Year: 1874

ANoS


Eugene Allerton had been an inmate
Of the private asylum OF DIR. Arnold. at
Garland Ridge, for over two days ere he
entirely recovered from the effects of the
blow he had received from Nane Evelyn,
and was fully able to realize his situation
On the event of his first awakening to SEN
sibility he was terrified startled all the
intervening links between his escape from
the Philadelphia prison, and his becoming
an inmate of his present place Of incarcer-
alton, nomeutarlly lost to his mind Ira
cing in the silence of his cell. a resemblance
e. that former prison home If his for nearly
three long years, his mind followed closely
the analogy, and he was for time, fully
believing Of the fact that he had been re-
captured, and was again an inmate Of the
Philadelphia prison, where the falseness of
the witness Beatrice Vernon had condemn
ed him.


Slowly, however, he became conscious Of
the immediate past. His mind, cropping
for the real, became conscious Of the fact
nat he was in some unknown place Of CON
tinement. The deception Of Nane Evelyn,
the ride through the forest. and the assault,
all came plainly back to his mind but
there he was at loss to proceed farther III
any remembrance of what had subsequently
transpired As he looked around him,
and he saw the large oak door heavily stud
ded with nails. and the high barred win
dow, he recognized the fact most readily,
that he was a prisoner, and that wherever
the prison might be located, that 1t was
strong one.


The room was not devoid of ordinary or
even comfortable furniture. In one corner
where he lay, was bed, in another table
and an easy lounging chair, a few books,
and a common coarse mating completing
the tout ensemble of the apartment With
a restless weary groan, the unhappy pris-
uner arose from his couch, and sprlnglng
upon the table, peered at tie country out
side from his little grated ndow.


A barren and a bleak prospect met his
view. fiat, low country, recognizable
only as that portion Of Virginia 50 very
sparsely settled even at the present day.
1t was the same country which he had seen
upon the evening " hen he had been delud-
ed into coming with Nane Evelyn to the
residence Of that gentleman, a residence
which was as fictitious as was the fabricated
story with which he had 50 deceived and
| deluded Eugene Allerton. Gazing without
his view narrowed down to the limits Of his
new prison. In few moments he had
taken very close survey of the prison,
and had ascertalned that II was a large
stone building, 50 surrounded by high
wall that the only mode OF exit from the
yard was by the gates, which were heavily
barred. He sprang down to the floor as
| his door opened, and man bearing in one
hand a tray, and i'll the other a large key,
which showed how welI-secured was the
mode of entrance TO the cell
The new conner was burly man of a
build calculated to impress the ordinary
observer with a Just estimate Of his great
proWess and his strength. He glanced al
Eugene Allerton sideways, and then placed
the tray which was very well provided
with eatablcs upon the table. Then he
turned to 60.


You can have good hour to eat youI
meal in, said the man, grutiy.


II want to ask you question before
you 60, said the prisoner. The man SHOOK
his head doggedly.


81 amt got no time for palaver, he said
surlily.


But you surely can speak few words
with me"


The gaoler stood undecided.


''Mhat about 7" he asked nervously.


About my being here.


you must talk to the Doctor about
that, replied he.


doctor who r.


doctor Arnold"


A ray of light came into the mind O
the prisoner.


81 am in hospital & he asked.


''Yes, laughed the gaoler.


And as he spoke he left the cell, secur
ing the door by locking it after him.


The fast which he lad endured for 3,
long was the means Of urging him to
good meal, and Eugene Allerton had jus
completed his meal as key was agail
turned in the lock and he saw a man ente
the room who was the exact opposite 0
his former visitor.


"You are the DoctorF" eagerly querrie,
the prisoner.


II am Doctor Arnold" was the suav
reply Of the polished rascal, who was gentle
manly and urbane in every gesture whic
he made.


"You are in the charge of this place Z


''Yes."


"And | am patientF


The Doctor smiled a curious, cunnin
look coming into his eyes, as he affrmativel
bowed.


''How long have | been upon you
hands :" was the query next put by Eugen
Allerton.


1.-TWO days"


"Am detained here involuntarily


"For a time"


Then this is not hospital r.


"No."


0Whak thar po