Litchfield enquirer., 1863-07-23
Alisfelalr1,.
The Maniac Doctor.
N ApyEFuRE IN 4 RAILWAY cARRIAe

morning calling you two hundred miles away on immediate and important business Yes, it is very provoking thing, indeed at least, so l found it both in anticipation and in very deed; but there was no help for it. Shocks, my lawyer, wrote and told me that if on the 25th, was not at C---- I should probably lose never mind what, but something which induced me, to pack my portmanteau in all haste, send for hanson. and drive to the X. r. .z station, When I arrived there, I found that l was just too late for the train I had come to catch, and that the next one did not start for three quarters of an hour. lnwardly cursing my ill-fortune, ! went to the waiting room, and endeavored to make myself as cons fortable as could but, despite all my at tempts, think never knew time to pass so slowly in all my life except certain twenty minutes about which I am going to tell.
 Although, as I said, the time went very slowly, nevertheless, it did go; and in process of time, found myself snugly ensconced in a first class carriage, which had but one occu- pant besides myself, . cheerful looking, little old man, with gray hair and strange, restless look about the eyes. Directly after got into the carriage, he addressed me in familiar way. e
 "A merry Christmas to your ..ae
 The same to you said I, rather gruAly, as was not in the best of humor, and did not feel inclined to be cheerful or neighborly.
 'Why, bless me, sir said the little old man, renewing the attack, you haven't any thing to keep yourself warm on this cold winters day. Allow me to offer you one of my travel ling wrappers; I always go we'll provided with such things when l go on journey And my companion took from his side rolled up rug, unrolled it, and taking small mahogany box from the folds, threw the rug to me.
 'Thank you, sir,' said I, feeling in spite of myself, shade more cheerful.
 %, no thanks, no thanks; do it for my own benefit, not for yours, assure you.'
 sHow do you make that out?'
 'Why, like to have comfortable face op- posite me; and, besides, the grand experiment, you know.'
 What grand experiment 2 said, somewhat startled by the mans excited manner.
 70, nothing, nothing. said he, .colaring vio- lently; onl y that is to say-exactly. are you a Freemason ?
 .sss Not s',; r,ssn..ong wAa s,e.. me you ought most certainly to become ane.'
 Why so?'
 Because you would then know that they've got sort of secret
 I know that already Fs
 Reallyl declare you are the most extra ordinary man have ever met we'll, I've gotta secret, too, and that's my grand experiment.
 As a secret, suppose that you will not tell what itis?'
 70 yes, will, though-but- perhaps had better not; never mind, I will tell you. It is simply this, to discover what are the differ ent feelings of different persons on different occasions
 I should hardly call that an experiment.
 Wouldn't you, now2 Curious that; yes, very curious; for to tell you tho truth, don't know myself whether I am quite justified in calling it an experiment. But enough of that matter for the present. May I ask where you are going to9'
 .To C-.'
 Have you friends therey
 None, am sorry to say. am called there on some disagresable, though important busi- ness.'
 Then may I have the pleasure of your company to dinner when we arrive there ?
 Thank you; shall have the greatest pleasure in accepting your kind invitation
 By the by, doyou know how many times we stop before reaching 0
 'Only twice, as this is an express train ; once at M, at o'clock, and the second time at F---, at 5'
 sAnd when are we due at C. C-?'
 At half past six, belieyes' seH a@ sThank you.'
 Thus for g time our conversation ended, but we often renewed it again, and began to re- gard my companion as clever, kind-hearted though rather eccentric old man.
 Some time after we had passed M my eccentric friend composed himself for a sleep, and was soon snoring, and it was not long before I followed his example, but my dreams were troubled. First of all, I dreamed that4 vas being hung then I was being hand cuffed and last of all, that great weight was ppon me, and that something was press. ing heavily upon my chest. I then woke with a start, to find himself bound hand and foot, with rope passed round my neck, and fasten- ed to the rack behind, in spch manner that if ! had struggled in the least, shculd ipeyi. tably choke myself, and my fellow traveller vas standing oyer mo with one knee on my chest. s.
 'Whatl are yon going' said I i; but my sentence vas cut short by gag, which my ec.