CHAPTER II.
THE VILLAIN CAUGHT.
The hotel clerk looked very much surprised at Frank’s charitable deed, but took his money, made no comment, and assigned the lady to a room.
As she reached the parlor door, she beckoned to the inventor and he followed her into the room and asked her pleasantly:
“Do you wish to speak to me, madam?”
“I wish to thank you for your kindness,” she faltered.
“It is not necessary,” replied Frank.
“At least let me tell you how I happened to be in this plight.”
“I admit that I am somewhat curious about it.”
“Well, briefly, I am a rich widow with one child—a boy of seventeen, who is now at a military boarding school up the State. My fortune was placed under the administration of an unscrupulous lawyer named Alfred Milburn. He calculated that if I and my son were out of the way, he could keep possession of our money. My name is Caroline Grey. I lived in a handsome dwelling on a good street, and my lawyer boarded with me.
“One week ago the wretch drugged me. When I recovered my senses I found myself confined in a private lunatic asylum. Milburn called and coolly told me he did it to rob me. He also stated that he intended to send for my son and have him carried away to sea, from whence he would never return. Frantic with apprehension, I managed to escape from the asylum to-night. That is why I have no bonnet on. Coming here, I tried to secure shelter until tomorrow, when I intend to state my case to the police. I will have Milburn arrested and baffle his design.”