nervous and trembling, in a condition verging on total collapse, the young girl suffered herself to be led into the parlor, there to face the strange tribunal which was to pass judgment upon her. further resistance she felt was useless. that she realized. these men would sit there and persecute her until she surrendered and submitted to their merciless cross-examination. whether they had a legal right thus to invade the privacy of her home she did not know. mr. ricaby had gone to albany, and there was no way of communicating with him. no doubt her uncle and mr. cooley knew he was away and had taken advantage of it. if only tod would come. perhaps he had already received the message.
as she entered, the doctors half rose from their chairs and bowed. there was a quiet dignity in her manner that compelled their respect. each looked intently at her, and dr. mcmutrie, leaving his seat, placed a chair for her so she might face them.
"now, miss marsh," he said, not unkindly, "please don't be alarmed. there is nothing to be afraid of. we are here only for your own good. won't you please answer the few questions we shall ask you? it is merely a matter of form. please take a seat, and above all, don't be nervous."
paula sat down, and he returned to his place. mr. cooley made a sign to mrs. parkes to withdraw, and the landlady was about to obey when paula stopped her.
"please don't go, mrs. parkes—please don't go!" she cried almost hysterically.
mr. cooley was about to object, but on a sign of assent from the head of the commission, the landlady was allowed to remain.
mr. cooley now proceeded to business.
"we ask your pardon, miss marsh, for what seems to be an unwarranted intrusion, but—the law prescribes our rights—that is, my client's right to take any steps he may deem necessary to see you and bring these gentlemen with him for the purpose of—er—talking over your future."
"my future?" she echoed. looking around in bewilderment she demanded: "who—who are these gentlemen?"
mr. cooley hastened to reply.
"friends of your uncle's—friends of mine—of yours."
"what do they want?" she demanded falteringly.
the lawyer grew red in the face. he was at a loss to answer frankly her very direct question. stuttering and stammering, he said:
"to—er—just to—er——" not knowing what to say, he introduced the doctors: "professor bodley, of michigan, state psychopathic expert—also professor of psychotherapy, ann arbor—miss marsh."
professor bodley bowed pompously.
mr. cooley continued the presentations:
"dr. mcmutrie, the eminent expert pathologist, psychologist, and alienist—examiner new york state institutions, etc., etc., etc., miss paula marsh—my client's niece. i need not introduce dr. zacharie—your family physician."
"he is not my family physician," interrupted paula, with quiet dignity.
"not now perhaps," said cooley soothingly. "but he was—er—now—er— i'm sorry mr. ricaby isn't here to explain more fully the object——"
"what is the object?" demanded paula.
the lawyer evaded a direct answer.
"your interests," he replied quickly, "are perfectly[pg 232] safe in your uncle's hands. oh, if i could only convince you—but never mind." turning to the doctor, he said, in a low tone:
"observe the unnatural glitter of the eye when i mention the uncle. will you proceed, gentlemen?"
from the time that paula seated herself dr. zacharie kept his big, black eyes fixed on her. once or twice she turned, and, noticing the persistence of his stare, she shuddered involuntarily. it made her restless and uncomfortable. she wondered if harry parkes had succeeded in telephoning to tod. if only he would come! she didn't know what he could do to help her. these men, no doubt, had some sort of legal authority to torture her in this way, but tod's mere presence would reassure her and help her to bear the ordeal.
"doctor," said professor bodley pompously, "i think you had better——"
dr. mcmutrie began fumbling with some papers. looking up, he said:
"certainly, certainly. what is your age, miss marsh?"
"twenty," she replied quietly.
the inspector cleared his throat and went on:
"miss marsh, will you tell me why you prefer to live here under these conditions rather than go and[pg 233] live with your uncle and aunt, where you would have so many more social advantages?"
the girl hesitated for a moment. then she said:
"i—i prefer not to say."
"is it not because you hate your uncle james?" demanded mr. cooley.
the inspector held up his hand warningly to the lawyer.
"please!"
"i do not hate him," said paula. "i am afraid of him."
"are you afraid of yourself?" continued the inspector. "you told dr. zacharie that you could not control yourself in his presence."
