Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-16


sary? 2" he stammered.
Quite" the other snapped; and
Mrs. Olsen, you are to sleep here to-
night"
very we'll, DOCTOR said Mrs. O1sen,j
who was evidently the nurse Mrs. La
throp detested 80 much.
Nancy sighed and seated herself on
the edge Of the bed. Doctor Mayhem
had already left. Morrison" stood in
the door. smile working at his baby
mouth.
Good night, Miss Bond he said.
Nancy did not answer, and still smil-
ing, he went out, shutting the door be-
hind him.
CHAPTER XXI.
Because had promised Nancy, I
climbed down the ivy again. as softly
as could, and gained the road unob-
served. But It was the most difficult
restraint that ever put upon myself.
II could have had my way I should.
at least, have tried to tear away the
iron grating from the window. and to
fight my way downstairs and through
the sanatorium. and perhaps be able
to lay my hands upon Doctor Morri-
son. was sure that, once In the room,
| would have been able to take Nancy
away with me. But Nancy wished me
to use other means II could and, as
far as was able, was determined to
try them. My own way, after all, was
selfish one, and inspired for the
most part by lust for fighting that
was growing on me daily. But Nancy
was right; fighting should only be a
last resort. For 1t was even possible
that Nancy herself might come to
some harm in that seething turmoil
my soul longed for.
found Mrs. Lathrop pacing about
her little sitting-room at the hotel
"Ah,' she said, az opened the
door, ~ was beginning to get little
worried. never did see time 90 so
slowly"
IT had to wait for dark l explained.
did you sec herr asked Mrs. La
throp.
eyes" said, and told her all my
adventure
well, what are you going to do
now" said Mrs. Lathrop. 1T looks to
me as II 1t would be pretty hard to
get any one out OF sanatorium that's
barred and locked up, without using
force"
IL don't know exactly what can
do" l admitted. 1.-THE only plan I've
been able to think Of 80 far 10 to go
up and ask to see the doctor, and
when see him, tie him up and take
his keys from him"
DO you call that not using force?'
Mrs. Lathrop asked.
i smiled rather ghoepfShly.
"Of course that's only tentative" !
said. "and It wouldn't take very much
force. That Doctor Mayhem looks pref
ty soft to me"
"still, 1 don't think that was Mrs.
Ellsworth's idea Of It," said Mrs. La
throp.
"Perhaps not" admitted What
have you to suggest?"
Mrs. Lathrop shook her head.
'Im sure don't know" she said;
"Tll think little WHILE
So for half an hour we sat in 81
lence: Once or twice I started to
speak, but Mrs. Lathrop waved me abb
stractedly away.
WELL. she said at last, ~ have It,"
''Well?" asked.
I'm crazy" said Mrs. Lathrop com.
placently.
You're what?' stammered.
Crazy. At least, I'm not, but you
say l am. Listen, Mr.. Ellsworth. I'm
your aunt, Just as we told them here
at the hotel, and I'm dreadful rich and
you're scamp; that is. you've got to
manage to look like one. although,
dear knows, that's the weakest part
OF 1t. The rest Is all easy enough. You
take me in cab up TO that sanatorfum
and ring the bell and go In with me.
You'll hold me by the wrist, you know,
and I'll drag back" Mrs. Lathrop's
eyes snapped with the Joy Of the pros
pective drama And when we're In
the office, you ask to have the door
locked. so that can't get away. Then
you pull the doctor over to one side
and tell him about 1t. Say you want to
leave me there indefinitely. Course he
needn't believe I'm crazy at all. but
what he has got to believe is just as
hard, maybe harder. for I'm a good
actor and you're not; and that it, that
you're wicked young man, and are
putting me out Of the way, 80 that you
can declare me incompetent, and use
my money, or something like that.
Moneys got to come into 1t somehow.
It's the only thing, guess, those peo-
pie understand"
"But," protested, what good
would that do? Suppose could man
age to leave you these, what then? ?
They'd only lock you up In one Of
those rooms. You couldn't do anything
and then I'd just have two people to
get cut instead Of one.'
We'll, that's just It," said Mrs. La
throp. Most Of those poor people
there have naturally been left with
out cent Of money. You aren't going
to be that mean to me. In fact. l guess
you'd better give me about all the
money you've got figure 1t out that
any nurse or maid who is wicked
enough to work there at all would be
wicked enough to make four or five
hundred dollars, If 1t was cash In
hand. and she saw way of doing 1t
easy. Then, as soon as I have bought
one Of those maids, I'll fix 1t 50 that