as the gentlemen came in the superintendent was chatting affably with mr. cooley, approving everything he said, and laughing loudly at his witticisms, with the forced, artificial cordiality of the man anxious to please. the big lawyer was too influential a personage not to be worth cultivating, and there was no telling when he might prove very useful. neither of them paid the slightest attention to tod or mr. ricaby, who, anxious to avoid, for the present at least, the slightest excuse for friction, withdrew to the farther end of the office.
waving the others to seats, the superintendent called his aged attendant:
"collins, take professor bodley to parlor b."
"very good, sir."
"isn't zacharie here yet?" demanded the professor.
"yes, doctor," replied the superintendent civilly. "he's stopping here for a few days."
"ah, yes—a very conscientious man!" exclaimed the professor. prattling on, he said: "well, it's a pleasant place! how is the young lady?"
the superintendent shrugged his shoulders.
"about the same, doctor, about the same—no change to speak of."
"hum! ha! yes!" muttered the professor. "too bad—too bad!"
the superintendent turned again to mr. cooley. in an undertone he said:
"the reports are upstairs, counsellor."
"but mcmutrie isn't here yet," growled cooley, glancing around with a frown. "that's the trouble with these successful men. they never have time to keep their appointments."
"i keep my appointments, sir!" snapped the professor peevishly.
"oh, yes—you do," sneered the lawyer. "where's zacharie?"
"waiting for you upstairs," replied the superintendent, pointing to the staircase.
"parlor b—this way, gentlemen!" called out collins.
mr. cooley approached the superintendent.
"get mcmutrie on the 'phone," he said impatiently. "tell him that we're all waiting. and send miss marsh up to us as soon as he arrives."
professor bodley left the office escorted by the old attendant, and cooley was about to follow when mr. ricaby, who had been watching his opportunity, quickly stepped forward.
"mr. cooley," he said firmly, "i wish to be present at the examination of miss marsh."
the big lawyer halted and stared at his opponent contemptuously. without a word he looked at him from head to foot. finally he sneered:
"that's not necessary. it's only an informal examination—a private interview for the benefit of our witnesses. we can't have anyone present but those experts interested on behalf of james marsh—her uncle and special administrator of the estate."
"i demand to be present," insisted mr. ricaby, raising his voice angrily. "it's my client's right, and you know it!"
cooley shook his head disdainfully.
"i'm sorry," he sneered, "but i can't accommodate you." scornfully he went on: "why should we outline our plan of operation to you fellows? the girl's here for her own good, and this habeas corpus business of yours is opposing the order of the court. if you want to see her, you can see her, but not while we are present."
"it's an outrage!" exclaimed mr. ricaby indignantly.
"an outrage?" echoed mr. cooley, elevating his[pg 309] bushy eyebrows in mock surprise. "why, you saw miss marsh this morning, didn't you?" turning to the superintendent, he asked: "didn't you so inform me, mr. spencer?"
"yes, counsellor," replied the superintendent, with a grin.
"well, what more do you want?" sneered cooley.
"i demand to be present!" insisted mr. ricaby, who was becoming more angry every minute. "the constitution of the united states expressly——"
mr. cooley laughed outright:
"now, ricaby, don't let's have any more of this high falutin' nonsense about constitutional rights and curtailments of liberty and all that rot! keep that for the courts. miss marsh is at liberty to come and go as she pleases. but just at present she is engaged. see?" rudely turning his back on his interlocutor, he said to mr. spencer: "send mcmutrie up as soon as he arrives."
"very well, counsellor," replied the superintendent, bowing deferentially.
with a loud snort of defiance, mr. cooley turned on his heel and made his way upstairs. mr. ricaby, pale with suppressed wrath, quickly turned to tod:
"is your machine at the hotel?" he demanded hoarsely.
"yes," replied the other.
"let me have it," said the lawyer. "i'll run up to town, i'll find a supreme court judge and get permission to be present at the examination. is it a fast machine?"
"seventy—that's all!" replied the young man laconically.
"all right!" said the lawyer excitedly. "come and tell the chauffeur to take me to town as fast as he can go. when i get back we'll tackle cooley together."
