The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-18
PA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER Is, 1869.

''It has never been broken, and many a
stouter man than you has tried it. There,
now, be quiet little while, and l will
tell you what want"
He went TO cabinet that stood in the
corner of the room, and taking a long.
wicked looking knife from one of the
drawers; ran his thumb over the edge,
and felt of the point, all the while talking
in the most commonplace manner imaei.
nable.
81 have studied the art of guessing, for
years." said he. 81 can guess anything
that is my guessing chair that you are sit
| ting in now and l take great pleasure in
imParting my knowledge to others. This
is what l want of you tonight / did in
tend to make you guess that, but have
thought of something better" as
He had become satisfied with edge and
point of his knife, and was pacing up ard
| down the room, giving me full history
OF the world, interspersed with facts rela-
tive to the art of guessing, at which times
he always stepped in front of me-
''Did you ever study it, doctor know
you havn't. | am the only one who ever
| reduced it 10 a science. Since 1 left my
noble veterans, l have devoted my whole
time to it /; and now am about to initiate
you into its mysteries, if you are worthy"
He was standing before me so very
calm, that l did not think he intended to
harm me but when | looked into his eyes,
burning with the fire of insanity, / felt
that my situation was desperate indeed.
Il must test you," be said. 81 must
see whether you are naturally gifted or
not, before waste much time with you.
If remove IlIe handkerchief will you an
swer my questions 90
Now, my dear doctor, you are an en-
| tire stranger to me. Without doubt you
have often heard OF me, but it will be a
hard task to distinguish my name from all
other great men of the time. You may
guess it, doctor. What is it 7"
He had brought his face SO near TO
mine that l could feel his hot breath, and
| | fancied that could feel the heat of those
terrible eyes. The long, keen blade he
was holdidg over me-for what to take
my life if failed.
Guess! guess :" he screamed. If you
fail, it will be your last guess in the
world
dared not call OUT the knife was too
near l could not escape, for the strong
cords bound me to that chair | could not
| lift, and l could not lie there, and lose my
life. what could do7
sit is a hard guess, and will give you
three minutes to answer it, he said.
l summoned al. my courage, which had
never yet failed me-even in the awful
hour of battle-and looking him steadily
in the eye, said:
81 know you, sir SO where is the use
of guessing l have seen you on the bat
tie field mArshailing your hosts to victory.
| have seen you cut down score of men
with your own single arm. ] have seen
you put to flight whole battalion.
know you-everybody knows you Your
maine is in my mouth
| | remembered what he had said about
leaving his veterans, and had tried this
harangue to divert his attention. paus-
ed to mark the effect.
eyes Yes, doctor But wha; is it,
he screamed again. Thirty seconds y
! Great God What would 1 not have
given for e clue to that madman's fancy
Thirty seconds, and how short second
is! The knife was raised higher; that it
might gain a momentum by the distance.
His body was bracei for the stroke and
his eye upon tie mark.
'.ren seconds more What is it !''
There was only one hope for me and
that was to guess. | felt that be consid
cred himself some great man AS he had
spoken Of veterans, some great military
chieftain. thought of our own heroes
and the names of many of them. 1t was
the greatest chance game that had ever
played. My life depended upon the guess
ing of name thought of all the Eu-
ropean generals, but cast them aside again
and came back TO our own side of the
water.
'sTwo seconds ]" echoed the lunatic.
Without thought, almost without p
volition, l spoke name, breathing a
prayer that it might be the right one:
''4NapoLeon BoHopdrte -
"Right ~ said the madman, throwing
aside his knife and undoing the cords that
held me. 81 was mistaken in you, doc
tor. You have true genius this is your
first lesson; come at this hour every even
ing and will teach you the beautiful art
the way to immortal fame"
AS arose from the chair, weak and
trembling, the door opened softly and four
strong men entered and secured the man-
lac. started for home we'll pleased that
l had got through with my first guessing
lesson, and fervently hoping that | should
never be called upon to take another,
A WELL KNOWN American citizen oi