Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-05

turning 10 me. ~ nave IOunu neg
lected property standing alone-just
the thing for what I require. You
have never heard of my son! Really?
William Kingsley, the alienist?'
What" cried, In alright
After all that had happened to me
since early morning thrill Of terror
ran through me at this placid utter
ance of his sons profession.
"He has lunatic asylum at Saint
Mande,' he said, calmly. The house
is very well suited for the purpose, but
my son would figure there far better
as a patient than as doctor. My son
is eccentric!''
At these words l looked out of the
corner Of my eyes at my strange COM
panion. AS the auto went at full
speed it seemed to me that this mus
cular giant, with the iron gray hair,
deep voice and impulsive gestures was
the alienist and I, with my whirling
brain the mad patient.
The car drew up before massive
iron gate, which inclosed the neglected
property surrounded with trees and
shrubs growing in wild disorder.
was surprised not to see the house.
We iumjed ont of the car. A dark
proved Hindoo opened the gate, and
while the machine went to the right,
in an alley overgrown with weeds,
Mr.. Kingsley and turned to the left
and crossed the coppice by winding
path
Soon be stood before a pretty Louis
XVI. pavilion, almost hidden under
the verdant foliage. In the crumbling
facade and the neglected peristyle was
story of one-time splendor run to
ruin. %
We went into a vast drawing room
with ancient oaken wainscotting. The
furniture was limited to pieces that
were OF absolute necessity-a large
walnut table, four worn fauteuils OF
different Louis periods and large
divan of crimson velvet of no part1cu-
lar epoch. wondered for what secret
reasons Addison Kingsley, the million
aire, had picked out this wild habita-
ton, when he might have been In
stalled in sumptuous Paris hotel or
palace on the Champs.
'..You will stay to dinner, will you
not?" he said. 81 have much to tell
you, and it will take some time. 1t Is
matter of great delicacy."
MY strange companion could not
have made more agreeable sug-
gestion. Would stay to dinner?
replied to his invitation in English,
which seemed to please him I'M
mensely. ~ .ls
tAh! Maitre Marcadian, you speak
English with a purity Of accent that
is unusual ON the part of a French
man."
81 studied at Oxford" explained. y
IF It were not for your artists hair
and that beard you might be taken for
an Englishman," he said. what a
strange individual you are. should
never have imagined you to be re-
nowned lawyer You seem to have
missed poise. And what an idea Of
yours to go SO far from the center OF
Paris. You are at the end of the
world at Auteuil!"
His manner now changed suddenly.
s'You will excuse me for receiving
you with SO little ceremony" he said,
cautiously. 4 have only two East In
dams in my service here. call them
Bambou and Jim. They are devoted
to me. BY the by, would you like to
see Mademoiselle Weil?"
would it not be BETTER" inter
posed, hastily. for us to dine alone?
Then you can tell me all the details
of the case"
Good! Her dinner can be served
in her room, and you can see her
later She is extremely pretty; in fact
she is beautiful but that is no rea-
SON"
The Indian appeared at this mo-
ment to announce that the dinner was
served, and we passed into the dining
room.
"Well,''' said my hest. after we were
seated, s'this is how it stands. My
son, the celebrated alienist, is mad
yes, mean it, mad. He is crazy with
love for this girl, who has no fortune,
no position He wants to marry her,
but / will prevent it. It is bad enough
for him to prefer the stupid life Of
savant to a partnership in my bust
ness He seems to have a contempt
for my place in the business world"
He tossed off at a gulp his glass OF
Graves. BY the time the second
course was brought on | had learned
that in order to Illustrate a marriage
between his son and Mademoiselle
We'll he had kidnapped the girl and
shut her up in this lonely house in
Neuilly.
did not doubt for moment that
with man who preferred Lucie We'll,
little milliner, to an Inheritance of
millions the struggle between father
and son would not be without excite
ment. But at the same time won
dered why the millionaire should seek
Lawyer Marcadian's advice in the mat
ter.
.If your son is as determined as you
are / said, and If Mademoiselle
shows the same determination, do
not see what you can do. We are in
France, Monsieur, where there are
laws and justice.
The millionaire burst out laughing.
Laws! Justice! Bah! The one
thing we need not count is the little
milliner L have some convincing argu-
ments in reserve for her. The thing
is that must prevent my son. by fair
means or foul, from taking this fool
ish step, and It Is about that that
wish to consult you. As for your
judicial science and your lawyers
finesse, don't care that" he said,
snanping his fingers. What do care