"right you are!" cried tod enthusiastically.
he was about to leave the office, when suddenly, through the window, he saw a lady and gentleman in the grounds making their way toward the building.
"hello!" he exclaimed, in astonishment. "it's mother."
a moment later mrs. marsh, elegantly dressed in the latest fashion, entered, together with dr. mcmutrie. tod hurried forward to greet her.
"hello, mother!" he cried. "did you leave the machine outside?"
"certainly— i didn't bring it in with me, you silly boy," she laughed. surprised at his flustered manner, she demanded: "why are you so excited—what's the matter?"[pg 311]
quickly tod introduced them.
"mr. ricaby—my mother! no time to explain." quickly taking hold of the lawyer's arm, he said: "come—we don't have to go far for the machine, it's outside. you'll be there and back before you know it. then we'll give cooley the time of his life!"
he ran out of the office, followed in more dignified fashion by mr. ricaby. while mrs. marsh stood looking after them in blank astonishment, trying to guess the reason for this hasty departure, dr. mcmutrie calmly drew off his gloves, and, approaching the desk, saluted the superintendent.
"good morning, mr. spencer," he said blandly.
"good morning, doctor," replied the superintendent, bowing. "they're waiting for you impatiently upstairs, sir."
the examiner in lunacy turned and looked at mrs. marsh, who was still watching tod and mr. ricaby as they hurried through the grounds.
"that's my son!" she smiled. "the most extraordinary boy you ever met."
dr. mcmutrie smiled.
"yes," he answered dryly, "it seems to me that we've met before. i think—when i was first called into this case."
"oh, yes, tod told me," she replied quickly. then she went on: "doctor, it was very good of you to bring me in here. they wouldn't have let me in, but for you. i am very anxious to see my niece——"
"yes, it is a very interesting case—very interesting, indeed," said the examiner, with a grave shake of the head. thoughtfully he added: "sometimes i have my doubts——"
"about her sanity?" she demanded, reddening.
he nodded gravely.
"really, doctor?" she exclaimed, in well-feigned astonishment. "then why should she be in such a place as this?"
the physician made no reply, but, turning to the superintendent, handed him a bundle of administration papers, which the latter proceeded to read. mrs. marsh quietly took a seat, awaiting her opportunity when she could approach the desk and request that paula be sent for.
it was not without a severe struggle with her conscience that mrs. marsh had summoned up courage to come to "sea rest." while in a sense she was privy to the conspiracy which had robbed her niece of her liberty, she had known only vaguely what jimmy and cooley were doing. they were fighting for the control of the marsh millions, that was all she cared to know. if her niece, who had[pg 313] come to america uninvited, got the worst of it, that was her affair. it was tod who had awakened her to the full enormity of the crime which her husband and the lawyer had committed, and after that her conscience knew no peace. mrs. marsh was not a bad woman at heart. she was vain and luxury-loving, she had been weak and foolish, and she had allowed herself to be governed, to a great extent, by jimmy's loose code of morals. but she was not utterly depraved. ever since the day she married jimmy, she had known that her husband was unscrupulous, but that he would go as far as this she had never dreamed. while she might have overlooked his less important peccadilloes, she was determined not to follow him further in his course of crime. they were in a desperate predicament for money, but that made no difference. she would rather sell everything she had in the world and be reduced to beggary rather than remain an accomplice in such a diabolical action as subjecting a perfectly sane young girl to the horrors of a lunatic asylum. already she had had a stormy scene with jimmy. she told him plainly that she had done with him, that she despised him and would leave him forever. and now, at tod's earnest entreaties, she had come herself to "sea rest" to find out what she could do to right a great wrong and help the poor motherless girl who was the victim of two scoundrels.
she was thus absorbed in her reflections when a loud chuckle close by her ear caused her to look up with a start. it was tod who had returned after seeing mr. ricaby off. with a chortle of satisfaction, he said:
"he's gone! if they don't hit a tree and break their necks he ought to be back in half an hour." surprised to find his mother still sitting there, he demanded: "haven't you seen paula yet?"
