Charlevoix county herald., 1920-08-13

II you're hurried, papa, Charlie can
take us down In his car"
"To be sure" agreed BENIN.
IF Mr.. Clinton has no objections, !
prefer to take him myself. at once"
MAY 1 ask" began that young
man.
Certainly, certainly. l shall ex-
plain on the way down. Come. The
ladies will soon follow us In Charles
car"
"At once" exclaimed Ellen.
"No," ordered her father, glancing
at his watch. mot before half an
hour at least. Come, Mr.. Clinton"
The guest stiffened at the peremp-
tory tone of his host.
"Does 1t not strike you, sir, that this
proceeding is rather Odd" he asked.
TT must indeed seem so to you, Mr..
Clinton" replied Mrs. Kirkland. "But
my husband will explain on your way
down."
81 see," he rejoined, and he stared
at the physician, his blue eyes bright
with angry suspicion. "You are all
under a delusion that l am daft
insane. You have spoken of sani-
tarium. l have heard of supposedly
insane persons being decoyed into in
stitutions."
"Decoyed! You think L" gasped
the physician. He choked between
indignation and mirth, and waggled
his plump hand at his wife. "T-tell
him-what-why"
She smiled at the guest with unmis-
taxable candor in her look. 1--WE should
have explained the situation to you at
once" she said. 1T is true we still
doubt your Identity. My husband con-
siders that the quickest way to settle
the matter is to take you home to your
sister,"
Home? Sister,"
"You still Very well, then-to see
Miss Amy Lowrie. Your-pardon me
his mother is away, as l believe we
told you at the depot. But even
though she is not there Amy will be
certain to know YOU"
"She will know me for what l am
an absolute stranger to you ALL" he
| qualified.
"Oh, VIII, please implored Ellen
1--WE shall see, my DEAR" soothed
her mother. 1.-THE moment he and
Amy see each other there will nc
longer be any doubt of the truth"
"Then | shall be glad to go at once, '
said Clinton. "This misunderstanding
is as embarrassing to me as l fear II
is distressing to Miss Kirkland. The
sooner 1t is settled the better"
"Do not follow for at least half an
hour" Doctor Kirkland ordered the
others as he went out with his guest
At the curb he sprang into the front
of his car and motioned to Clinton to
seat himself in the tOnneau. The mo-
ment they were aboard the car shot
out into the street and whirred away
much faster than the city speed limit
A light high up against the starry
blue-black sky, outlined the dome, OF
the capitol. Doctor Kirkland ran or
to within block of the capitO
grounds and drew up before an ole
brick mansion.
"Here we are" he said, and hi
started in across the sidewalk withou,
looking about at his passenger.
"Good evening, Tillie," said Doctor
Kirkland, opening the screen door.
~ guessed II was your ring, doctor
said the woman with the familiarity
Of an old servant. "Come right in
and the other gentleman, too. Miss
Amy is just-my lands If II amt Mr.
VIII. Well, | never! Looking fner'n
silk. too! Well, am glad to see you
home again, Mr.. VIII! I'll run at
once and tell Miss Amy. She'll be
most tickled to death |"
She left the visitors and hurried
back along the narrow hallway, call.
ing breathlessly: "Miss Amy! Miss
Amyl Where are you? Lord bless
us Here's Mr.. Will home again
Where are you? Here's Mr.. VIII
Where"
"Will? Will Oh! Then he has
come! Obi" came a girlish shrek OF
delight In the hall above.
Clinton had stepped inside, after
Doctor Kirkland. Looking up at the
turn of the stairs, he caught sight OF
two little sllppered feet twinkling on
the steps of the top flight. In a mo-
ment their owner swung around the
turn and flew down the long, straight
lower flight as If winged. The young
man had a swift vision Of graceful
animated little form with outflung
arms, Of charming little dlmpled
face, Of pair of starlile brown eyes
Then the vision was at the foot of the
stairs.
He drew back with what seemed to
be instructive reserve. Doctor Kirk.
land frowned and shot glance from
him to the girl. She had not paused
II In her excitement she perceived the
young mans attempt to avoid her she
dlsregarded II. From the foot Of the
stairs she darted past the physician
to his companion. Clinton continued
to draw back. He put out his hands
as II to keep her away from him.
"Wait, wait!" he protested. 81
must"