Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-16
at once and 60 carefully. Do you I'M


"Good night" Nancy whispered.
The knock was repeated with loud
insistence.
yes" Nancy called. Come In"
l lowered myself a foot or more, 60
that my head was an inch or two be-
low the level of the sill, and held my.
self close against the wall, for I
thought that heard the soft footstep
Of the Waterman below.
We'll. Miss Bond. how do you find
yourself this EVENING""
The voice was deep one, and the
question was raped out with the
brisk assumption of cherriness OF the
man.
II am quite as usual" heard Nancy
answer gently.
That's good, that's good. Delusion
beginning to fade?"
II am afraid that delusion, as you
call It," Nancy answered, will never
fade. Doctor Mayhem, what Is the use
of It? You can't very well keep me
here all my life, and warn you am
going to persist in my delusion."
I'VE have cured worse cases than
yours" the doctor answered CURLY.
II can not understand It," Nancy
said.
Understand WHAT"
why you should be here, and doing
this sort OF thing, Doctor Mayhem
That you, a gentleman, should have
fallen on such evil ways; that you can
stoop to such meannesses as this
present one, Just for little money;
that you can school yourself to perse-
cute lonely girl, for few hundred
dollars or 50. Oh, know you are get
ting rich here, but Is It worth all that
you are giving up, Doctor Mayhem
When man Of my profession falls
once, he falls for good" was the doc
tors unexpected answer.
There was bitterness and shame IN
the doctors voice, and drew myself
up to the sill again, listening intent
ly; for perhaps here Nancy herself
was finding way, a peaceful way
after her own heart.
II think you are mistaken" she
answered. II do not know what you
have done; but man can always
make his way in the world, II he IL
willing to try, and try honestly. That
is, almost always. OF course, II you
make one slip here, II single pa
tient' is able against your will to find
his way back to the world, that Will
mean states prison for you, Doctor
Mayhem. And states prison for such
crime as this means the end OF OPP
portunity. You must have made a
great deal Of money already. Can't
you give this place up while you are
still safe?"
"To be perfectly frank with you,
Miss Bond the doctor said, Y wish
l could. but that is harder than you
innocently suppose
AS have it here in black and white,
It sounds impossible this sudden drop
ping of the mask, this almost open
confession. But as chung listening
outside the window there seemed
nothing strange about 1t. For although
/ dared not look, knew how sweetly
Nancy stood before him. and every
little tone Of her voice thrilled with q
gentle conviction and charm which
must, thought, have moved any man.
But another knock sounded at the
door. Doctor Mayhew's Come in," was
once more incisively professional.
Good evening, Doctor Morrison I
heard him say. Good evening, Mrs.
Olsen I am sorry not to be able to re-
port muCh progress.
1 caught an undertone Of anger In
the words. as if the man. startled from
a dream. repented angrily his moment
of weakness.
"Delusion still continues"
IT am afraid So" said Doctor May
hew. What course do you think we
had better pursue, Doctor Morrison?"
with your permission" said Doc
tor Morrison, IT should like few min
utes' talk alone with the patient, be-
fore l come to decision"
The door opened and closed, and for
q moment there was silence.
"Still stubborn ?" the unpleasant
voice asked at last
II shall never change my mind"
Nancy answered; you ought to know
that"
"You are acting like fool, Nancy.
Do you honestly think you are mar
ried? ?"
"That has nothing to do with It,"
Nancy answered quietly.
ut has great deal to do with It,
You are making fool Of yourself for
this man How often must l tell you
the marriage was farce and Stevens
a common jail-bird? The man you
think you married isn't any better
than he is. Even you know he did 1t
for the money that was in it. Perhaps
it would interest you to know he
continued in rising anger. that the
scamp has laid hands on all the money
he could. and that yesterday he sailed
for Europe. Your hero isn't worth
your heroics, Nancy"
Nancy laughed softly.
you've always been liar" she
said.
II swear that is true at least" he
replied. II would stake my life on It.
How long do you expect me to be pa
tient? want to marry you, and will
be as good husband as any man. you
know that. You don't suppose chat l
am going to wait forever. After all.
why should be so patient with your"
Because" Nancy said softly, "be-
cause, after all, you are coward and
very careful of yourself; and because,
really, you are little afraid Of me.
YOu can't keen me here all NV life