Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-18

SAID DOCTOR MayleW, ana IL was quite
evident that he did For at the word
money HIS eyebrows had gone up,
and whatever doubt ] had read between
his eyes disappeared at the magical
sound. He felt himself at once on
firm footing.
While we were talking, Mrs. Lathrop
Lad crept stealthily to the door, and
now fumbled at the lock with his
trionic furtiveness that won my deep
admiration.
Careful" said
Doctor Mayhem whirled at the word
and, crossing the little office almost at
a stride, dragged the reluctant Mrs.
Lathrop back to her chair and put the
key in his pocket; then, with glance
at me. he drew another chair in front
of her. and sitting down, put her few
idiotically simple questions, none of
which Mrs. Lathrop answered, save to
moan in as many different keys, 81
am not crazy" until trembled be-
t-.een anxiety and almost irrepressible
laughter
Doctor Mayhem sighed. "Very sad
case, sir" he said, turning to me,
while Mrs. Lathrop threw me kiss
over his shoulder you have my
deepest sympathy, sir. You say this
poor lady has a great fortune?"
And following the silent motion of
Mrs. Lathrop's lips:
"Only million or So" answered.
Then as an afterthought. "Of course
have been unable, as yet, to determine
its exact extent. AS you are prob
ably aware, this can not be done until
she has been declared mentally incom-
petent, and have been appointed her
legal guardian"
Doctor Mayhem looked at me
shrewdly
1T will be very difficult case" he
said, "and can not promise you that
she will ever quite regain her faculties.
For cases of this sort, needing such a
variety of treatment, our uniform
charge is six thousand dollars year"
Every WELL said, you shall have
the first month in advance tomorrow,
by which time, I suppose, you Will
have the necessary papers made out"
EYES," said the doctor, "and, by the
way, no checks, please. Doctor Garlic
ton, my colleague, has an aversion to
checks, and we find that, in general
our clients themselves prefer cur
rency.'
Very WELL" agreed, as gravely as
could, for Mrs. Lathrop had suddenly
Strengthened herself from an attitude
of trance-like vacancy, and had started
making rabbit of her handkerchief.
was in terror as to the lengths to
which her eager conscientiousness
might carry her.
"Of course, you will give my aunt
q good room and proper attendance"
said land If you will take word Of
advice from me Doctor, you will see
that the maid who waits on her has
dark hair. She has particular aver
sion to blondes"
At this, Mrs. Lathrop clapped her
hands in noiseless admiration; for, LII
spite Of her pretended carelessness and
really wonderful courage, think that,
at heart, the thought Of the grim Mrs.
Olsen troubled her.
1--WE have just the person." said
Doctor Mayhem. 81 am very glad that
YOU brought the matter up. Five hun
dred dollars tomorrow, then. Mr..
Lathrop."
eyes, said; ri am sorry did not
bring it with me-"
Doctor Mayhem unlocked the door,
and touched the bell for the janitor.
"Let me know of Mr.. Lathrop's ar
rival tomorrow imediately," he said.
"Come, Mrs. Lathrop, want to show
you pretty room in this hotel"
"Boo," said Mrs. Lathrop, and shot
the rabbit into his face.
CHAPTER XIII.
We had arranged that Mrs. Lathrop
should let me know her room by rails
ing and lowering her shade after dark,
when 1 could watch the sanatorium
without risk of discovery; and that
was to climb the Ivy, as had on the
previous night, and hear her report of
progress. It was the best plan that
we had been able to devise and in prac-
tice found it most unsatisfactory; the
greatest objection being that had 10
wait in idleness through all the day
light hours, and either keep to my
room, or assume an almost Impossible
calm in public After an hour or 80,
chose my room and chose 1t thankfully.
It is very easy thing TO fight and
q ,.4y difficult !ii:lA:-- &c Wait Tor Tie
la Peop.e in the hotel. i fo.'nt
looked at me askance; my driver. W."
ha,. driven on: y;ltn two and come ba k
with one, had probably spread the I'd
ings of where the ether had been left,
so that 1 gradually found myself feel
ing like scoundrel, after the need to
pose as one had passed Neither could
| forget the mention Of that dark
ROOM with which he Of the brown
derby had threatened Nancy. Mrs.
Lathrop had promised to try to get
some word to her, so that she might
feign some thought of acquiescence,
and put off further torture until the on-
portunity came to set her altoge her
beyond it's reach. But in my loneliness
was filed with growing dread that
something might go wrong, that Mrs.
Lathrop would not only be unable TO
send word to Nancy, but she herself
might be recognized by Mrs. Olsen,
and our whole scheme come tottering
to earth. But, come what might, de-
termined grimly that neither Nancy
nor Mrs. Lathrop should pass more
than one more night there, if had to
fight the whole sanatorium force to
pct them out