Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-07-14
CHAPTER IIl.-cOntinued.

-
you're not insane. Nobody said
you were. But for a while you've got
&c act insane. It's your only hope.
Ind I'm pretty sure you're equal TO
the acting. If you plead crazy-and
act and talk and look crazy dtll be
easy for you)-it's more than likely
you'll get Off lightly. It's your only
chance Absolutely the only one. I'm
not saying It's a Tat one or a soft one.
only say It's your only one. Good
day."
The case occupied little time The
prisoner was adjudged insane and
committed to the Dunnlng insane asy-
lum until declared cured Two stall
wart officers. neither Of whom was as
muscular as he, escorted him to the
street.
Upon Fitzhugh's arrival at Dun
ming he was taken TO the superlntend-
ent's Office. and there. questioned
about his family. gave the same flcti-
tious replies that had satisfied the POI
lice. Next he was examined by
physician. 1t was the second time he
had enacted the part OF lunatic. and
his personation must have been done
with some success, for his "disease"
was diagnosed, and he was classified
and assigned to ward. After the
customary routine of bathing and
donnlng the regulation garb he had
leisure to sit down and plan his
escape. This seemed so ridlculously
simple that he almost regretted there
need be nothing spectacular about 1t,
that there was no necessity for over
powering a guard or breaking bars, or
for any other kind OF heroics.
While entering the grounds he had
kept his eyes open. with the result
that he had a rough mental picture OF
Cummings topography, and after the
first night he was positive he would
be free before the dawn of another
dry.
He lay awake until broad daylight.
hoping the next night would be a
cloudy one, listening to the unearthly
sounds that came at intervals from
the violent vards-and thinking, think.
ing. he thought mostly of the future
and the more he thought of IL the
more wide awake he became. Sleey
was out of the question.
Before noon that day came Esther
She had brought him basket of ed
lbies. and as she placed u on a tahl,
beside him he detected In her manner
ossquieting suggestion OF constraint
But her first words were commonplace,
enough.
'How are your" she asked.
"Oh, about as well as l look, sup
pose"
81 never saw you looking BETTER
she admiringly observed
"You must remember you haven
seen me very often" he reminded her
"Let me see-is 1t twenty or twenty
Ave days since we first saw eacl
other2" He laughed and started 4
remove the napkin from the basket o
food
With a quick movement her hant
H. sized out and seized his. She glancet
swatly around.
Don't open It till you're sure no
body's looking"
He was not slow to surmise that
6le or some such instrument was con
cealed In the basket. and though h,
could scarcely repress a smile ut tn,
unnecessary he replaced the napkin
and said quite soberly: "All right. II
take care"
when do you expect to escape7'
she asked. speaking In q caution.
whisper.
Tonight. if it's dark"
"And you'll come to mel You'll lie
me hide your she searched his fac,
eagerly.
He did not answer at once. Durinl
the long. wakeful hours last night
when he had enewed his gloriou
castle building. this woman had no
figured 10 the dreams. AS she note,
his hesitation the unreasonIng zeal
ousy which she had been striving 4
keep in check the past five minute
broke forth In a furiously blind tor
rent
~Never mind" she blazed. Don
come! / know you care nothing 10
me. You ungrateful-"
"waitl Let me explain"
Don't speak to mel I hate yoJ
] shouldn't have come. hate you
Her voice had risen louder an
louder as her jealOusy-infamed pa,
alon mastered her prudence.
"wlll you be Quietg'' demanded Fla