Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-10-03

indeed-only cau in the day you went
away, sir-shut himself up in his room
and wouldn't never answer nothing, and
then died in fit"
"Doctor said heart disease said the
grave looking policeman, correcting him;
"didn't say nothing about fits. Gentle
mans friends was communicated with,
sir,' he added, turning to Dick There
was papers on bin as helped to make
known gxho he was and the Doctor
said on the, inquest as the gentleman
died of hear disease. Good night, sir !"
Disease of the heart Of all the
forms of disease this was the one most
interesting to Dick. He would go down
stairs and dissect the heart himself -
True, he had no order from the coroner
but who would ever know +? There
were no loving relations to come for a
last look the tailor dared not so much
as enter the room where his dead lodg-
er lay. He could cover the body over
again when he had done, and it was
very unlikely that the undertaker's s
men would examine it before screwing
it down.
In few moments he had everything
ready, and softly opening the door, can
die in hand, he stepped on tiptoe into
the passage; but on opening the door
sight met his eyes which made his
blood run cold, and caused his heart to
bound in his bosom. The corpse was
sitting bolt upright in his coffin, and
the eyes were fixed most unmistakably
upon his own.
Poor Dick uttered an inarticulate crv
and sank upon the nearest chair, totally
unable to move. He has said since
that had those eyes remained but few
seconds longer upon him, he believes he
must have lost his senses but he was
restored to himself by seeing the awful
figure before him heave deep, shud-
dering sigh, aud sink down again into
its narrow bed. He rushed forward
with sense of immense thankfulness
and relief; the poor fellow had been in
a trance; it was not too late he would
save him! He looked earnestly at the
pale, handsome face. The eyes were
closed now, and the breathing, though
faint, was regular and calm.
In an instant Dick was again up
stairs, eagerly seeking what restoratives
he possessed and in another moment
he was gently raising the body and
pouring them down his throat. He
was repaid by seeing the flash of life re-
turning the eyes opening again, were
once more fixed on his, this time with
an expression of amazement, which, as
the senses completely returned, chang
ed to one of distrust, and at last, almost
of terror. Dick, therefore, who had a
kind heart of his own, and was begin
ming to take a great interest in his
strange patient-the first he had ever
found-endeavored to reassure him by
such remarks as "All right, old fellow
never say die ETC.. j; at the same time
satisfying himself that small streak of
blood which he now observed on the
mans breast was of no importance, be-
ing caused only by slight scratch
made by the dissecting knife when he
threw it down few moments before
But his patient continued to repay
. his kindness with looks of dislike, and,
after greedily swallowing the stimulants
Dick offered him, the first words he ut
tered were, "Nabbed at last " They,
however, afforded ray of light to Dick.
/. All that the tailor had told him of "the
captains" history, to which he paid but
little attention at the time, now rushed
upon his mind; this man had been hid
ling from his creditors when the trance
came upon him; it had been the upper
most thought in his mind to escape, and
now be believed himself arrested Dick,
therefore, heartily forgave him his looks
of disgust, and cheerfully answered -
"No, no, old chap; don't be uneasy !;
all right, I say
The captain, whose senses appeared
to be now perfectly restored, smiled
family, but, On looking down upon the
narrow bed in which his limbs were re-
strained, he exclaimed, "Good heavens!
what is this where am ?"
"Why, you see, you've been i'll, or
you've had some sort of a fit, and they
thought you were dead and perhaps
my letting little blood and all that
here Dick gave an uneasy look at the
dissecting knife, and stopped short,
rather confused.
"For mercy sake help me out of this
horrid thing p said the captain. II
see they were going to bury me, and
you have saved my life by opening a
VEIN"
"Not exactly" said Dick, laughing,
but never mind that now. Here, wrap
this round you,' he added. taking off
his dressing gown, and let me help you
up stairs in.o my room ); there's good
fire there and you'll feel better"
Faint, exhausted and half frozen with
cold, it was long before he could unfast-
en- the door, and longer still before
Dick succeeded in half pushing, half
dragging him up stairs. He then put
} him into his own bed, while he prepar-
: ed little hot brandy and water and
some dry toast, of which his guest ate
, ravenously. That done, Dick made up
a roaring fire, and took pull at the
; brandy himself, as we'll as huge por-
tion Of bread and cheese, for the emo
tions and fatigues of tie night, and the
I loss of his warm dressing gown had
made him both cold and hungry. The
excitement rder which he had been