The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-06-11
mtsrrllanr.
1 oUEsS FOR LIFE
THRILLING sroEY.

lusioas entertained by MAD me"--sne teihafA"'
BE pertinAcity aud cunning they di,pis! IN ear
--;ns ant m. ~hims of their disordc,ed minds.
In THAR vild freaks maniac. frequently evince
method In their planning. IN adroitness aud cool
~. that vould do credit ~ the shrewdest sane
psrsen. We give below a thrilling incident
which aotually occurred - related, ono OF the
parsies to il having haAa pro"inent army
s6iess:
Whs. my regiment vss mustered 9nt OF the
ssrvioe. babe adisu to my old comrades and to
The army and opened sn cfacs in tho hoursh'ng
town Of L..
A was startiag Tor the supper table on the
evening of the third day of my arrival, the Office
bell rang violently, AID the boy came III ahe SAID
that man wanted to see the doctor
The visitor WAS standing by the lire when
entered. He WAS u tall, powerful man--A per-
fec, sisnt compared to my five feet six ana the
sreat and brushy black hair aud whisker" we're
yell fitted to his monstrons form.
III YOU are at liberty doctor, please come
with me- 1t ia bu. few steps, and you will not
need u carriage.
I.put on INV coat and hat and followed him.
It was nv frat call in l. and fondly hoped
it was the forerunner of many others.
This man strobe on ahead OF me all the time
notwithstanding my endeavors 10 keep at his
side, and spoke not word, not even answering
my questions
Stopping before u substantia! looking residence
be applied the latch key. and led us into pleas.
Ant little room on the second hoor, n sindv |
thoueht it, hung about with good paintings and
elegant cromos. and lined with backs OF every
name.
"Tske . seat, Doctor | will step out u moment
Take this shnir by the fire; it's bitter cold
lixht'
The chair vas great unwieldly thing, but
exceedingly comfortable. | threw my feet upon
the teader. and leaned back upoa the cushion,
,Q.lt ,,uy a
the patient ,-Fv
I heard the man approach tho door, which was
directly back OF where ut, and heard the door
open aud close again. l supposed he bad gone
out but did not look around to see. Indeed. l
hal no time, isr y stout cord vAs thrown ever
nv wrists aud sroand my breast, and . hand.
kctchisf bound over my mouth ~ quickly that
GOULD not prevent IT.
When vss perfectly secure my conductor
stsppsA in front Of me and looked with much
Interest at my vain sttempts to tree myself.
STOOD, stout cord i.utitr I" he asked. ut has
never been broken, aud many stouter man than
you hss tried it. There now, be quiet while
spd will tell you what I want
He vent 70 = oAbiust shat stood in the corner
Of the room. aud taking long, wicked looking
knits from enc Of the drawers, ran his thumb
over he edge, ssd felt tho point, oil the while
talking in the nost common place manner I'M
Il have studied Ne art Of guessing for years."
aid be. II ca guess any thing; that i ny
guessing sAais you ere sitting in nov. and take
great pleasure in impartiug ny knowledge TO
did intend 70 make you gusas that, but have
Thought Of somsthiag better"
He had become satisfied aith the edge aud
point Of the knife. and pacing ZIP and down the
room. giving nae . full history OF the world. in
terspersed with facts relative TO the art OF guess
ipg, Of which imeA he always stopped IN front
"Did you over study it. doctor: l know you
haven't. sm the only one that ever reduced it
to science. Since ! loft my noble veterans ]
hare devoted my whole time to it; and now
am about TO initiate You into its mysteries If
you are worthy"
He was standing boiors NC very calm, that
did net think be intended to harm me but
when looked into his eyes, burins with the
hre Of insanity, felt that my situation WAS des.
persts indeed.
" must test you.' he said. II must see
whether you are naturally gifted OF not, before
waste much time with you If remove the
handkerchief will you answer my question y
nodded in the affirmative and he removed it,.
Now my dear doctor, you are an entire s:run.
ger to me. Without doubt you have often heard
oi me, bat il would be hard task to distinx.
eiah my name from all other great men Of the
time. You gusss it, doctor What il it;'
He had brought bic face 20 near 70 mine that
could feel the bot breath, aud fanoisd ! could
feel the heat Of those terrible eyes. The long,
keen blade hs wa holding over me--for what 7
To take my life if failed.
"Gusss! guess :" ha screamed. "lf you tail
II gill DO your last guess in this world
dared not cry out the knife was too near.
could not escape, for the strong cords bound me
to that chair could not lift, and could lie
there and lose my life. What conld do;"
Its a very hard guess. and l will give you
shrse minutes to answer it," he said.
I summoned all my courage. which had never
yet failed me even in tho awful hour OF battle
and looking him steadily in the eye. said:
Il know YOU sir so where is the OF guess
iukl have seen you maIshaling your hosts &c
victory. have seen you cnt down score OF
men, with one single aim have se-L you pu
80 flight u whole battalion. | know yoe-evcry
body knows you; your name is i'll my mouth
remembered what he said about leaving hi
veterans. and had tried this harangue to diver
his attention. paused to mark the effect.
Yes yea, doctor But wha, is it Th!r
ty seconds" be exclaimed again.
Great God! What would l not have give.
Tor clue to that mudnans fancy Thirty sec
ouds. and how short second is. The knife wal
raised higher. this, it nigh, gum momentum b,
the distance. His body was brsced for H.. a.,
tack, and his eye upon the mark.
Ten seconds more. Wha. 1. IT,"
There wSs one hope left me. aud thu, was t.
guess. telt that he considered himself som,
great man - be had spoken Of veterans, som'
great military chisitsin. I had thought OF ou
oVA hsroes. and the names Of many Of them wer'
upon my lips but dared not utter them
IA Sh. a. lA