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CHAPTER 10

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He walked her back home, insisting on carrying the pile himself. When they got there she let them both inside, stepping inside and holding the door for him.

"Where shall I put this, then?" he asked.

"Just follow me." She led him upstairs, leading him to her room. He put the material now on her bed, stretching his arms. "Ah, my limbs were starting to go numb there." A pause, looking around him. "So this is where you sleep?"

"Yes. It isn't much, but it does."

He paused. "Ah, Sally, why are there bars on your window?"

"Oh, the doctor put them out there so I wouldn't get out again."

He frowned. "That is legally not acceptable in Halloween, Sally."

"Yes. But he doesn't care."

A frown. "Then he will. Doctor Finklestein!" he cried now, hurrying from the room. "Doctor, where are you?"

"Jack, NO!"

A glance at her. "Sally, unless I do somthing now, I could get in a lot of truble later on. Doctor!"

"In the lab, Jack," came the reply now. "Is something wrong?"

"Just a bit," he answered as he followed the voice. There sat the scientist at a bench, observing something through a microscope. Jack entered and stood now before him, Sally at his side. "I have been observing this place, Dr. F, and I have come to a number of resolutions I want you to follow."

He frowned slightly. "Which would be?"

"Well for starters, those bars in Sally's room will be taken down. And immediately, mind you. As well, you will give this young woman plenty of time to finish her Halloween assignment. If you are continously overworking her then she will not have an opportunity to complete it, and it will be your fault that Halloween is postponed."

A low growl. "Fine, fine, whatever you say."

"Wonderful then." He took a step towards the door before turning around. "Oh, and doctor?"

"What?" came the heated reply.

"I'd be careful with that temper of yours and this girl. Wouldn't want to spoil your reputation with King Jack now, would you?"



*****



Late that night Docor Finklestein sat in his lab, gazing out the window. From here he could see the Skellington mansion, the enormous building loomingly over Halloween Town.

He was really starting to get up with that skeleton and his foolish medling. Now he was trying to interfere with the way he tried to lead his life. Next thing he'd be trying to kidnap Sally and marry her himself.

In fact, he didn't doubt that from happening at all. In fact, the thought that something similar might occur laid heavuly on his mind.

Which is why he knew he had to act on his suspicions; and soon, if he wanted things to go right.



*****



"Sally, I've made a decision," the doctor announced at the breakfast table the next morning. "We will be getting the marriage certificate today instead of later on in the week." A frown. "I don't trust that king...."

"But doctor, so soon?" she insisted. "I...I'm hardly ready...can I at least have one last day to prepare?"

"You've had enough time to adjust to the idea. I'm not putting this off another day. I have my reasons for doing this, and I won't be swayed. We'll be heading into town later on in the day, you can have an hour before we leave to get ready if it makes you feel any better.But we are heading down, so don't try and escape. You know it will only make matters worse for you." A pause. "Do you understand?"

A little sigh. "Yes, doctor. Anything you say."



*****