The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-07-17
lSabe Z Ostnunde1 o,oa

it, connectedfw with the wine cellar,
and know that 1t wasn't true!
For the past month or two I
have fancfed that father was wor-
ried about something. I don't
think very seriously about it un-s
til that dreadful time a fortnight
ago when in the middle of the
night we were all awakened by a
loud knocking on the front door
and finally Garter the butler,
went down and opened it..
| 81 was leaning over the balus-
trade. and what do you think
saw? Our local policeman, Sam
Clark, was bringing IN stout
figure, dressed all in flowing white
walked I've brought Mr.. Hobart
walked I've brought Md. Hobart
home, Carter Sam said "a get
him to bed real quiet, but in the
morning you tell him if it hap
pens again we'll have to confis-5
! cate what he's got left in his
cellar 81 st s
.52. ''7Eis He was down il front OF the
soldiers monument sam ex-
ed-sheets, and spouting like a
Fourth OF July orator that he was.
Julius Caesar Lucky it was SO
late or he'd have had the whole
town round him. Soon's touch
ed him he seemed to sort of coll
lapse and he come along home
without any; trouble. He'll likely.
be all right in the morning.
Patricia had given an uncon-
sciously graphic imitation Of the
country consta BILE, but as she
paused and covered her face with
her hands there WIS nothing Of
amusement in the expressions of
either of her hearers.
ttDid you get a closer view of
your father, Miss Drake?' the lat
| ter asked after moment.
Eyes, I heard sort OF gasp be-
hind me and turned to find Uncle
Roger there, staring down at
father with such a shock, horri-
fed expression that5I thought he
was going to have a stroke or
something. We stood watching
them bring father Upstairs.
land where was your other
uncle, Mr.. Andrew Drake, dur
ing this timer"
..UncleS Andrew slept through
awfully jolly and the next morn
ing he tried to make light Of it,
but when he learned how really
i'll father was he was terribly Wor-i
ried.
.Your father was seriously i'll,
then?''
yes. 1t was week before he
went to his office IN Wall Street
and he hasn't gone to the village
once.I don't blame him" Her
small gloyed hands clenched on
the arms OF her chair. THE
things that were said and the hor-
=, 1ay
T was ashamed before-but it is
even worse now!
you mean that your uncles
have exhibited similar signs Of
er-eccentricity? the detective
asked.
Patricia nodded
mot exactly similar. but they
have done things that it seems to
me only people whose minds we're
deranged would do!-And Aunt
Jerusha's attitude#iS the most in.
applicable of all!
my dear Pat" John Wells ex-s
claimed. You cannot mean that
she a1so-!"
.'Oh no, l.unt Jerusha hasn't
gone crazy, too, but she insists
When I suggested an alienist this
morning she was angrier than
have ever seen her
Nothing more happened for
the first week after fathers
strange attack except that Uncle
Roger seemed to grow more deep
" troubled. He had promised to
give a lecture on archaeology at
the high school last Wedn esday.
If 7 had only known!'
WAS the lecture not given
cit was!" Bitterness sharpened
her soft, girlish tones. And the
next day the village was talking
worse than it had over fathers