tried to rise from her chair, but her limbs failed her.

"I can't. I don't seem able to move. Don't let them speak to me again.
I'm afraid! I'm afraid!"

Mrs. Parkes tried to soothe her.

"Oh, Miss Paula--Miss Paula--don't give way!" she cried.

"I know it's foolish," moaned the young girl, "but I can't help it. It's
got on my nerves at last, and I---- Let me go while I can still act of
my own will."

Suddenly she rose to her feet, angry and defiant. Facing her judges
boldly, she almost shouted:

"I won't stay here! I won't stay to be questioned until I don't know
what I'm saying."

With the dignity of an offended queen, she made a step in the direction
of her room. But Mr. Cooley, on the alert, quickly advanced and placed
his large hulk in her path.

"One moment, Miss Marsh, you can't leave until----"

Tod, who had often distinguished himself on the football field, promptly
went into action. Bringing his old tactics into play, he rammed the
lawyer in the stomach with a bump that nearly doubled him up.

"Oh, yes, she can!" he exclaimed. "What's the matter with you, Cooley?
Can't you see the lady is tired and confused?"

"She can't go," said the lawyer, gasping for wind.

"No, she really can't!" piped Jimmy, scandalized at Tod's behavior,
"until these gentlemen have signified----"

"Well, she is going, all right," said Tod determinedly. Planting himself
before the other men, he effectually blocked the way until Paula was
safe back in her room and had shut the door.

"I had still one or two questions I want to ask!" cried Professor
Bodley, in an injured tone.

"I'll fetch her back!" said Dr. Zacharie, advancing toward the bedroom.

"Yes, and I!" chimed in Jimmy.

"Come on!" roared the outraged Cooley.

The men made a concerted movement in the direction of the ward's place
of refuge. Tod, white with rage, threw himself before the door:

"In the name of the law!" said Cooley.

"Damn the law!" retorted Tod.

"In justice to my claim!" exclaimed Jimmy.

"These men of science," said Mr. Cooley, in a tone of injured innocence,
"are actuated only by motives of pure----"

"So am I, so are you, so are we all," cried Tod impatiently. "But I warn
you, you've gone far enough. You've frightened this poor girl into such
a state that she's not responsible for anything she says, and you've got
me so worked up I'm not responsible for what I do."

Dr. Zacharie advanced threateningly. Assuming his sternest manne