The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-04-22
CHAPTER III-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 Gt'H 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
dayI'
The case occupied little time. The
prisoner was adjudged insane and
committed to the Dunning 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 superintend-
ent's Office, and there, questioned
about his family, gave the same fcti-
tious replies that had satisfied the po-
lice. Next he was examined by a
physician. 1t was the second time he
had enacted the part of lunatic, and
his persOnatfOn must have been done
with some success, for his disease"
was diagnosed, and he was classified
and assigned to a ward. After the
customary routine of bathing and
DOMINIC the regulation garb he had
leisure to sit down and plan his
escape. This seemed so ridiculously
simple that he almost regretted there
need be nothing spectacular about it,
that there was no necessity for over
towering 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
Dunning's topography, and after the
first night he was positive he would
be free before the dawn of anothe-
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
ibles, and as she placed it on a table
beside him he detected in her manner
a disquieting suggestion of constraint
But her first words were commonplace
enough.
"How are you?" she asked.
ooh, about as well as look, sup
pose"
al never saw you looking better
she admiringly observed.
"You must remember you haven't
seen me very often" he reminded her.
''Let me see-is it twenty or twenty
five days since we first saw each
other?" He laughed and started to
remove the napkin from the basket Of
food.
With a quick movement her hand
swiftly around.
Don't open it till you're sure no
body's looking"
He was not slow to surmise that q
file or some such instrument was con-
cealed in the basket. and though he
could scarcely repress a smile at the
unnecessary he replaced the napkin
and said quite soberly: "All right. I'll
take care"
"When do you expect to escape p
she asked, speaking in a cautious
whisper.
Tonight, If it's dark
"And you'll come to me? You'll let
me hide your" She searched his face
eagerly.
He did not answer at once. During
the long, wakeful hours last night,
when he had -enewed his glorious
castle building, this woman had not
figured in the dreams. AS she noted
his hesitation the unreasoning jeal-
ousy which she had been striving to
keep in check the past five minutes
broke forth In furiously blind tor
rent
Never mind!" she blazed. "Don't
come. I know you care nothing foE
me. You ungratefulE"
'Wait! Let me explain"
Don't speak to met I hate you.
{ shouldn't have come. hate you !"
Her voice had risen louder and
louder as her jealousy-infamed pas
sion mastered her prudence.
'.Wis -en be duietT' demanded Fix