
ed these facts when a swaddled per-
sonage confronted her. 1t was tall
and CARRIED In sombre swatchings that
left the outlines of its great bulk all
In doubt.
~Ah. that II better" came the gut
uraI comment. do you wish more
medicine
mo. indeed." she expostulated. 81
didn't wish any in the first place Why
did you give 1t to me? Where am
II"
The being answered with a shrug
Pray, calm yourself. my dear Miss
Lancey. / only trust the machina-
lions of this electrical apparatus will
not disturb you too much. Do be quiet.
Do not excite yourself unduly."
-Oh. but who are you? Where am
I? And why?" asked Betty. There's
such a rushing In my head. such a
sounding In my ears. and that swish
and swash Of water-what does 1t all
mean? Am delirious or dreaming p"
you've been both." replied the fig
ure. but you're better now. Well
enough to go into the salon where you
can rest far more comfortably than In
hare. AS to who .am-well, you NAV
can me LIE Malheureux If you Iike-,i
.uits me better than any other title.
for I am the unhappiest in all the
world My baptismal name was Fran
cfs-Francis-the free-but freedom
for me-never!"
The figure sunk in a heap. :. bove
the sputterings OF the electrica Al ap-
-paratuses Betty could distinguish the
swirl of waves, and the surge of deep
water She tried to rise but was too
weak. and reclined once more upon
her pillows. Vainly she endeavored to
recall what had passed before. Event
after event raced through her brain.
She remembered dimly as child
traces back the progress of an evil
dream the incidents of her last waking
hours. Tho inquest Of Cerisse Wayne.
the scene IN the Directory Hotel, the
quest for tie papers. her attempt to
interview the mysterious woman, and
last of all that shuddering fright, that
fearful. struggling embrace with a
horrible furry being that held her in 4
grasp from which escape was impossi-
bic, endurance intolerable.
She glanced at the heap of draperies
by the side of the couch, watched the
swing and sway of the room about her.
and tried to gather her tortured senses
together. Betty Lancey had never had
any imagination, but she was possessed
always with the poise of six men and
the common sense of a dozen. She ex-
amined her hands carefully. and found
them without scratch or bruise. She
felt no soreness of body but a numb
heaviness of brain, and confused
medley of thought. She closed her eyes
and again dropped into a numbness.
meal at lie Roy's with Larry Morris
urging her to have just another piece
of this steak. Betty. do"
e. her side was a small table. neat
~ spread with dainty linen, fragile
china, and exquisite silver. laden with
a dozen appetizing viands- A negro
woman Of hulking build was gently
bathing her temples.
That's right. child" said the black
woman, open your eyes and you'll feel
better. Open your lips, too. and taste
this broth. It's so nicei l made it for
you, just the way Mr. Francis likes 1T.
He says ii is the incest he ever ate"
Mention of Mr.. Francis" fetched to
mind the shock Of an earlier hour to
Betty. She suffered herself to be fed.
which the negress did as gently as a