Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-04
The Social Pirates 81


you will find the sign OF his office
I Just ahead" he directed. IF the
doctor is at liberty his secretary viii
arrange an appointment for you.
Mona thanked him, and as the car
came to a halt inside the grounds,
she beckoned to Mary, and bidding
the chauffeur TO wait, made her way
\ through the doorway marked office.
Are you ready for your ordeal,
dear, If necessary" she said in low
tone.
"Tu do my part-neycr fear" was
/ the firm reioinder. And then the two
found themselves inside the private
office OF the sanitarium, and facing a
white-coated attendant, who was tell
| ing them to be seated while he noti-
| fed the doctor OF their presence. The
attendant had been seated at fiat
top desk, on which was opened
large book, suggesting journal or
register. Mona stepped quickly
across TO the desk as the man lett the
room. As her eyes fell on the opened
page before her she gave little gasp.
The latest entry in the volume
evidently a register OF the patients OF
the institution-wa
Robert Gardner"
And it had been written in the
same handwriting, which had ad-
Ydressed the mysterious letter at the
Grand hotel the day beforel
Mona was back in her seat, staring
demurely from the window when the
attendant returned. With him was a
midde-aged man, with the pointed
beard and alert, professional manner
of a physician. Ii needed no intro
duction TO define him as Dr. Ludlow,
the head Of the institution. Mona at
once rose from her chair, and drew
him apart from Mary, who sat look
ing from the window, apparently OBJ
liyious to the others entrance.
MAY | talk to you in priyateP
the girl asked, indicating her COM
panion with a little gesture. The
doctor nodded, and let the way into
long inner corridor, into which the
outer office led.
MY sister is suffering from a Sc
we're nervous shock" explained Mona.
II don't know just how serious it
may be, but / have come to the con-
clusion that she needs expert at
tendance and treatment--and your in
stitution has been recommended to
me as one where she will receive the
best OF care. should like to dis
cuss her case with you, and if we can
arrange terms, perhaps"
DR.. Ludlow nodded sympathetical-
III ly, evidently not at all ayerse 10 the
suggestion OF a new patient. For a
few moments Mona explained, with
, wonderfully improyised completeness
, the details OF her Sisters" malady
and then the doctor set forth the
! terms OF the institution, and the treat
J ment which he endeayored 10 ad-
minister to patients Of the character
described to him Mona purposely
haggled somewhat over the terms
and the two were deep in discussion
Of the subject when from somewhere
in the building came the sounds OF a
/ violent scufile, and the shouts OF a
man.
/ The next moment haggard figure
burst into the corridor, with uni
1 formed attendant hanging to his
arms, and endeavoring to drag him
back. II was Roland MAXWELL
. With a muttered curse, DIR. Lud
| low sprang back from Mona's side
I and rushed toward the struggling
/ pair. Before he could reach them
: Maxwell with a sudden twist, hae
: jerked himself free from the attend
ants arms and hurled the guard limp,
ly into a corner. Without a word DR.
Ludlow flung himself on MaxwelP'
! shoulders, and the two swayed bacl
; and forth, Ludlow quite evidently
: trying to force the refractory pa
tient" back into the hall from which
: he had escaped.
: Mona could hear the scuffle contin
, uing behind the door. She hestatet
! for a moment and then, stealing for
ward tried the handle. 1t turned il
her hand and the door swung open
Maxwell had been thrown into
chair, almost unconscious, while Lud
low was disappearing through anothe
|, door at the end OF the corridor, evi
n IDENTIFY in search OF reinforcemcnts
+ Mona saw that for the time at leas
K the coast was clear With a swift
$ glance in the direction which Lud
r low had taken, she ran 70 Maxwell
I side, and as the man stared up at he
!, stupidity in kind OF vague recogni
ton, she whispered briefly, Help j
q nearl Pretend TO be subdued, an
: watch for the appearance OF friend
I tonight"
: Before the other could reply, sh
had darted back through the door
, way and closed the door behind hei
She was IN the outer office when Dl
r Ludlow made his appearance ie'
4 moments later, with apologies Tor iii
!, disturbance which had interruptc
: their conversation. Mona acccpte
+. his apologies with becoming ingent
j. business, and stepped aside As Ludlo'
4 pun few formal professional que'
! tions TO her supposed sister.
a IL was o'clock in the aticrnoo
h when the machine again role
n through the spiked entrance Eatcwa
n OF Tie Rcsylcw sanitarum Mar
d CARED about her with open metl
n 1intY aud heaManeN, but Mona mg
tht situation sefenvtg Shr Was eos
Is udcul that Il the other grl wert fur
"a engagements that would eEnleate ht
before serious results could Mppe.
.t and they WFfr p.0lnE i0f flasf
.f lh4t demanded a ttfIalu clemgm &
81 efahl
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Dis hands and wih BIZ most ttmH-
sF tHCtE professional u'e aa Dos 8H
a. iN Waa HuE HWt6 &t0a eam Macs GH
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0 Ithe mNamt ui t aj hsaHet Be-
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