"yes," she cried, with a little shudder. "i—i am afraid of myself. he inspires me with hateful thoughts, and i believe that hateful thoughts injure the person who thinks them." suddenly she turned and again found dr. zacharie staring at her. she stopped and almost hysterically she cried: "i—i can't answer you if—— i can't think if that man sits there and stares at me. won't you please ask him to go?"
dr. zacharie smiled indulgently and shrugged his shoulders.
"why, my dear child, i was unaware——" he shook his head significantly as if her hysterical outburst only went to confirm his diagnosis.
mr. cooley chuckled, and in an undertone to the experts he whispered:
"another delusion—you see." to dr. zacharie he said: "sit over there, will you, doctor?"
"certainly, with pleasure."
the physician rose, and, crossing the room, took professor bodley's seat at back of table where paula could not see him.
"so you are afraid of yourself?" continued the inspector.
"no—i don't mean—that," she answered quickly.
"you told dr. zacharie so—you told us so," interrupted mr. cooley rudely.
"yes," she said slowly, "but i meant——"
she stopped, not knowing what to reply.
"well, never mind!" smiled the inspector. looking at her curiously, he asked: "why are you afraid of your uncle?"
"i don't know," she replied, hesitating. "he— i'm afraid of him, that's all. i can't explain why." laughing hysterically, she went on: "i'm at a disadvantage here. i can't seem to say even what i've said a great many times."
the physicians looked at each other significantly. mr. cooley nudged jimmy. the examiner went on:
"did you tell dr. zacharie that you'd rather die than let your uncle get his brother's estates?"
"i may have said so. it's very probable," answered paula quietly.
"did you say you'd rather he was dead?"
"no, i did not," she answered emphatically. pointing to dr. zacharie she exclaimed indignantly: "that man has twisted my words! he'd ask me questions, and i'd answer them without thinking."
"oh!" sneered mr. cooley. "then you might have said it and have forgotten that you said it?"
"yes, i might," she said falteringly. "but i—i don't think it's fair to—to—to—— it isn't fair——"
"naturally she would deny it," suggested dr. zacharie in an undertone to the other physicians.
"of course," chimed in mr. cooley. "i think we've established the facts that she fears him, hates him, and wishes he was dead. that alone is ground enough for our application."
suddenly there was a commotion in the hall outside. the door was flung open and tod appeared, cool and self-possessed.
"thank god!" exclaimed paula, overjoyed.[pg 236]
"hello, everybody!" grinned tod. "why, i didn't know you were giving a party, miss marsh!"
"what do you want here?" demanded jimmy, trying to prevent his stepson's further entrance.
but paula jumped up and ran eagerly to greet him. never had he been so welcome. in one instant her anxiety and apprehension had disappeared. her manner was entirely changed. smiling, she extended her hand:
"i'm so glad to see you, mr. chase—so glad! won't you come in?"
mr. cooley frowned.
"it's impossible!" he said emphatically.
"you can't stay here," said mr. marsh. "don't you see we're engaged?"
"yes—yes—jimmy," grinned tod.
"you can't stay here, mr. chase," said mr. cooley sternly.
tod looked at paula inquiringly.
"please don't go," she said, in an undertone.
"but he must go," said mr. cooley, who overheard.
tod laughed, and, going to a side table, laid down his hat and cane. coming back he said, with a careless laugh:
"my dear old cooley, when a lady invites me to stay and that lady happens to be the hostess, one[pg 237] doesn't need any lawyer's advice on the subject—one simply stays."
he looked across at the table where the commission were sitting, and, surprised to see them, he turned to paula for an explanation.
"what's the game?" he asked. "i don't see any chips—can i get in? say, this looks like a nice little party, miss marsh. i'm awfully glad i came."
mr. marsh, who was fast losing his temper, went up to him and took him aside.
"now, tod," he said angrily, "you must really go! don't you understand this is a—a—very sad—— please go at once."
"behave yourself, jimmy," laughed tod, shaking his stepfather off.
"damn!" ejaculated jimmy.
"young man," said mr. cooley sternly, "this is very serious—believe me."
tod grinned.
"that's the trouble with you, cooley. you take things too seriously."
"but this is serious, sir," thundered the lawyer.
"all right— i'll be serious, too," retorted the young man. "what's the trouble?"
"your son?" inquired dr. mcmutrie blandly.
