The Washington herald., 1920-06-22
Cxxyu-sAFE.

staggered and would have fallen
had not Jim darted forward and
caught me in his arms.
Helene. dearest" he was muir
muring.
From behind me. in the cellar
came a low growing sound. more
like that of a savage dog than OF
. human being.
Take care" cried, "the woman
mad" 1 held tight to Jim.
Tony, evidently in command oil
the situation. directed Jim to take
me upstairs, while he himself en-
tered the cellar and approached the
desperate creature crouching in a
gloomy corner.
What took place between them ]
don't know. But twenty minutes
later, Tony came to me. white-faced
and haggard.
Helene" he said. and there was
anguish in his tones, "that-tha'
poor mad creature-is-my motner!
In an upstairs room of Thorny
Grange lay Travis Lloyd, while In
another room of the same stately
mansion lay his insane wife.
Quietness had fallen on the place
Tony. like some pale ghost, was
stalking round.
Its "a ghastly business" he
kept saying to my husband. Ito
think that she-my-mother"-
voice showed genuine emotion
would attempt to kill-my poor
father"
Helene has been telling me all
about it," he assured Tony, "and I'm
afraid the shot was really meant
for her. Its the third time the
attempt has been made. Once when
she was motoring with your father
once when she was sleeping in
her room at Anstruther Lodge-ano
now today"
Tony looked mystifed.
But why should the attempts be
made on Helene? What grudge
could the poor soul have against
Helene?"
Jim cleared his throat. This was
a little awkward. But the truth
must be told.
I'm afraid Mrs. Lloyd was actu-
ated by motives of jealousy. She
couldn't bear to see your father
In Helene's company" supple
mented Tony rather grimly. "Ah,
now 1 seen His look was signifi-
cant.
I flushed hotly, remembering
Tony's previous indignation over
Travis Lloyd's attentions. He prob
ably had guessed then that the
latter was his own father. though
his mothers sad state was unknown
to him.
All. well. he knew it now! Poor
Tony.
He was terribly worried. too, over
his fathers condition. watched
Tony rather keenly. knowing as we
all did that IL the master of this
stately mansion died, Tony would
inherit after him.
But Tony seemed to have put such
thoughts from him. His anxiety
over both his parents was quite
pitiful.
when the two doctors came out
Of Travis Lloyd's room, Tony-with
Jim and me-met them in the pass
age.
The doctors wore a cheerful look.
He'll get over il all right an
nounced one of them; hes only
weak from shock and loss of blood
A good clean wound-through the
shoulder. and just grazed the lung
it'll heal up in no time. you'll see
Tony was beaming. His air of de-
light was genuine.
Got a wonderful constitution,
your father has" said the other
doctor, Outdoor life-splendid con-
dition-everything in his favor"
We turned and walked with them
along the passage. Tony was speak
ing to the doctors in a low voice. I
caught the words:
MY mother
There was a whispered collOquy
Then the three of them moved off
in the direction of the room where
the mad woman lay.
Jim and I descended the wide
shallow staircase to the hall. The
family butler-he who had given
me the ellar-key-brought us some
hot coffee, and insisted that we
drink II.
Your lunch was sadly interrupt
ed. sir" he said to Jim. "You and