Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-12-08
NUMBER 4e

Of his footsteps down the corridor Mol
lie ventured out upon tour OF inves-
tigation. Near the stairway she was
met by a genial inferno. ostensibly on
patrol "Oh, be goodr' he admonish.
ed, and she retreated to her room.
Shortly before s the nurse arrived
with an intolerant air Of espionage.
Molue greeted her joyfully. "Now,
cried she, I'VE will have time to look
over the photographs have wanted to
show you Of your settlement friends.
This, as you know. is the matron." In
eager interest two heads bent over the
views
Would you believe" Mollie present
ly reminded, that It is now time to 90
downstairsT The nurse arose direct
ly. At the doctors office she waited
until her charge had entered the room
Il will call for you in the course oi
half an hour" she said.
Safely inside. Mollie heaved a sigh
of relief. Yes. the moments stolen b!
the showing Of the photographs had a'
swered their purpose-the doctor had
gone. He had spoken Of leaving the
hospital ut s:15, and Mollie had plan
ned and desperately counted upon hnd
ing the room empty; then 1t would !"
but one daring dash to the "entry'
and-frcedom. What Joy to conquer
that determined young surgeon-whnt
humiliation to suffer defeat at his
hands. Suddenly Mollie's wandering
gaze fell upon fur coat thrown upon
the couch. The doctors hat and medl
cine case lay beside It So he WAS
still In the building: had stepped out
perhaps to Inquire OF her lateness: IN
a moment he would return and then
Her resolve instantly made. Mollic
caught up the long coat. buttoning II
about her tall young figure. With
gleeful chuckle she pulled the soft NAT
down over her ears: then. medicine
case In hand. looking neither to the
right nor left. she strobe across tl'
hall. and the great. nolSrlrss doors clos
ed behind her.
When DR.. Joyce reentered his sane.
tum a short time after he impatiently
summoned the nurse. III Miss Still
well has changed her mind regarding
that appointment she must let me
know" he said. II have already wait
ed past the time asked to bring her
here"
81 did bring her." the nurse answer
ed perplexedly. n little while ago"
Then she has no doubt returned to
her room. Kindly make inquiry.
But MISS Sullwell was not 10 be
found In her room or in the corridor
nor, upon later search. In the entire
hospital When Dr. Joyce looked about
for his coat preparatory to Interview
Ing his waiting chauffeur the coat had
mysteriously disappeared. So also. upon
further investigation. had the doctors
car itself. visibly perplexed. the usu-
ally calm minded doctor returned to
the office. A search Of the adjoining
hospital grounds failed to throw any
light upon her disappearance. and the
doctor was about to settle down into
wrathful despair when the telephone
bell tangled across his troubled senses.
"Dr. Joyce" questioned II merry.
mocking voice. "are yon still enforc'
ing quarantine? Because II you are
you had better send back for your au-
tomobiLe. / had to borrow II in order
to get away. The hill was very dark
and very steep This Is Mollie Still
we'll"
"You-got-awayT The doctor SEEM
ed incapable Of grnsping any other
fact. Yes" the triumphant tone con
tinued: "your car beneath my window
gave me the idea. but ! never should
have been able to reach II unobscrved
without the aid Of your soft hat and
long cloak obligingly left upon the Of
fee couch. The medicine ease helped
too You had told NE that your chauf'
feur would expect you ut S:l5. SO !
jumped into the car ut just that time.
II seemed advisable to slip out Of II ut
your house door-so did But when
the man had driven away II was nee
essary to bring your things home with
me. and now. with all due apologies.
how shall | get them to you?"
The question broke OF in breath
less laugh. while sudden smile
twitched at the doctors lips and grew
and danced In his deep set eyes.
"Am | to understand that you delib.
erately made your escape In my coat
in my car and carrying my tools and
toxins with you?'
"I did" The admission was far from
regretful.
"Then under the circumstances he
paused lmpressively-" there Is but one
thing to be done With your pernis-
sion shall call to collect my belong.
ings."
"Please come-at once. said Mollie
And. while her friends agreed Mol
lie should have had husband to con.
troll her wayward will. she married the
surgeon who glories In II instead. But
nothing ever happened to MollIe ex'
actly as 1t should"