"my wife's son," replied jimmy sourly.
the examiner rose.
"just a moment, sir," he said.
drawing tod aside, he crossed the room with him, conversing in a whisper, while the others watched in silence, paula in an agony of suspense. suddenly the young man started and exclaimed:
"good lord! no—no—no—not for a moment. it's a lie!"
for all reply dr. mcmutrie handed the young man his visiting card.
"i don't care a d——" cried tod wrath fully. "excuse me, sir—excuse me—i'll—i'll—well, i'll be— pardon me, won't you, sir? my feelings got away with me."
the examiner bowed and returned to his seat.
"you'd better go home, todhunter," said jimmy, severely.
"no, james," retorted his stepson calmly. "i think i'll stay here."
"but this is a private commission, sir!" roared mr. cooley angrily.
"well, let's make it public," retorted tod quickly. turning to paula, he said: "would you like me to stay here, miss marsh?"
"oh—please—please!" she said imploringly.
"it's impossible!" shouted the lawyer angrily. "i object."
"nothing is impossible when a lady requests it," rejoined tod determinedly. "go on with the examination! i'm going to stay—don't trouble, cooley—i'll find a chair."
he looked around and took a seat near the fireplace. mr. cooley, unable to control himself, moved towards him with threatening gesture. in another moment he would have attempted to eject him forcibly, but jimmy restrained him:
"better let him stay," he whispered.
"very well," grumbled the lawyer, "but young man—perfect silence!"
"go on now," grinned tod, "go on—never mind me."
the examiner resumed the questioning:
"miss marsh—you have stated on several occasions that when you came in for your father's estate you would give large sums of money to various charities?"
"yes."
"did you say you were going to"—he stopped and looked at a paper in his hand. reading, he went on—"found an institution for the development of the psychic self in animals?"
"no!" she replied, with an emphatic shake of her head.
dr. zacharie threw up his hands with a gesture meant to express utter disbelief in her denial.
"the money," went on paula, "was to be expended for the prevention of animal torture in the name of science."
mr. cooley now took a hand in the cross-examination.
"isn't it a fact," he demanded, "that all these large bequests to societies for the psychic development of monkies or mice or old ladies, as the case may be, were made for the express purpose of preventing your uncle james and his family from participating in the enjoyment of the family estate?"
"exactly," answered paula calmly.
mr. cooley gave vent to a noisy chuckle. turning to dr. mcmutrie, he said:
"ah! that establishes irresponsibility."
"quite so—quite so," chimed in professor bodley, trying to look alert by peering over his spectacles.
but the lawyer's interference only earned for him a well-merited rebuke from the head of the commission. frigidly the examiner said:
"i prefer to draw my own conclusions, mr. cooley." turning again to paula, he went on: "you left your church a year ago—why?"
"because mr. james marsh is one of its chief pillars," she replied spiritedly. "he prays the loudest and receives the most homage——"
tod laughed outright.
"that's rather rough on you, jimmy!"
mr. cooley glared at him.
"silence, sir!" he thundered.
"how dare you!" exclaimed jimmy, in a fierce undertone.
the lawyer tried to impress on the physicians the importance of the girl's replies.
"the illusion of imaginary wrongs," he said, "must have taken a terrible hold on her when it compels her to give up her religion."
"i did not give up my religion," protested paula quickly. "i gave up a church that countenanced hypocrisy."
"you said," interrupted the examiner, "that the law of compensation will punish him. what is the law of compensation?"
"it's the pit a man digs for others—and falls into himself."
"and if the law of compensation fails," interposed mr. cooley, "you'll undertake uncle james' punishment yourself—eh?"
"mr. cooley—i must insist!" cried the examiner angrily.
paula was rapidly becoming more and more hysterical. with growing exaltation she cried:
"yes, i will—of that you may rest assured!"
mr. cooley, with an expression of triumph on his coarse face, looked toward the examiner.
"the law would construe that answer as a threat, sir."
professor bodley leaned forward to ask a question:
"how would you punish him, young lady?"
the girl shook her head.
"i don't know—it will come to me."
"she will hear a voice within, eh?" laughed dr. zacharie.
"ah—so you hear voices?" demanded the examiner.
"oh, yes, she does," said dr. zacharie.
