The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-03-11
THE NIGHT-BELL.
TcoNcLUDEDl

60 my disadvantage Even with his
wounded hands, he was moro than a
match for me il things should come
to the worst a1d a struggle for mas
terry ensuo between us. | confess to
feelings exceedingly uncomfortable.
l resolved to keep myself as cool and
collected rs l could, and to humor
the creature and keep him in as good
temper as possible.
II suppose you can give fellow
he might have said a Jeion with
perfect justice, but he didu't-"some
thing to drink. The kettles boiling.
l like it with plenty of sugar [
amt particular. Gin, whiskey, bran.
dy, aud rum como all about alike to
me. I'm fond Of the whole kit Of
'cm,'
An idea occurred to me. Some
how the creature seemed to read it in
my face.
"Fen larks ~ he said, shaking his
fist at me with savogo sort of pleas.
autncss. "Fen larks No putting
any doctors stuff into fellows glass;
No focusing. l know all about that.
I dou't want nothing out of the bot
ties on those shelves; an honest
drink, hot aud strong, that's my line,
aud mouthful of something to eat
l shouldn't object to. They train
QUO down morsel too fnc at that
jug. It's almost as bad as the
work us.
| led the way to the kitchen. l
set somo cold beef before my guest.
lie devoured it like a wolf making
ravenous noises, grinding his teeth,
tearing his food with his fingers in
preference to playing his knife and
fork. "Ohl that you were in a cage
in the geological Gardens - | said
TO myself. "I'm sure they haven't a
more dreadful beast in the whole col
lection Of the Society" mixed
him tumbler Of hot brandy. He
expressed his approval in ocstatic
gasps and gugg ings.
Il don't think l can do any thing
more for YOU" said. i begun to wish
very much indeed thpt he would go.
may safely say that l had far more
than enough of him.
II call this out and.out jolly" he
said crossing his legs. II don't
know when I've been so comforta-
bic | could stay here forever. You
haven't got any tobacco, have you a?
Well, l thought you might chance to
havo such thing somewhere in the
house. You're good sort of a doc
tor, as l said before. But you ant
taken nothing YOURSELF lie push
ed the bottle over to my side of the
table with the air Of being the
host,
felt exhausted aud sadly in need
of stimulant, otherwise the idea of
drinking brandy aud. water in tn
society of this fearful desperate
have been revolving enough. 1t
seemed clear. however. that he meant
me no hahn. / consoled myself
more and more with the reflection
that my profession protected me. ]
determined 80 confue myself to med
ical view of the posltion-to regard
the man simply as patient, aud to
the fact that he was an escaped cou-
Wet. ,.who ought in str,ctness at once
handed over to justice, supposing it
was anyhow possible so 10 nand it
over.
Ought l to be ashamed to say that
we sat for some time--an age it seem
ed to me-couversing, slipping groG,
and smoking in my kitchen ? To do
tie convict justice, l must say that
he did his best, after his manner, to
be entertaining. lie didn't get much
beyond bciug appalling, however.
Suddenly he started up with an
oath aud screams Tr
The night-bell began ringing vio-
lentlS.
ats the boobies come after me, |"
he cried, his face very white indeed
and his short hair bristling upon his
head. lie seized knife. You're
not going TO let them in ?"
"They'll keep GU ringing and rouse
the whole street if | don't so to the
door" | said as eoolly as | could. |
stood up and prepared to leave the
He leaned his back against the
kitchen door, barring my way out,
holding the knife in front of him.
"You're not going to blow on me 2
If 1 thought you were going to blow
on me Ho wore q wonder.
fully bloodthirsty look as he said
this, and he spoke in sort of Il
hoarse scream.
"No,r | said 81 know nothing Of
you, who you are, or what you are.
You're safe so far as I'm concerned.
Let me pass"
He stood silent, motionless, glar-
ing at me for Toomeut. 1t was GER
tainly an awful moment.
"I'll trust YOU he said, and he let
me pass.
Lfelt, so far as I had time for feel
ing or of taking note of my feelings,
that my life had been in very con.
siderable peril just then.
went to the front. door, for the
ringing still continued. l found a
man crouehed upon the doorstep.
This proved to be Policeman Hos
kins, in very lamentnble condition.
He had lost his coat and hat-hs was
covered with mud his face was
swollen, cut, aud bleeding. 1t was
evident that he had been very cru
ely maltreated indeed.
"This is bad job, DOCTOR" he
murmered inarticulately.
alt is bad job, Hoskins," / said
And then he tried to stand, and tum
q bled sepseless 10 my arms. 1t was
with difficulty l dragged him into the