"no," she answered. "i was waiting until the gentleman at the desk had time to attend to me."
but tod was not of the kind who waits for the convenience of others. striding boldly to the desk, he said, in a tone of authority:
"mr. spencer, will you please send for miss marsh? my mother wishes to see her at once."
the superintendent, who was busy going over some papers with dr. mcmutrie, looked up at this interruption and frowned.
"impossible," he snapped. "the patient can't be seen to-day."
"but this lady is miss marsh's aunt," persisted tod, not to be put off so easily.
the superintendent suddenly became more polite.
"are you mrs. james marsh?" he asked, looking more closely at the visitor.
"yes," she answered.
taking up the telephone to communicate with the ward, he said:
"well, i'll see, but i'm afraid——"
"if he succeeds," laughed tod, "it will be the first time your relationship to jimmy has been of the slightest advantage."
"won't you help us, dr. mcmutrie?" pleaded mrs. marsh. "we're so anxious to see her! that will be the second time you've come to our rescue. don't say no. let us see her, there's a dear man! if you insist, they can't refuse——"
the examiner turned to the superintendent.
"i don't see why mrs. marsh should not see her niece. send for her, mr. spencer."
the superintendent hesitated.
"mr. cooley's orders were very positive," he replied.
"never mind cooley's orders," retorted the other. "the young lady is under my charge. have her sent here at once. is professor bodley here?"
"yes—sir——"
the superintendent went out to obey the order, and the examiner turned to the others.
"hum!" he smiled significantly. "i think i had better go and send her here myself." as he turned to go he bowed and said: "i shall see you again, i hope."
"i hope so," smiled mrs. marsh graciously. "we dine at the hotel at seven-thirty. won't you join us?"
dr. mcmutrie bowed.
"you are very good."
with another ceremonious salute, he opened the door leading to the female ward and disappeared.
"honestly, mother," gasped tod, "you take my breath away. you've seen that man only once, and yet you call him 'dear man' and squeeze his arm and all that kind of thing. he must think you're crazy."
"i wish you wouldn't be so critical, son," replied his mother, with mock severity. "we were asking a favor. it is no time to be freezingly formal."
"freezingly formal?" echoed the young man. "why, you've invited him to dinner!"
"well, you shall chaperon us," she answered, laughing. more seriously she went on: "besides, i had an object! your stepfather, mr. marsh, has followed me here!"
"jimmy?" cried tod, surprised. "did you see him?"
"no, he came to the hotel and tried to force his way in. i refused to see him, but he wouldn't go, so i called the porter and had him removed from the door of my rooms."
tod rubbed his hands gleefully.
"good!" he cried joyfully. "that's bully!"
"he acted like a madman," went on his mother. "he said he was sorry and would make any amends if only i would forgive him, but i wouldn't listen."
"i told you what you might expect with a man of that kind. i don't see how you ever married him. i ought to have kicked him downstairs when he first patted me on the head and called me sonny boy."
"to think," wailed mrs. marsh, "that his millions consisted of the property left to this poor girl by her father. my whole life wasted——"
"oh, come now, mother," protested tod, "not your whole life! you lived happily with my father for eleven years."
"i mean—my widowhood has been wasted," replied his mother, with a sigh.
further conversation was interrupted by the entrance of old man collins, who, going to the desk, gathered pen, ink, and paper and then made his way solemnly upstairs. he had no sooner disappeared than the door of the female ward opened and mrs. johnson appeared. addressing mrs. marsh, she said respectfully:
"if you will step this way, madam, you can see miss marsh for a few minutes."
"that's paula's nurse," whispered tod.
he also rose and went toward the ward with his mother, but the nurse held up her hand.
"not you, sir, only the lady," she said.
"there's no danger, is there?" inquired mrs. marsh timidly.
"oh, she's not very dangerous! she won't bite you!" grinned tod reassuringly.
