The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1911-06-02
ton the fact that we have large in.
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ton the fact that we have large in
sane asylum not far distant?"
Gee! A place for crazy people!'
she exclaimed. 81 want to go and see
them this very afternoon!"
There are dangerous lunatics
among them, miss. Sometimes one
escapes"
"Oh, I hope one will escape while
am here and come to the house!
shouldn't be bit afraid. Don't you
know that If you look a lion or lu
natic in the eye he will become az
timid as a rabbit? If you hear of any
one escaping"
"But l have heard of one," desper
ately interrupted James. IF | were
in your place I shouldn't go far from
the house until we learn that he has
been captured. Before you can look
him in the eye he will murder you
This one who escaped the other
day"
But Miss Bessie was gone to tell the
news to her aunt, and to add that she
should spend the whole day looking
for the coming of the lunatic. If he
came, she would wager her runabout
against hill Of potatoes that she
would subdue him and lead him back
10 the asylum. Three days passed
and the runabout arrived, and she
announced her intention Of taking
long ride at once. Miss Plaster
yroaned and told more tales Of luna
tics. James groaned and predicted
death by strangulation. Nevertheless,
the Girl went.
She started out in a cloud OF dust
and had gone two miles when there
was bur-r-r-r-r and the vehicle
came to a stop. She worked away at
the levers without avail. She got
down and peeked and peered, but it
was no use. She was stamping her
foot in anger when q man came out
of the woods close at hand He was
young man Of 25-a good-looking
young man and he had q professional
air about him.
Something wrong?" he pleasantly
queried as he looked from the girl to
the runabout.
yes; 1t won't CO."
In three minutes he had discovered
the cause Of the trouble, and after
running the vehicle up and down he
halted and asked If she were going
over to Sherlockville. When he re-
ceived an affirmative reply he said:
80 am |. If you have no objections
| will ride with you and see that all
goes we'll. The machine is new and
must be coaxed bit"
To her surprise Miss Bessie found
herself seated beside the stranger and
bowling along at merry gait. They
had gone mile when she suddenly
remembered that the young man had
not introduced himself. Then she re-
membered the escaped lunatic and
the words Of warning. For half a
minute her heart was In her mouth.
Then she took a sly peep and failed
to see anything murderous in the
mans looks. They were a bit gloomy
and preoccupied, but not savage.
Excuse me," he finally said as he
turned to her. Il am from the asylum,
but | haven't a card with me. My
name Is Ashley, and If l mistake not
you are the young lady at Miss Pilas-
ter's."
Miss Bessie bowed in acknowledg-
ment and her heart jumped again. This
man must be the escaped lunatic! She
developed her plan in moment. She
became very communicative. In fact,
she gushed to throw him off his guard.
If he was on an errand to the village
she would wait and take him back and
to this he readily agreed. There was
wait of ten minutes and then he reap
peared. Little was said on the return
trip. The young man was moody and
Miss Bessie was wondering how to
land him at the asylum without pro-
vokng a desperate resistance. Aunt
Plaster and James were waiting at
the gate, and to her astonishment the
vehicle came to halt and the lunatic
raised his hat to the woman and nod
ded to James.
why, Bessie, where did you find the
doctor?" asked the aunt as she came
forward.
Doctor" repeated the girl.
why, yes-Dr. Ashley of the asy-
lum."
Good heavens, but isn't he that es-
capped lunatic, and are all my plans for
his capture to be knocked In the
head"
Sorry for you," replied the doctor,
with a smile. II am from the asylum,
but not exactly lunatic You have
just kindly taken me to the village to
have an aching tooth drawn"
But II have captured you, you
know"
Il won't dispute It,"
When 1t is said that from that day
on for two months the doctor was
frequent called at Miss Pilaster's, and
that he and Miss Bessie have been
writing twice week to each other
since her return to the city, the reader
can draw his own conclusions He will
at any rate feel bit of sympathy for
Miss Plaster who turned to James the
day her niece went home and with
her apron at her eyes tearfully ex.
claimed:
"Oh, James, things have so changed
about since | was a g-gurl that can't
mako ON OntI We told Bessie To look