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 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?"
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 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 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.