The Argosy for May — page 180: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

AN ENTICING PROSPECT. 367 “Yes, I know—confound him,” I groaned. ‘It was his letters that lured me here, too. What is his game, any- way? Why does he act in this extra- ordinary fashion? He must be crazy.” ‘Of course he’s crazy,” replied the girl. ‘“‘ Haven’t you noticed the mad glint in his eyes. He is violently in- sane. Do you know what he calls this place ?.” “ Shady Bower Farm, I believe he has named it.” “Oh, that’s what he calls it in the advertisement ; but he’s got another name for it. He calls it ‘The Asylum for the Sane.’ He told me the other day, with a fiendish chuckle, that there are so many institutions for insane people that he deemed it high time that the sane folks had an asylum, too. That’s why he ‘keeps us here.” ‘ -.“ How terrible!” I gasped. ‘“ Do you mean to say that you haven’t had a single chance to get away in.the past seven days?” ‘“How could I? Those terrible dogs are running around loose all the time, day and night. They would tear me to pieces at the first opportunity. And, besides, he goes about armed. He’s a regular walking arsenal. He carries a loaded revolver in every pocket; and he told me the first day I got here that he would fill me full of lead if I attempted to escape.” “Horrors!” I ejaculated. “ But nevertheless we must find some way to escape, We must match our wits against his cunning.” ‘“T wish we could,” she sighed. “I am afraid, though, that our wits would avail us little against the teeth of those terrible dogs.” ‘ Haven’t you had an opportunity to -communicate with people on the out- side?” I inquired, with a _ shudder. ‘“Surely you must have been able to get word to somebody.” “No. He’s too clever to permit that,” was her discouraging reply. “ He won’t allow us to get within speaking distance of anybody. That’s why he locks us up in here when he goes to the railway-depot.” ‘Well, don’t your friends know that you are here? Didn’t you leave them _ your address when you came?” I asked, with a sudden ray of hope. “If so, they will soon become alarmed at not hearing from you, and will come here to investi- gate.” ‘No, they won't,” she answered sadly. “ Even though that farmer is insane, he is very shrewd. He doesn’t overlook a single detail. ~f have received several letters from my friends since I have been here. “He reads them all; and he forced me to answer them. He makes me send them pretty souvenir postals, telling them what a fine place this is, and that I am having a perfectly delightful time. I am obliged to write as he dictates— otherwise, he -threatens to set his dogs on me. I fully believe that he would do it, too.” “Good Heavens! How terrible!” I gasped. “I can see now that we are going to have a hard job getting out of this madman’s clutches—but I am going to find a way,” I added, with as much confidence as I could summon under the circumstances. “Oh, it is brave of you to talk so hopefully,” she declared, regarding me admiringly. “It gives me courage to hear you. I am so glad that you are here. It makes this terrible situation so much easier to bear.” I myself did not feel particularly glad that I was there; but I delicately re- frained from telling her so. ~ By the way,’ I remarked, ‘ we might as well introduce ourselves to each other. My name is Mortimer Colling- wood. Would you mind telling me yours?” “ Janet Meredith,’ she answered. “It is a pretty name,” I declared. “IT am delighted to meet you, Miss Meredith—even under these most dis- tressing circumstances.” It was evening before Farmer Snook- ins returned and released us from the barn. He brought with him a nice-looking young couple. i “Poor things,” I whispered to Miss Meredith, regarding the newcomers with sympathy. The young man appeared to be much worried. His wife was on the verge of tears. I could see at a glance that Farmer Snookins had already begun to Gomicbooksteo