The Harrison times., 1920-03-20
CHAPTER lII.-Continued.

you're not insane Nobody said
you were. But for a while you've got
to act insane. It's your only hope,
and I'm pretty sure you're equal to
the acting If you plead crazy-and
act and talk and look crazy Gtu be
easy for yoU-its more than likely
you'n get off lightly It's your only
chance Absolutely the only one. I'm
not saying it's a rat one or u soft one
| only say it's your only one. Good
dayw
The case occupied little time. The
prisoner was adiudged insane and
committed to the Dunning insane asy-
um until declared cured. Two stall
wart officers neither Of whom was as
muscular as he, escorted him to the
street
Upon Fitzhughs arrival at Dun,
ming he was taken to the superintend.
ents Office and there, questioned
about his famiIy, gave the same fcti-
tious replies that had satisfied the po.
lice. Next he was examined by a
physician. It was the second time he
had enacted the part Of a 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
donning the regulation garh he had
leisure to sit down and plan his
escape. This seemed 50 ridiCuOusly
simple that he almost regretted there
need be nothing spectacular about it,
that there was no necessity for over
poWering a guard or breaking bars, or
1r2r 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
Dunning's topography and after the
first night he was positive he would
be free before the dawn Of another
day.
He lay awake until broad daylight,
hoping the next night would be
cloudy one, listening to the unearthly
sounds that came at intervals from
the violent wards-and thinking, think
ing, He thought mostly of the future,
and the more he thought of it the
more wide awake he became. Sleep
was out Of the question.
Before noon that day came Esther.
She had brought him a basket of ed.
iblcs, and as she placed 1t on a table
beside him he detected in her manner
disQujeting suggestion Of constrG!nt.
But her first words were commonplace
enough
"How are you?" she asked.
"Oh, about as well as | look, l sup
pose"
81 never saw you looking better
she admirngy observed.
"You must remember you haven't
seen me very Often" he reminded her.
"Let me Sce-lS It twenty or twenty.
five days since we first saw each
otherT lie laughed and started to
remove the napkin from the basket Of
food
with quick movement her hand
flashed out and seized his. She glanced
swiftly around,
"Dou't open It till you're sure no.
body's looking"
He was not slow TO surmlsc that a
file or some such instrument was con
ccalcd In the basket and though he
could scarcely rcprcss Il smile at the
uuoccssjrN he replaced the napkin
and said quite sobcrDy; "All right I'll
take care"
"Whou do you expect TO csrupo|
She asked. speaking IN cautious
Whisper
"T1uIghL If IT'S dark"
"Aod youIl come TO me? You'll let
me hide you| She searched his face
ugorlN
llo did not answer At once. During
me- long wokoCul hours last night
.hon ho had renewed his glorious
uylo building This woman had not
Igrpd In the dreams, As she noted