"this way, please, m'm," said the nurse.
holding the door open for the visitor, mrs. johnson waited until she had entered and then closed it carefully behind her. tod stood looking after the two women until the door was shut in his face, then he walked over to the window and stood gazing disconsolately out into the grounds. how he envied his mother that brief interview with paula. never so much as now did he realize how he loved her. each day that went by without his seeing her seemed to make his passion burn stronger. and to think that she was kept an unwilling prisoner within these grim walls! nervously he began to pace the floor. when would ricaby be back? the examination would soon take place upstairs. they ought to corner cooley before it began. would they succeed in frightening him? so preoccupied was he with his thoughts that he did not hear anyone enter. but a cough suddenly made him look up. the old male attendant was standing by the foot of the staircase, looking at him:
"say, collins," exclaimed the young man, "can't you get me a brandy and soda? i'm awfully dry. this place gives me the blues."
the old man shook his head violently.
"not without a prescription, sir," he said, with a grimace. "temperance—oh, my god!—horrible temperance—don't ask me—don't—— i've got a little bottle upstairs. it's got a linament label on it, but it's all right—old crow."
"never mind," laughed tod, "i'll wait till i get to the hotel."
the old man turned to go. suddenly he stopped, and hesitatingly he said:
"please, sir—how's the old spot——"
"what old spot?" demanded tod.
"why, twenty-sixth and broadway—del's——"
"oh, it's moved uptown long ago. it's forty-fourth and fifth avenue now."
"oh, yes— i forgot— charley's dead, too, isn't he? ah, times change. you know, i miss the[pg 320] music—and the lights—the low-neck dresses and the popping of corks, but i'll tell you a funny thing, sir. the guests act more human-like here. yes, they're more human. they don't blame one for everything. if the cooking goes wrong they roast the cook, and when they get their bills the cashier gets hell—not me. this place isn't as black as it's painted. the only thing is, when they drink champagne at christmas and new years they drink it out of tumblers. that's bad, isn't it—that's awful bad!"
shaking his head, he toddled out of the office.
tod took out a cigarette and lighted it. his mother had been gone a long time. he wondered what was keeping her and what paula said to her. suddenly the ward door opened and mrs. marsh reappeared, her manner greatly agitated.
"oh, tod!" she exclaimed excitedly, "we must get her out of this place at once. the poor girl is nearly frightened to death! she should never have been sent here. it's an outrage. she is perfectly rational. she's just nervous and afraid—that's all!"
"of course, she's all right!" retorted tod. "we've known that right along."
"yes," said his mother contritely, "we should have taken care of her from the first, and not let her go among strangers. it's your stepfather's fault."
"well, what can we do to mend matters?" demanded tod, with some impatience.
"the poor girl begged me so hard to take her to the hotel with me. i'm so upset i—— when does her case come up?"
"in about a week," replied tod doggedly, "and until then i'm going to stay right here every minute of the time."
"supposing i speak to dr. mcmutrie?" suggested his mother.
tod shook his head.
"there's some legal process to go through. we have to get the consent of the person who placed her here. cooley and jimmy alone can do it. they must! we'll make them——"
"hush!" cried his mother warningly. "here's your stepfather."
james marsh appeared at the top of the staircase, and after glancing furtively around, as if to make sure that his wife and stepson were alone, he slowly descended and came toward where they were standing.
he was pale and his manner was greatly agitated. deep lines furrowed his face as if he had passed nights without sleep. he must have been aware that his wife and stepson were in the asylum, for he evinced no surprise at seeing them. on the contrary, he seemed relieved. advancing quickly he held out his hand to his wife:
"amelia!" he exclaimed imploringly.
"don't address me!" said mrs. marsh indignantly. "don't come near me, you——"
"amelia!" he repeated.
"what do you want here?" she demanded.
"there's a preliminary examination before the trial. mr. cooley and i have to be present. but what has that to do with it? i want you to come back to me."
"no!" she said positively.
"do you mean to say you've left me for good?"
"i do! i won't listen to you while that girl remains in this dreadful place!"
"what can i do, amelia?" he cried, wringing his hands. "i sat up last night—all night—waiting—hoping that you'd come back. all my anxiety about my brother's estate has been on your account, and now you've left me without a word. everything i've said or done has been for your sake. it's damned ingratitude to leave me like this!"
"it's not half what you deserve," she retorted.
he turned to his stepson:
"tod, you can put everything right—persuade her to come back."
the young man looked at him indignantly.
