The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-04-11
CHAPTER x-continued.

she might take eyentually-if she
could. But even this, after the night
before, would probably prove difficult
In fact, she had scarcely finished
reading her crumpled note, when she
was called downstairs to see her chief
warden, Jasper Haig. He met her with
an exterior almost menacingly calm.
"What is this" he asked when they
were alone. IF you don't mind telling
mef Are you trying to escape? Have
you forgotten your agreement with
me3"
The contrast between his poise and
calmness and the manner of the young
woman was most striking.
Agreement she said, reduced by
her nervousness and anxiety to the
petulance and responsibility of a
child-by the dread of this thing that
held her. by the threat of the whole
want it. 1 can't keep it, I've got to
go. I've got to leave here. I've got
to be free" she cried, and rose sud-
denly to her feet from the divan on
which she had been sitting
The lawyer with his still half-smile
attempted to soothe her, to correct so
unreasonable a statement.
mo. No." she insisted, almost hys-
terically. I'm through" And now a
slight shade of change came over the
lawyers face-an almost imperceptible
hardening of the impassive mouth and
the suave manner
II am afraid" he said finally, when
she had passed all bounds of common
sense-and her body turned cold at
bis quiet, oblique smile as he spoke to
her-"Tm afraid you don't realize your
exact position. I'm very sorry you
have forced me to go into the unfor-
tunate Details" the cold, level voice
went on. But the fact is. you cannot
leave. We could not let you, if we
would"
"What would prevent 2" she demand
ed 'Why could l not leave now
this minute. If l wanted tor aud she
waited for what he would say next, in
rigid stiffness.
"If you must hear 1t ALL" he said.
a little irritated finally at her unrea-
you could not go now.
nor / let you. for very definite rea-
son: you are my ward-legally adj
judged insane"
"Incurably sol" he added-when |
she sat. white-faced, watching him.
"Incurably" she whispered after
him.
I'm sorry" he said, when he OBJ
served her condition after this. But
you invited it. You brought 1t on
"Incurable!' she said, finding her
7oice at last. do these people. these
servants, all think that of me?' She
recalled now so many little things.
mo" he said. mot this set-since
he sickness / spared you that. This
lew staff knows very little-excepting
hat you have been very ill-nervously
--and must be watched"
And this woman, this personal
Maid. this guard of mine-whatever
he is Does she think the same?
Yes" he tod her practically. "She
merely knows that you are nervous
Iervously unstable and i'll. But that,
-ou viii find" he said smoothly. twill
make no difference In her vigilance.
'he is a very capable and determined
erson."
1t was all that she could do to con
rol herself enough TO speak calmly
gain--to make her own attempt at
rgument to play a last card which
he thought she held.
"fou will let me CO." she said final
', rs evenly as she could, IF you are
Use 70
'Why?" he asked, watching her.
Because | have a means-there Is
ONE one" she said, stumbling a
tile. for she saw she was making {
cry serious move now. |
you mean" !
II mean" she said, that there is |
n excellent reason why you should :
t me go-for your own sakel" /
He looked at her with that profess +
onal mask of mpassiveness-the nc $
hrement of a lifetime-upon his '
ice 6
"If you WILL" she said. hurrying on, /
( you will let me go, will say moth v
what I knowi' :
Each time she came to making an h
,tual statement OF the thing he did k
IT know about-of the other man out n
de suspecting her-him-the Gorgam b
rust-she hesitated and stopped. For
e saw. now she had started, that If &
lie played this card, If she threatened g
m and he did not consent to let her v
}. she was still In HIS power7in the u
asp of the Gorgam Trust. And who d
lew what they might do to her next o
even possibly to putting her entirely fl
It of the way? a
"Are you trying to say that you have b
Id-or can tell some one. your story?" a
asked her coldly.
And now she said nothing-being u
raid to, in fact. sensing more and a
pre- the insecurity and danger of her 81
ound. al
Her heart beat with sudden furious In
&c FOR che raoIt1od nv Instinct DC Ia