The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-09

pointed beard and alert professional manner Of
physician. It needed no introduction to define
him as Doctor Ludlow, the head of the institu-
ton. Mona at once rose from her chair, and
drew him apart from Mary, who sat looking
from the window, apparently oblivious to the
others entrance.
MAY 1 talk to you in private?" the girl
asked, indicating her companion with a little
gesture The doctor nodded, and led the way into
long inner corridor, into which the outer ofacs
led.
my sister is suffering from a severe nervous
shock" explained Mona. ST don't know Just how
serious 1t may be, but have como to the CON-
cluson that she needs expert attendance and
treatment-and your institution has been recon-
mended to me as one where she will receive tho
best of care. I should like to discuss her case
with you, and IL we can arrange terms, per
haps-"
Doctor Ludlow nodded sympathetically, evi-
IDENTIFY not at all to the suggestion OF .
patient. For few moments Mona ex-
planned, with wonderfully improvised complete
ness, the details of her sisters" nalady, and
then the doctor set forth the terms Of the insti-
tuition, and the treatment which he endeavored to
administer to patients OF the character described
to him. Mona purposely haggled somewhat over
the terms, and the two were deep In the discus
sion of the subject when from somewhere in the
building came the sounds Of violent scuffle, and
The next moment . haggard figure burst
into the corridor. with uniformed attendant
hanging to his arms, and endeavorng to drag
him back It Rowland Maxwell ---
With muttered curse Doctor Ludlow sprang
back from Mona's side and rushed toward the
struggling pair. Before he could reach them,
Maxwell, with sudden twist, had jerked him
self free from the attendants arms and hurled
the guard limping into a corner. Without word
Doctor Ludlow flung himself Maxwells shout
ders. and the two swayed back and forth, Lud
low, forcing the refractory patient" back into ths
hall from which he had escaped.
Mona could hear the scufle continuing be-
hind the door. She hesitated for moment and
then, stealing forward, tried the handle. 1t
Ynod in her and md ha
Maxwell had been thrown into chair, almost
unconscious. while Ludlow was disappearing
through another door at the end of the corridor
evidently in search of reinforcements. Mona
that for the time at least the coast
clear With swift glance in the direction which
Ludlow had taken, she ran TO Maxwell's side. and
the man stared up at her stupidity in a kind
of vague recognition, she whispered briefly: Help
Is near! Pretend to be subdued and watch for
the appearance of friends tonight"
1t four o'clock in the afternoon when
the machine again rolled through the spiked en-
trance gateway of the Restview Sanitarium. Mary
gazed about her with open uncertainty and hest
fancy, but Mona met the situation serenely. She
confident that If the other girl were running
into peril. she had made arrangements that
would extricate her before serious results could
happen And they were playing for stakes that
demanded a certain element of risk! Everything
went well and that night Mary admitted Mona,
with two paid keepers. into the institution. They
held up the guard and quieckly found Maxwell's
room
It was In the early morning when the su-
tomobile drew up again before the entrance OF
the Grand Hotel. Mona's plans had already been
made, and hasty consultation with the bewiid.
cred Maxwell had brought a hasty assent from
him. Covering the fnancer in long automo-
bile buster, and pulling cap well down over his
face, the two girls proceeded with him through
the lobby and to the elevator, without any ink
ling of the missing mans temperance reaching
the night clerk at the desk. When the three were
safe In the sitting room of the girls suite Mona
sketched rapidly for Maxwell a review Of the
events of the past twenty -four hours-and tbs
fnancier, now beginning to recover from his dis
quieting experience, added such details a. were
necessary for a thorough understanding Of the
situation. Monas surmise that he had been kid
mapped by enemies the market WAS correct.
His disappearance had been engineered by Messrs.
Durkin and Wentworth following his refusal to
aid them in their scheme to force down the mar
ket. Maxwell paced restlessly back and forth
over the room his keen mind. now restored
to normal, began to appreciate the full enormity
of what had been DONE and how much he owed
to the quick wit Of his two young friends
1--WE will, Of course, keep my reappearance .
secret until we see how the market breaks" he
decided, "but had better get someone out to
the internal santarium without delay. Your
man must be about exhausted with his vigil
and besides II Wentworth Durdn think to
phone the place, they will learn at once what
has happened. We must guard against that hap
penng until we are ready to spring our little sur.
prise"
Maxwelrs little "surprise" when IL I'm.
ally sprung at about noon. proved all that could
have been desired. The two conspirators were lit
orally caught red-handcd, and suffered them
selves to be led into custody without q word Even
when they met Doctor Ludlow at the police sta
ton, their stupefaction and bewderment were
so great that they accepted this last crushing
blow without word. With the sudden reappear-
ance of Maxwell, the artificial debated stock
Jumped back to normal with . surprising bound.
and the fnancer returned to his hotel late In
the afternoon, on the whole very well satisfied
with the days Developments.
His first action to summon Mary and
Mona, and they stepped into the room. hs
pressed into their hands two checks.
81 took the liberty of investing few hum
dred for you in Munition Stock before sent tho
market up again." he explained Il thought you
were entitled to profit by what you have DONE"
And then before they could utter word d
thanks he produced . telegram from his desk.
INV secretary has been unexpectedly de.
tanned. But have decided not to wait for hi
report on your plans. You may count mo fully
prepared to cooperate with you. young ladies' y
An hour later. in the privacy Of their room,
Mary threw herself into Mona's arms with
1ys -