"we all hear voices within," said paula seriously.
she stopped speaking. the men all looked at each other significantly. then she went on:
"something tells us to do this or that, and we obey. we obey blindly—instinctively. men call it reason, but it's only intuition."
suddenly the girl became confused, as if conscious of being closely watched. slowly, as if impelled by some superior mental force, she turned around until she found herself face to face with dr. zacharie, who was once more fixing her with his steady gaze. again she shuddered, and, recoilingfrom him with a look of horror, for a moment stood as if transfixed. then she turned mutely to mrs. parkes, as if instinctively seeking the protection of one of her own sex. in a hoarse, nervous whisper, she cried:
"i'm afraid! i'm afraid! i don't understand myself! if i stay here i shall say things i don't mean! that man is putting thoughts into my mind—thoughts that are not my own. i don't seem to be able to say what i want to say. i won't stay here any longer——"
she tried to rise from her chair, but her limbs failed her.
"i can't. i don't seem able to move. don't let them speak to me again. i'm afraid! i'm afraid!"
mrs. parkes tried to soothe her.
"oh, miss paula—miss paula—don't give way!" she cried.
"i know it's foolish," moaned the young girl, "but i can't help it. it's got on my nerves at last, and i—— let me go while i can still act of my own will."
suddenly she rose to her feet, angry and defiant. facing her judges boldly, she almost shouted:
"i won't stay here! i won't stay to be questioned until i don't know what i'm saying."
with the dignity of an offended queen, she made a step in the direction of her room. but mr. cooley, on the alert, quickly advanced and placed his large hulk in her path.
"one moment, miss marsh, you can't leave until——"
tod, who had often distinguished himself on the football field, promptly went into action. bringing his old tactics into play, he rammed the lawyer in the stomach with a bump that nearly doubled him up.
"oh, yes, she can!" he exclaimed. "what's the matter with you, cooley? can't you see the lady is tired and confused?"
"she can't go," said the lawyer, gasping for wind.
"no, she really can't!" piped jimmy, scandalized at tod's behavior, "until these gentlemen have signified——"
"well, she is going, all right," said tod determinedly. planting himself before the other men, he effectually blocked the way until paula was safe back in her room and had shut the door.
"i had still one or two questions i want to ask!" cried professor bodley, in an injured tone.
"i'll fetch her back!" said dr. zacharie, advancing toward the bedroom.
"yes, and i!" chimed in jimmy.
"come on!" roared the outraged cooley.
the men made a concerted movement in the direction of the ward's place of refuge. tod, white with rage, threw himself before the door:
"in the name of the law!" said cooley.
"damn the law!" retorted tod.
"in justice to my claim!" exclaimed jimmy.
"these men of science," said mr. cooley, in a tone of injured innocence, "are actuated only by motives of pure——"
"so am i, so are you, so are we all," cried tod impatiently. "but i warn you, you've gone far enough. you've frightened this poor girl into such a state that she's not responsible for anything she says, and you've got me so worked up i'm not responsible for what i do."
dr. zacharie advanced threateningly. assuming his sternest manner, he said:
"sir—i shall not allow you to—to interfere——"
tod, thoroughly exasperated, looked as though he would rather enjoy a personal encounter with the physician.
"you won't allow—you—you——"
he leaped forward, but cooley restrained him. jimmy pulled dr. zacharie back.
"don't use any force, doctor."
"please don't—please don't!" cried tod sarcastically.
"he's an amateur champion athlete," whispered jimmy into the doctor's ear, "and i don't want you to get hurt."
"he is a ruffian!" retorted dr. zacharie angrily.
leaving them, he joined the examiner and professor bodley, who were talking earnestly in a group by themselves.
"do you know, young man," said mr. cooley severely, "that this is contempt of court?"
"if you're the court, it is!"
shrugging his shoulders disdainfully, the lawyer joined the doctors at the table. after a quick, anxious glance in their direction, tod turned to mrs. parkes. pointing to paula's door, he said in a whisper:
"can you get to miss marsh without going through that door?"
"yes, through my room," she replied, in the same tone.
unobserved by the others, tod quickly scribbled a few lines on a piece of paper and handed it to her.
