Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-24
The Argus Daily Short Story
Saved from a Madhouse-By Daisy Winslow
Copyrighted. by Associated Literary PresA

Herbert to do as 1 asked him. but he
did not seem to have the power to re-
sist his uncle.
I was very much distressed when
left him. not knowing what to do. On
the stairs met Mr.. Holt. He stopped
me and said:
my nephew is under my guardian
ship till he comes of age You will
oblige me by not coming here again
to make him dissatisfied with arrange
ments l have made for him. His
mother warned me against your de-
signs to get him and his property"
In a rage l went out Of the house
vowing never 20 enter it again. But
had not been gone ten minutes
before a suspicion came into my head
that the man was trying to kill Her
bert by keeping him under the infu-
ence of these colors. Going 10 DR.. Mil
lard, told him Of what had happened.
Go to the inheritance court" he
said. "and ask them 70 show you Mrs.
Torry's will. Then we VIII know what
to do next"
/ did as he advised. was shown the
VIII and discovered that in the event
VI hGEbtItS NSdtl HIS estate NOht0
all go to Edgar Holt.
The discovery filed me with horror.
But now since knew that the execu-
tor had a motive for getting his neph-
ew out of his way 1 hoped that I
might defeat his purpose. I saw his
plan. There was no necessity for him
to murder Herbert with the risk OF
discovery. His object was to make
a hopeless lunatic Of him. which would
give the executor continued control Of
the estate till his wards death. when
he would inherit it. returned to
DR. Willard. who. after I had told him
Of my discovery, sat thinking for
time before he spoke.
TITS very plain case 20 US" he
said at last, "but a very difficult one
to handle 1 have never heard or read
of so willy a plan TO rob an heir of an
estate. While the damage is being
done there is no way to get the boy
out of his uncles hands. After 1t is
done there is no way of convincing a
jury of the perpetrators guilt"
l was in agony at hearing the doctor
say this and begged him to try to think
of some way Of preventing poor Her
bert from being made maniac.
ell try he said, but cant as vet
see any method likely to succeed.
Heirs have been kept in lunatic asy-
lums before this who have been in
perfect mental condition. That's an
old story. Here is case where
man is to be made really mad without
any one being able to get him out of
his DarSncutor'S clutches The law is
slow, and it will require but month
to drive the subject hopelessly insane.
Besides, ! understand that nearly one
half of that time has been spent"
Great heavensp' I exclaimed. I'VE
have only fortnight
LESS than that In a fortnight the
case will be hopeless. Even now we
can get no help from the patient him
self. He is too far gone. / see but
one chance. and that is to kidnap him."
1 left the doctor. plan after plan rum
ming through my brain whereby to
carry out his suggestion. l thought
many hours before I decided what to
do. When 1 made up my mind it
seemed TO me that my method was
very simple, though this was no rea-
son why it should succeed. l resolved
not to take any one into my confidence
to help me, fearing to complicate mat
tiers, and believed that could do all
myself.
My plan was to put on a bold front,
call for Herbert with an automobile,
ask him to go for a ride. take him
away and conceal him All depended