"do you think she'd go back to you after the way you've treated that girl?" he cried hotly.
his stepfather looked aggrieved. peevishly he said:
"why, three physicians have attested to the fact that we are doing the best we can for her."
"it's a damnable conspiracy!" cried tod, with increasing fury.
"it isn't my fault," whined jimmy. "if i'm mistaken—so are they." almost in a whisper, he went on: "it was cooley's idea—his idea from the very beginning. of course, if she's not responsible she ought to be watched. all i wanted him to do was to contest the will. we've gone so far now, we've got to go on——"
tod started eagerly forward. that was just what he wanted to know. quickly he said:
"so it was cooley's idea, eh? of course, that changes the aspect of things. if that is so, mother, i think you may reconsider——"
"how dare you suggest such a thing?" exclaimed mrs. marsh indignantly.
"everything i've done," went on jimmy tearfully, "i've done for your sake— i acted for the best. it's the most ungrateful piece of business——"
"but you said it was cooley's idea," interrupted tod impatiently. "where does he come in?"
"he gets half—half of everything," replied the other.
"oh, he divides the estate with you, does he?"
"it was his idea from the very beginning," went on jimmy. "i only wanted my share of my brother's property. i'm entitled to that. cooley urged me on—and on—until at last we'd gone too far."
"oh, tod!" exclaimed mrs. marsh, in dismay; "it's worse than i thought——"
sinking down on a chair she looked helplessly at the two men.
"well, you can blame yourself, too," said jimmy doggedly. "your damned extravagance is responsible for the whole business, and, if the truth ever does come out, you won't escape—that you can gamble on!"
"my mother doesn't want to escape," retorted tod angrily, "we are both willing to pay the penalty for our association with you."
"why—what are you going to do?" demanded jimmy, in alarm.
"going to do?" echoed tod. "what else is there to do but tell mr. ricaby what you have just told us?"
"tell—ricaby—you fool, do you know what he'll do?"
"yes," replied the young man dryly. "he will probably have you and cooley indicted for conspiracy."
"he'll have us all indicted," exclaimed the other. "do you think you can share the spoils without being associated with the crime?"
"you—you wretch!" cried mrs. marsh. "do you mean that we are your accomplices?"
"no, i don't mean that, amelia," said jimmy half-apologetically. "i—i've had no sleep for forty-eight hours, and i don't know what i'm saying. but it was all for your sake—every bit of it! you can't make me take that back—for your sake——"
sitting down, he covered his face with his hands. tod went up to his mother.
"mother," he said eagerly, "have i your consent to—to make this matter public? are you willing to—risk telling the truth?"
"and go to prison, eh?" sneered jimmy. "fine advice!"
"the more wicked a man is, the bigger fool he is!" retorted his wife.
"do you suppose that this matter can be kept secret?" cried tod. "you are willing? you want to cut yourself loose from this—this association with a scoundrel like cooley?"
"god knows i do!" moaned jimmy. "oh, this is my punishment—this is my punishment!"
"then you've got one chance, jimmy. go upstairs and tell those people that you demand paula marsh's instant release from this place."
jimmy rose, his face white.
"no," he said. "give me time— i'll arrange it privately with cooley. don't force me to—to—make a public exposure—for your own sakes——"
"you must not consider us," cried tod.
"well, you can consider me," said his mother. "i don't mind going as far as the divorce court, but i'm not pining to go to prison."
"mother!" cried the young man; "we must go on!"
"of course, you're right, tod— i know, but—oh, the wretch to drag us into a—a—oh, it's horrible."
there was a commotion at the front entrance. a moment later mr. ricaby entered, excited and travel-stained.
"the machine broke down," he explained, "three miles out. i had to drive back—everything goes against us—everything."
tod pointed triumphantly to jimmy.
"mr. marsh—tell mr. ricaby what you have just told us."
"no," said jimmy, rising. "i'll—i'll tell cooley. that's the best— i'll tell him you found out. it was for your sake, amelia—don't lose sight of that fact—for your sake."
quickly opening the ward door, he disappeared.
