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Rh without him; and—he had made other plans in which I would have no part. I was a menace to those plans, a menace to his whole future career; and he conspired with a crooked physician to railroad me to an insane asylum. I was never an attendant in one as I told you. Sergeant Odell, but an inmate—I, who was as absolutely sane as you see me now!"

"You escaped?"

"After three months of purgatory! With the help of an old servant who was faithful to me I concealed myself until I had learned Farley Drew's plans; and then I came here to frustrate them. I meant to wait until his hour of complete triumph, and then expose him—not alone in regard to his treatment of me, but other things which I had learned concerning him, criminal things. I felt no compunction in regard to Cissie Chalmers. My revenge on him would save her from wrecking her future; and she is not the type who can suffer very deeply."

"Did anyone in this house suspect your identity?" Odell asked.

"Only Rannie; and he also hated Farley Drew. He told me only yesterday that he would not give me away because he wanted to see what he called the fun." She shivered. There is something inhuman about that boy."

"Was it he whose eyes you advised me to watch, Mrs. Gael?" He shot the question suddenly at her; but she merely shook her head in a noncommittal fashion.

"I cannot speak of that again, Sergeant Odell. No power can make me; for, as I told you, I have no proof, and even you would think me truly insane if I dared to voice my suspicions. I swear that I have had nothing to do with