Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-20
oTrUMwA COURIER, SATURDAY, JULY 20. 1912

other; and that, once was out, /
should flnd her wherever she was. But
now as my vague disquietude took q
more concrete form and sprang In a
moment from numb speculation to
positive dread. the thought Of that
menacing figure of the man in the
brown derby came before me, and
found myself standing stark afraid.
cold with dread and consuming. MUIR
derous rage; for, Of sudden, had
remembered the dark room"
1t was at this moment that the door
swung open, and the man in all the
world whom most desired to see step
ped in had not heard the bolts un-
done, but now I heard them slip softly
into place behind him.
I think he had meant to meet me
with some hooking commonplace, but
he must have seen the murder in my
eyes, and like a wise man determined
to bide his time: for almost as the
door shut found myself looking into
the mouth of a revolver.
"Sit down." said Doctor Morrison,
very quietly.
Very reluctantly turned and took
the great tattered chair which had once
been Nancy's. I wished with all my
heart to remain on my feet; for stand
ing, could better watch my oppor-
tunity, and when It came. take ad-
vantage OF 1t. But this was probably
the reason he desired me sitting, and
1t was perfectly evident that he wished
nothing better than some excuse for
pulling the trigger. When was once
seated, however, he began to laugh. !.
your particular form of insanity,
he began, Interests me extremely. l
assure you that we have very few
patients who come here of their own
accord In fact, in all the time that
II have been connected with this insti-
tuition, do not remember any one,
who realized that he must stay here
for life, voluntarily seeking such a
lengthy course Of treatment and con-
1nement.''
"Where have you put herr" asked.
well" he said, "this Is another
peculiar feature Of the case, one OF
the rarest condolences, in my judg-
;ment, in all psychopathic history. You
doubtless believe, and / suppose will
calmly asesrt, that you were married
short time ago, and that some one
has taken your wife away from you,
You will say your name Is Ellsworth,
and that you were married to Miss
what's her name?-Bond, believe,
is the name. That wouldn't be so
funny, except for the coincidence; and
that, to my mind, is screamingly hum
orous. You may not believe it,-but
I forgot that, Of course, is exactly
what you do believe-but we have a
young lady here whose name really Is
Bond, whose peculiar form OF hallucina
ton is much like yours; that she was
married a short time ago (and this
will amuse even you. incredible as 1t
may seem), to man named ELS
worth. really must write paper
about it. OF course the thing may be
simply coincidence, and yet can
not believe but that I have discovered
a new form OF hallucination, which
propose to call 'telepathic insanity.
I watched him very carefully as ne
spoke. He was evidently much pleased
With himself, and the cold, close-set
ewes almost sparkled with pleasure
Once or twice he even waved the re
volyer In q sort of explanatory ges'
ture. a gesture which soon hoped TO
make him repeat saw him at close
quarters, q man almost as tall as am
whose thick, sloping shoulders, long
arms and broad, muscular hands prom
lised a strength beyond the ordinary,
Ia strength. which, If he would only
wave tie revolver q little farther to
one side. might test without TOO much
risk Of leaving Nancy without pro
tector.
"Do you propose to keep me here IN.
ipitely?" asked, more for the sake
of saying something than from any
curiosity as to his answer.
Doctor Morrison smiled. really
can not say" he said, with shrug OF
his shoulders; "that will be matter
for the other doctors to decide at some
future time. Perhaps in few years
thew might manage to effect your cure
and SO release you. Personally ! am
severine nv connection with the insti-
tuition. may be overstepping ethical
boundaries in making this confession
to a patient, but great good fortune
makes fools of us all. am going 10
be married, Mr.. Ellsworth"
might I inquire" | asked, II your
plans include bigamy?
"Now. Mr.. Ellsworth, now, now. Pray
he calm. The more you try to master
that hallucination of yours. the nearer
Won are to a cure. I am going to
marry Miss Bond, an old patient OF
mine who is almost cured"
The revolver waved so far this time
that nv muscles tautened for a spring.
'Cured?" I repeated.
eyes; we have great hopes OF our
new treatment. We have her
"Yes,' prompted, "you have her.
"Perhaps | had better not tell you,'
said Doctor Morrison.
"Just as you like" said, as indif-
ferently as I could. lowering my eyes
that he might not see the sudden muir
der in them.
"well, you'd better hear after ALL
said Doctor Morrison. "Just before
you dropped in here, we thought IT
best to remove her to the dark room"
"where?" managed to say.
"The dark ROOM" answered Doctor
Morrison, and pointed indefinitely
douyn and TO the right with the hand