The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-10-19
CHAPTER ky

| There was dead silence in the room,
but it vibrated with the clash Of op-
posing wills.
but the glitter of her eyes showed
beneath her lashes. She was watch
ing Bristow.
They were waiting for him, Hig-
gins ready to negative anything he
said, Anita longing for him to expos
tulate, that she might have the salts
faction of deciding against him. But
even in this pass, he took pleasure
in thwarting them, in following the
opposite tack from the one they ex-
pected.
"Ah? Extreme measures?" He
spoke quietly. implying by his tone
that Higgins had not given a final
decree, but had suggested an expedi-
ent which was open for discussion.
We'll, If that is the only recourse.
1 am for 1t. But to give up without
struggle at this stage, to charge
off so promising an enterprise as a
dead loss
Higgins wrinkled hand fumbled
spite of himself, Bristow's argu-
ments had given him pause to think.
you talk like you had something
already up your sleeve" he squinted
shrewdly through his glasses. "Judg-
in by recent performances, faint
probably worth hell room. But III
listen What's your big idea, Doc?
Spring it,
Bristow laughed deprecatngIy.
You could hardly dignity it by call
ing it an idea. Just a suggestion
that's been floating around in my
mind while we've been talking. It's
scarcely formed yet. 1t will take
you to put it in shape, and work
out the Details
Bristow paused the wink Of an
eyelash, and then plunged. MY
idea, is, return Hope Ranger to her
father"
II he had been seeking to create
a dramatic effect, he could not have
succeeded better. Miss Copley's low
cred lids shot up. She expelled her
breath in a gasp that sounded like
hiss. Higgins reared back in his
chair.
Bristow ignored it.
Suppose them" he was talking
directly to Higgins, instead of
working under cover, and following
our original plan OF getting all we
can out of Ranger. and then putting
the girl out of the way, we come
boldly into the open? We notify him
that we have reason to suspect his
daughter is held here as a patient.
We give him and his wife the op-
portunity to identify and observe
her But we do not let her see or
speak to them. We explain that the
shock might be disastrous in her
present condition. Meanwhile, we
are doing everything possible for the
girl. We enlarge her privileges, give
her the tenderest care. distract her
mind. buoy up her spirits. and
eventually cure her. Don't you i'm
agine that her parents will be so
grateful. that no fee 1 could name
would seem exorbitant?
More than that, I can easily con-
vince them. that she will require con-
slant, trained supervision to prevent
| a. recurrence Of the neurosis. Alder
| man, we can capitalize that girl into
an annual income. I'll occupy the po-
sition Of family friend and benefactor,
with all the business and social OPP
portunities that the term implies"
"All very nice" Higgins ran his
fingers through his struggling, gray
hair. Got some points. too. But how
the devil, Doc, are you ever going to
explain her bein' here, or square this
up with your passin' her off as Anita's
sister,"
oh, that?" He examined his fin
gernails. why, Anita will simply
have to disappear. Go to Toxic, or
Buenos Aires, or some other charm
ing place, and enjoy herself Then We
can very plausibly say, that we Were
imposed on by one of our nurses, who
introduced the daZed girl here as he
sister, Our suspicious became
aroused; but before we could ques-
ton the nurse. she got frightened and
took French leave. We can frame up
a suicide for her. il it's necessary"
The Copley woman's agitation,
which had been steadily rising, sud
denly broke all bounds. She flung
|
features controlled, her eyes burning.
$50 that's your beautiful scheme, it
it?" The low restrained speech
which she so carefully affected gave
way to her natural coarse shrillness.
I'm to be the goat, and shoulder all
the blame, am 1? I'm to be conven-
ientIy shunted out of the way. so that
you can carry on your love affair?
Well, not by damn sight, Harvey
Bristowi"
ct ought to order. you into a strait
jacket" He looked at her with cold
scorn You're candidate for the
violent ward, with your hyste-ical
decisions. It's all too absurd to an
swer
Alderman, I ask you" he ap-
pealed to~the old man. who was It
that first proposed this abduction?
| Whose idea was it? We all remember
the day Anita came home chuckling,
because a salesgirl in a shop had
mistaken her for Hope Ranger
Yes, and you set right to work
TO see how you could do me and the
Alderman"
mo, my dear; it was you who did
that. Do you think I haven't faith
omed what is in that warped, calcu-
lating brain of yours? Loring Ran
go and his wife, significantly.
Wght soon die-the weight OF grief
sSr al that rl,en you could appear