Page:The Social War.djvu/206

200 By this time the physician-in-chief and the rest of the keepers, help and innocent lunatics gathered around her. The physician-in-chief at once recognized her face, when he ordered her to be removed to his private office, and di rected the rest, except the superintendent and two man agers, to attend to their business. After these four men and Miss Armington were locked into his private office, the physician-in-chief said : " Well, young lady ; how do you come by this male garb and pistol ? I know you, Miss Armington." u Miss Armington ! " exclaimed one of the managers. "Yes, Miss Armington in disguise," said the doctor; and added: "What do I see? Deacon Bob Stew's coat, hat and vest, or I mistake myself." " Well, yes ; I acknowledge they are his garments, which may give you some idea how I came by this graceful (?) disguise," said Miss Armington, with contempt. " What ! the deacon did not aid you to escape by dis guising yourself in his clothes ? " ejaculated the physician- in-chief, looking amazed as well as his comrades. " No, sir ; not exactly * aid,' your excellency," tauntingly replied she. " How, then, did you get his clothes and that pistol ? Who gave you the pistol ? " said the physician -in-chief. " I do not know that I choose to be so closely catechised, unless you promise to give me my freedom, which I think I deserve after having gone to all this trouble," she said. " You ask too much " " How so ? " interrupted Miss Armington ; " what have I ever done to deserve this confinement, and to be com pelled to be continually insulted by that rascally old Deacon Stew ? " u What! you call him 'rascally,' when he has favored you with this disguise " " lie has not 'favored ' me," interposed she. "Girl, you confound me," said the physician-in-chief; " did you not say that these were the deacon's garments, and that he gave them to you ? "