The Detroit times., 1912-07-08
MeMAN IN Me..
BROWNDERBY
A,
Wells HASTINGS
.So Author Of COCO
The Professors Mystery
(Owshtl9llIy BobbsfleldlI q
CHAPTER XVIII.
(contlnued.J

(Contlnued.J
When | had Ephraim Bond alone
I'm the room | trted YEARLY 10 ques'
ton him, but he had grown sulky ana
suspicious. He cursed his son readily
enough, and told me that he himself
had been brought TO the sanatorium
by Doctor Mayhem In much the same
manner as his son and Mrs. Olsen had
taken Nancy. But he would answer
no further questions. and finally | de
cided 10 let my curiosity wait and see
what nights sleep would do for him.
He crept into bed muttering TO him
self. and in few moments was ap-
parently sound asleep. ! drew a chair
10 the table under the single gas-light.
and wrote a short note TO Mr.. Osilby.
was too tired, | knew, TO go immedi.
ately TO bed and after | had sealed
my letter, / leaned back in my chair,
going over In my mind the many hap
penings of the last twenty-four hours;
and as | reviewed them my strained
nerves relaxed II was all going to
come out happily. What the future
held for me did not know. but now
7 had Nancy again. and knew that
II could be nothing but good. had
Nancy again. and tomorrow ] was go
ing TO be really married. With the
thought Strengthened in my chair !;
for ! suddenly remembered that now
4 had no marriage license. | had
thoughtlessly tucked il into my note
book. and this. with everything else
| had been taken from me as lay un
conscious in Central Park. could
get another in Doylestown. knew;
but | feared that by some unknown
official vagary the Office might be
closed imposing on me an impossible
delay Whether or not could get one
at some point in my journey did not
know, but because II was so i'm
portant TO me, dreaded lest II should
! be refused TO such a casual party Of
tourists as We seemed. Then re
membered Mr.. Stevens, and turned
cut my pockets on the table.
had a few papers OF my own. and
with the ones which had taken from
/ Stevens the night before, they made
quite heap upon the table. | sorted
through them rapidly. and, TO my joy
/ found not only my MOTEL book. but the
/ license had taken out at DoylestowT
still tucked safely inside IL. | smooth
, ed Il out before me on the table. Q
| commonplace sheet OF paper enough
/ bu, 10 me a mysterious and precious
passport into paradise. It's sober lega
| phrasing joining Nancy's name with
| mine in wonderful and magica
unity.
Mr.. Stevens letters, when | came
to read them (and I opened then
without mental Apology. were al
amazing collection OF miscellaneous
rascaiity. They were signed. for th'
most part, by names | did not know
and spoke OF events In which ! haC
no present interest. but among then
/ came upon one. stamped and sealed
and addressed. not to Stevens. but L
Erskine Bond. In care OF Doctor May
hew The writing itself was non-com
initial. the facile. fiourishing, unlovel!
copper.plate, which betrays nothing
of the writer's character, except. per
maps, that he is able TO adopt at viii
any handwriting he wishes. whethe
Il be some disguise OF his own or tn,
characteristic script OF another man
tore open the envelope with
quickening interest The letter wa
of soto length, and signed slmpl.
Stevens" | could imagine as ! rea'
IL how he gnawed his penholder AM
his already picked and bitten finger
tips; for what he wrote barred almos
indecently the mongrel soul of tn
1 man He clustered and threatened
cringed-Rhined and begged, angr!
with one senteace, groveling with tn
very next: in one breath he seemed
TO pray for assistance and SMART
hint OF blackmail
He spoke of some former letter h'
had written, and which had RENAME,
unanswered, and ran over, as If h,
we're repeating IL. the list OF his oil
lenses against me in the service o
his employer: his ingratiating him
self with Ephraim Bond, his officiat
ing at our wedding" his finding o
ma- In New York. and The attack ~
and his pals had made upon me IL
the park; and he added that, sine,
his last letter. he had seen me in thu
subway. but owing to an accident mac
been unable 10 follow me, adding, fur
Their, that as / was carrying travelling
bags, there was possibility that
might be on my way to Winford. Bu
the burden, soul and text of the let
ter was that he had not been pale
He had not been paid, he had per
formed many and dangerous service.