Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1922-01-20
The Escaped
Patient
By wINiFRED DUNBAR


John Moor was writing a new novel
and he wanted a quiet country place
where he could be entirely alone.
Now he had found IT. It was an ideal
spot, not far from the metropolis and
yet In the very heart Of the country.
Il like this place immensely" he
said to the agent. But tell me frankly
why the rent is so low"
Il WILL" the agent answered. I'm
a frank man, and l believe frankness
pays. Iou see that red brick build
ing ecross the pasturet What do you
suppose it isT'
Some millionatre's house." said
John.
mo, sir" answered the agent. "Its
a lunatic asylum"
well l don't mind that" said John
His unhappy neighbors interested
him greatly. Often he would stand
at the foot of the big garden and
| watch them In the grounds. At the
bottom of the asylum grounds stood
the six trim doctors cottages, and
whenever patient roamed in this
direction he would see the doctor or
guard alert, watching, ready to hail
| his charge.
There was strip of neutral
| ground, sort of scrub forest, on one
side of the grounds. John often wan
| dered there when the creative faculty
was at work in him. One day, making
his way to his accustomed seat be-
meath a pine, he discovered that it
had been preoccupied by very charm
ing girl, who surveyed him thought
fully as be approached, but Without
the least sense of embarrassment.
"HelloH she greeted him.
There YVES curious kind of famil-
iarity in her tone which struck John
oddly.
"What are you doing here?" she
continued.
I own this place." said John. "At
least, / think it is included in my
boundaries"
"of course" said the girl. $50 do
we ALL"
"We?' asked John.
eyes. We folks of the community"
answered the girl.
"What community" John exclaimed.
"Why, yonder," said the girl, indi-
eating the asylum with a nod of her
head.
John felt his heart beat painfully
This charming young woman was,
then, patient at the asylum.
"How long have you lived here?
asked John.
"Seven years." answered the girl
"Come, let us go home," she added,
taking him by the arm.
IL have an engagement in the
town." John faltered.
''rm sure 1t will wait, won't itT
asked the girl. "Come, don't be fool
ish--what is YOUR name?"
"John.'
"King John?"
"Just john" said John.
"Then come home, like a sensible
man." she pleaded.
He had to use actual force to break
the girls grip on his arm, and, when
he had escaped, he almost ran into his
cottage. He barred the door behind
him.
A tap at his door aroused him from
the reverie into which he had fallen
He looked cautiously out Of the win
dow. 1t was not the girl, but a man,
bearded and grave-looking, whom
John knew to be a physician even be-
fore he opened the door
"Mr. Moore?" asked the visitor.
"You won't be surprised at my know
ing your name when tell you that ]
am one of the asylum doctors, and of
course we keep ourselves posted con-
corning our neighbors One Of our
patients has escaped. He may be in
your barn. Have I permission to
search itT
"a grip inquired John sadly.
"No, young fellow. am not sure
which of our people 1t is"
John accompanied the doctor to the
barn, but an exhaustive search of this
and the other buildings failed to re-
veal the fugitive.
"Well, guess one OF the guards
has got him." said the doctor 81 am
greatly obliged to you. Look In on
me sometimes-we are pretty lonely
here. Ny name is Bassett, and that
third cottage is mine. II should like
you to see my daughter. She Keeps
house for me, and is almost as good
physician as myself Her tact with
the patients is wonderful. And here
she comes nowi Don't run away; you
must meet her-why, Marjoryl'
The sweet face that John had
framed in his mind as a picture, was
suffused with bushes as Bassett said
the words of Introduction.
Ell thought you were patient"
she stammered. "Father. this gentle
man is-the-one 1 thought had es-
capped. and"
She could find no more words, and
John, conscious of the doctors quiet
amusement, was equally dumbfound-
ed.
est Tpii roY,,o thfs nvpnfncI ha Sta m.