The Washington times., 1926-12-23


wits against the bitter taste OF life:
her wits altogether, In the same
ostrich.wise attempt.
First Night Of Sleep
\ "But," the intact region of her
mind inquired, why had Mr.. Vardle
formed such q dislike for Johnny?
Why had the police fallen in 30
tractably with his scheme?"
There must be something behind
this affair, she felt--something out
OF the ordinary someone was strik.
ing at her over JChnny's shoulders.
That settled II.
Johnny's story WAS proved. now,
ana she could rest, She had the
first nights sleep she had expert.
enced since Johnnyss kranne-up. tShe
really believed the trouble started
with that featured.
She was refreshed with her night II
sleep. But reason was refreshed, too,
and made q zero-hour attack upon
her. Who In the wide world knew
or cared enough about her, or
Johnny either. to take all that
trouble about eithereof them?
More searching; more helpless
wandering on the snDW-covered prai-
RE; another poor shelter. and reason
tell back to the third.line trenches.
Mr. Patton was the shelter this
time.
The police knew Of his record, ana
they were trying to drive her out
OF the District on account Of ii.
Police always bounded convicts
she had read all about that. Why
and children, too9 OF course they,
would.
This attempt on Johnny wasn't
the first one they had made they'd
been doing II right along, ana she
was too much of b fool to under.
stand It. She recalled several things
that had happened. and surmised
one or two that hadn't. But they
all helped to make out case.
Still she wAs vaguely uneasy.
She had q iumpy kind OF feeling
that she had cut the corners pretty
fine In arriving ct one or two Of her
conclusions.
She was convinced that some one
was bounding her, but IL she could
only catch them at e, what q relief
e would be!
Unfrlendliness Noted
And so she went looking for proofs
Of persecution, az though they had
been Yiolets. She found some right
IN the office where she worked.
Her fellOW-efnploye were agai lgt
her-they must be hooked up with
the general conspiracy somehow.
She had noticed certain lack of
friendliness on their part that began
about the time OF Joi1nny,s arrest.
When group Of them were talk
ing now they stopped suddenly at
her approach. and the group melted
away. Many OF them no longer said
Good morning" to her. The po.ice
must have told them about her hI1s-
band about Johnny. She was un-
der q full fire Of persecution.
She wrote TO the chief Of pol!ce.
dwelling particularly on Johnny 81
frame-up. She was requested to sil5.
NIT proof Of her contention. that the
case might be submitted to the
Police Trial Board.
Submit proof
How could she submit proof VIII IN
that Is. They took good care not 70
let any proof leak into her hands.
a Victim, Too
The chief was evidently In the con.
spiracy, too. But something must
be done to stop this awful persscu.
ton. It was driving her crazy.
She would see the President per-.
sonalIy.
Re he failed her--if all justice was
one-then-she must protect nsF-
self. somehow
''she is suffering from dementia
precox. paranoid form, with ielu.
sions OF persecution" DR.. Hickling
testified at Mrs. Palton's trial In
lunacy court a month later:
"Unsound mind" said the Jury.
s'This way" said the asylum
nurse, leading Mrs. Patton to the
door where the transfer wagon
waits.
(AnOther InstalIment Tomorrow