"give her this note. tell her to—— no—never mind— i don't want them to see her. don't ask any questions, but do just as i tell you. she will understand——"
the landlady hesitated. she stood in considerable awe of mr. cooley's wrath, and was not quite sure that tod's request would receive his sanction. the young man pushed her toward the door.
"go quick! you're wasting time."
"all right, sir, i'll go."
profiting by mr. cooley's back being turned, she slipped out of the room. no one noticed her departure. all were talking at the same time. the lawyer, conversing in a low tone with jimmy, was impatient to bring matters to a head. turning to the commission he demanded:
"well, gentlemen, what is your decision?"
"i have expressed my opinion," said dr. zacharie calmly.
"yes," said the examiner hesitatingly. "what do you think, professor?"
"i'd like to study the case a little more," answered dr. bodley. "it has a great many points of interest." ticking off with his fingers, he went on: "a self-evident delusion—a possible—and sporadic indications of general derangement."
"but there's no absolute evidence of derangement," objected the examiner.[pg 248]
"you can never tell what may develop," insisted professor bodley.
"quite true," said dr. zacharie, quickly rubbing his hands.
"of course," remarked the examiner sagely, "that applies to any of us."
"my client must be protected," insisted mr. cooley, "prevention is a d—— sight better than cure—that's scientific, isn't it?"
"not quite the way you express it, mr. cooley," replied the examiner dryly. "i confess i'd like to see her again, she's an interesting subject."
"quite so—quite so," puffed professor bodley bombastically. "she ought to be watched—no doubt about that—and i haven't the slightest hesitation in recommending that she be sent to sea rest, tocquencke——"
"for a few months, at least," put in dr. zacharie.
"a splendid idea!" exclaimed mr. cooley, rubbing his hands. "you can watch the case together— i'll retain you both. it's not a question of fees—any sum you ask is yours. mr. marsh is most anxious to do all he can for her."
the doctors looked at jimmy, who nodded acquiescence. mr. cooley continued:
"take her under your own charge, gentlemen. of course, her counsel will get out a habeas corpusand make all possible effort to obstruct justice, but, in the meantime, she goes to sea rest. will you make out the certificate?"
"very well," said professor bodley pompously. turning to the examiner, he asked: "have you any objection, doctor?"
the examiner shrugged his shoulders.
"no, no; no positive objection—merely a natural disinclination to jump hastily at conclusions." looking toward dr. zacharie, he said:
"you are positive, doctor?"
"positive!"
"and you, professor?" he asked, looking at professor bodley.
"not exactly positive," replied the professor, "but i think we shall be on the safe side if we study the case for a few weeks."
"for a few weeks? very well, i'll make out the certificate."
the examiner produced blanks, and mr. cooley got busy getting pens and ink. while he was thus engaged mrs. parkes reëntered. an affirmative sign of the head assured tod that the message was delivered.
"you'd better telephone up to tocquencke that you're coming," said the examiner, as he made out the certificate.
"that's already arranged for," mr. cooley said, beaming with satisfaction. "she's to have the best suite of rooms, the best attendance, everything that the most lavish expenditure can purchase. oh, she will be well taken care of. by the way, dr. zacharie, i'm going to recommend your nomination for health officer of this port, and if the big chief cooley recommends anything it's 'un fait accompli.' as the girls from paris say; in other words, a sure thing."
"thank you, counsellor," said dr. zacharie, bowing and handing him the certificate.
"thank you. now, madam," smirked mr. cooley, turning to mrs. parkes and scarcely able to contain his satisfaction, "will you please tell miss marsh that we're waiting for her?"
the landlady crossed the parlor and entered paula's room, while the lawyer, with a chuckle, showed jimmy the certificate.
"this simplifies matters, eh?" said mr. cooley, with a broad grin.
"it's taken a long time, counsellor."
"great bodies move slowly, james, but they move."
suddenly mrs. parkes reappeared precipitately, her manner all flustered.
"is she ready?" demanded the lawyer.
"she's gone, sir," replied mrs. parkes, in consternation.
"gone—where?" roared mr. cooley.
"i think she's gone over to jersey to get married, bascom," said tod, with a grin.
"quick!" cried mr. cooley. "she can't be gone far. my automobile is downstairs—come!"
cooley went out hurriedly, followed by jimmy.
