The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-02-28
CHAPTER x

f 49, 49, ~ LIZ
Trust could see. That she could hel
self slip away from the f~ast-arisin
crisis she could have now less an,
less expectation. A choice between th,
two dangerous paths might be nos
sible-but the third way, of entire es
cape from both dangers, which sh,
would have preferred, was clearly +,
be very difficult-in fact frankly TO b,
eliminated during the next day.
She was scarcely up and dressed
that next morning when she saw AGAR
with a little start, and it must be
admitted, c%uriously enough, still with
relief and expectation, a figure she
could not fail to recognize-the young
man who but two nights before had
accused her of murder, and with him.
it appeared, was Rags, who was out
with his usual independence. search
ing for adventure on his morning RIM
In the great park. The young man
seemed to be fastening something IN
der the collar of the dog, and he
seemed to know that she was looking
at him as he did it.
When the dog was in the house
again, his owner felt beneath his col
lar for the small bit of paper so care
fully concealed there.
He could even come, it said. at any
time she would indicate it to be safe.
through this excellent mail-route, and
take her away!
This, the reader of the note could
see now, would be perhaps the course
she might take eventually-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 thew
were alone, "ff you don't mind telling
me? Are you trying to escape? Have
you forgotten your agreement with
me?'
The contrast between his poise and
calmness and the manner of the young
woman was most striking.
Agreement y 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
situation which o%verhung her! 81 don't
want II. I can't keep TT I've got to
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
shade of change came over the
awyer's face-an almost imperceptible
hardening of the impassive mouth and
the suave manner !
Il am afraid" he said finally, when
she had passed all bounds of common
Sense-and her body turned cold at
lis quiet, oblique smile as he spoke to {
afraid you don't realize your S
exact position. I'm very sorry you s
lave forced me to go into the unfor-
innate Details" the cold, level voice c
vent on. But the fact is, you cannot Q
We could not let you, if we Q
n
What would prevent ?" she demand n
d. why could l not leave now t.
his minute, if l wanted tor and she
7aited for what he would say next, in L
igid stiffness. n
IF you must hear it ALL" he said, c.
little irritated finally at her unrea- n
onableness, you could not go now,
or | let you, for a very definite rea- o
on: you are my ward-legally adj
judged insane IL
'Incurably so p he added-when
sat, white-faced, watching him.
"lncurably!" she whispered after
i'm. q
I'm sorry" he said, when he OBJ q
erved her condition after this. But q
invited it. You brought it on
Ourself." ~
"Incurable !" she said, finding her =
DICE at last. DO these people, these
.rvants, all think that of me?' She
now so many little things. lie
NO" he said. mot this set-since at
.e sickness! I spared you that. This a.
Nv staff knows very little-excepting
at you have been very ill-nervously
and must be watched"
"And this woman, this personal
aid, this guard of mine-whatever s
e is! Does she think the same?s
yes" he told her, practically. "She
erely knows that you are nervous
rvously unstable and i'll. But that.
u will find" he said smoothly, win
Ike no difference in her vigilance. {
e is a very capable and determined {
It was all that she could do to con 7
j herself enough to speak calmly GRO.
lin-tO make her own attemn+ ~ ?,