The Washington times., 1912-11-06

insulting, viii you. then. Be s kind i'd
pens to Dc eo IN sss SGndt ar sse Cyril
Tut, man; don't pretend to be ig.
| norant. Remember. am a doctor and
can testify to facts: yes. facts" he
Poor Crichton sat down abruptly. He
really felt he could bear no more.
For heavens sake, doctor, tell me
what is the matter with her. 1 swear
l haven't the faintest idea"
His distress was SO evidently genu-
Inc that the doctor relaxed little and
looked at him searchinyly for mo-
ment.
"FiosgedY How awful! But / can't
believe IT,"
"Indeedr'
Certainly not. You must be mis-
taken; The bruises may be the result
They are not" snapped the doctor:
"Flogged! Here In England In the
twentieth century! But who could have
done such a thing?"
THAT is for you to explain, and I
must warn you that unless your ex-
PLANTATION is unexpectedly satisfactory.
l shall at once notify the police
holfe Gp,Uh,S9 %ped beads Of per-
But. doctor. I know no more about
II than you do"
so you think that II will be sufficient
for you to deny all knowledge as to
how, where. and by whom woman
who Is your wife-yes. sir. your wife
has been maitreated? Man, do you take
me for a fool?''
What should he do? Was this the mo:
ment to tell him the truth? No. 1t would
be useless. The doctor. believing him to
be brute, was not in a frame of mind
to attach credence to his story. The
truth was too improbable; a convincing
lie could alone save the situation.
My wife and I have not been living
together lately" he stammered.
"Indeedw The piercing eyes seemed
to grow more piercing. the long upper
Yes" Crichton hesitated. 1t Is dif-
ficult to invent a plausible story on the
spur of the moment.
I'm fact. l met her quite unexpectedly
In Neyh nave this morning." he said.
Yes. have just arrived from
France" continued Crichton, more flu
emily. An idea was shaping itself in his
mind. Il was most astonished to meet
my wife In England. as had been look
ing for her in Paris for the last week"
II don't understand"
unbalanced. For the last few months
she has been confined In an asylum"
Crichton spoke with increasing assur-
Where was this asylum"
''In France"
Yes, but where? France is a big
place"
at is called Chartered, and is about
thirty miles from Paris. in the direction
who is the director OF this institu-
tion?"
DIR. Leon Monet"
And you suggest that 1t was there
that she was ill-treated. Let me tell
you-"
Cyril interrupted him.
! suggest no such thing. My wife
u.
ago. We know she went to Paris. but
there We lost all trace of her. Imagine
my establishment at finding her on the
train this morning. How she got there
agitated, but I attributed that to my
presence. / have lately had q most
Unfortunate effect upon her. did ask
her how she got the bruise on her
had no idea she was suffering. II I
had been guilty of the condition she Is
In Is It likely that B.! should have
brought her to a man Of your reputa-
ton and character? l think that alone
proves my innocence"
The doctor stared at him fixedly for
few moments as II Weighing the
credihility Of his explanation: ,ou
whose care your wife has been is call
cd Monet?"
"Yes-.Leon Monet"
The doctor left the room abruptly.
pletely changed
II have just verified your statement
in a French medical directory. and
must apologize to you for having jump
ed at conclusions in the way did. Pray
forgive me-"
Crichton bowed rather distantly. He
| didn't feel overkindly to a man who
had forced him into such quagmire
of lies.
Now. as to- - Cyril hesitated a
! moment; he detested calling the girl
by his name. 'Now-as to-to-the
patient. Have you any idea when she
likely to co soSrse wha,
you tell me of her mental condition In
creases the seriousness Of the case.
with historical cases anything and ev-
erything is possible"
"Eut you do not fear the-worst?,
Certainly not: she Is young: she will
| receive the best OF care. I see no rea-
son why she should not recover. Now.
II you would like to remain near her
There seemed conspiracy to keep
him forever at the girls side! But this
time he meant to break away even II
he had to fight for It.
IT shall Of course remain near her.
Cyril Interrupted hastily II have taken
lodgings in Haif-Moon street. and shall
stay there till she has completely re-
covered. As she has lntely shown the
most violent dislike OF me. l think l
had better. not attempt to see her f O.,
the present Don't you agree with me?'
Certainly. I should not permit 1t I'M
der the circumstances"
IT shall daily to find out how she
is. and II there is any change In her
me at once" Crichton took out card
and scrubbed his address on 1t.
| This will always find me. And now
have q rather delicate request to make.
the Identity of your patient? You see.
|