The Coolidge examiner., 1936-01-17
CHAPTER ~

l. Il den" Malcolm said, cheer
fully, grasping Madame Malden's
hand with a hearty shake, before
she could stop him. Il am NAL
colin Fairfax, and I'm glad of an
opportunity to talk to you. l think
1 can be of real help to you"
COrey's mother, who had become
more and more amazed at this as
tonishing young man, began to look
little frightened.
"All right, all right, lady, don't
feel the slightest alarm. But we
must be alone, it is imperative. Dill
Ion, you may go, and Miss Sey-
mour, too, please" He gave the
nurse one of his best smiles.
The two faded from view, and
Malcolm drew his chair nearer to
the old lady, who was now fuming
with anger. K
There, there" Malcolm said,
soothingly, Il told you I want to
help you. Why get mad at that?"
You are the madman !" she ex-
ploded, what do you mean by ad-
dressing me in this manner?"
Cant you even understand the
meaning of words? My, myl What
a pity! Now, I'm a good sort, and
truly / can help you. 1 have lots
of influence. Listen here, now
where do you want to go? Just
you tell me, and I'll see that you
get there"
''Get where? I don't want to go
anywhere"
"That's too bad, but you'll have
to, you know-after-you know
after what you said"
what did I say? I didn't say
anything that I shouldn't"
''Oh, piffle! Don't take it that
way. That won't help you any. Too
many witnesses. Drop it. Now,
here's where come in. You must
have choice of places, and 1 can
tell you that to be able to get your
choice is great thing-yes, sir, a
very great thing"
"Choice of what?"
"Of places-places to go. I don't
know the incest ones down here;
know the New York ones, but sup
pose you'd rather stay near home.
So, out with it Is there good
one nearby?"
GA good what?"
"H-l, but you're dense. Look
here, you're sane now, aren't you?"
Il certainly am"
"WeT, lots of times you're not,
and they've put up with it just as
long as they can, but when you said
that-you know-yOu spilled the
beans. Now, you've got to GO"
$50 where?" ...
Good land, you're stupidi To
an institution, an asylum for the
insane, if you want it in plain Eng
lish. Now, don't begin to scream
that won't get you anywhere"
Madame's hand was clapped over
her mouth she looked like one hyp-
Noticed
"You see, it was the last straw
when you said"
"What did l say?"
"Poor lady! Don't you even re-
member? Well, it often goes that
way. You said," again Malcolm's
deep whisper had a tone as of utter
condemnation, you said-that Per-
lila murdered Coreyl Corey, her
beloved, her other self. You never
saw them together-I have. They
were born for each other-but.
pshaw, all this you know, and then
you hint, you say outright, that
Perilla killed Corey. A long time
they have suspected you of being
mad, now they know it, you proved
it on yourself. So, as L say, you
must go-go-"
mot to a madhouse-no, MOP
Don't shrek. Be quiet. Not to
a madhOuSe now, perhaps, but to an
asylum-and then, you'll go on, YOU
know. You can't stop, you've gone
too far. You see, an accusation of
murder is a pretty serious matter.
"You know all this is true. You
know there are great and powerful
ones in Washington-who are none
too fond of you. Who loved Corey
but who would not raise a finger
to save a jealous maniac from the
madhOuse where she already be-
longs. You know Perilla adored
her husband, and that your accusa-
ton is rubbish. Yet you would
willingly drag the old and hon
ored name of Maiden through the
mud and mire of silly murder
trial, which could have but one re-
sult-Perilla's triumphant acquit-
tai and your own infamy and
degradation.
John Lowell Is not the man to
take quietly an insult to his daugh-
ter, and l am not sure he has not
already started on the matter of
your mental responsibility. Now,
you must see for yourself-if this
is one of your rational days-that /
am saying all this to you for your
own sake as well as my sisters. l
don't pretend to an entirely disin-