The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-10-20
anistellaneous.
A Guess for Life.

cunning they display in carrying out
whins of their di ordered minds. In
their wild freaks maniacs frequently
ovince method in their planning, aud
an adroitness and cooluess that would
do credi; to the shrewdest sana person.
We give below thrilling incident which
actually occurred us related, one of the
parties to it having been a prominent
officer in the French army:
When my regiment was mustered out
OF the service, | babe aoieu TO my old
comrades aud to the army, and opened
an office iu the hourishing town Of l..
As was stnrting for the supper ia,
lie, on the evening of the third day of
my arrival, the Office bell rang violently
aud the boy came in aud said that
man wanted to see the doctor.
The visitor was standing by the fire
when | entered. lie was tall, pow
erlul mana perfect giant compared to
my five feet six; and his great bushy
black whiskcrs were well fitted to his
monstrous form.
If you are at liberty doctor, please
come with ne. IL is but few steps
aud you will not need carringe"
put on my coat and hat and follow
cd him. 1t was my first call in L......
and | fundly hoped it would be the
fOrcrunner of many others.
This man strobe on ahead of me all
the time notwithstanding my endeavors
to keep at his side, and spoke not "a
word, not even answering my questions.
Stopping before substantial looking
residence on one of the principal streets.
he applied the latch key, and let us
into pleasant little room on the second
floor, (a study, | thought hung about
with good paintings and chromos, and
lined with books of evory name.
Take seat, doctor; | will step out
moment Take this chair by the fire;
it's bitter cold night"
The chair was great, unwieldly thing
but exceedingly comfortable. l threw
my feet upon the fender and leaned
back upon the cushions, very well sat
isfed to warm little before seeing the
patient
| heard the man approach the door,
which was directly back Of where | sat
and heard the door open aud close
again, | supposed he had gone out
but did not look round to see. Indeed
| had no time, for stout cord was
thrown over my wrist and around my
breast, aud handkerchief bound over
my mouth so quickly that l could not
prevent it
When | was perfectly secure my con.
ductor stepped in front of me and look
ed with much interest at my vain at.
tempts to free myself.
Good stout cord, amt it p he as.
ked. at has never been broken, and
many stouter man than you has tried
it, There, now, be quiet while and |
will tell you what | want"
He went to cabinet that stood iu
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 the point, all the time
talking in the most common place man.
ncr imaginable.
:" l have studied the art of guessing
for years." he said. II can guess any
thing; that is my guessing chair you
are sitting in now, and | take great
pleasure in imparting my knowledge to
others. This is what l want of you to-
night. | did intend to make you guess
that, but | have thought of something
better"
He had become satisfied with the
poiut aud edge Of the knife and paced
up and down the room, giving full
history of the world, interspersed with
facts relative to the art of guessing, at
which time he always stopped in front
Of ne.
" Did you ever study it, doctor? /
know you haven't. | am the only one
that ever reduced it to science. / have
devoted my whole time to it; and am
now about to initiate you into the mys.
teries if you are worthy"
He was standing before me so very
calm, and did not think he intended
to harm nc but When | look % into
his eyes, burning with the fire of insan.
ity, felt that my situation was despe-
rate, indeed.
" | must test you" he said. II
must see whether you are naturally
gifted or not before | waste much time
with you. If | remove the handker.
chief will you answer my questions"
| nodded in the affirmative and he
removed it.
Now, my dear doctor, you are an
entire stranger to me. Without doubt.
you have often heard Of me, but it
would be hard task to distinguish my
name from all other great men of the
time. You guess it, doctor. What is
itY
He had brought his face so near to
mine that | could feel the hot breath.
aud iancied | could feel the heat of
those terrible eyes. The long, keen
blade he was holding over me-for
whatY To take my lille if | failed.
Guess guess !" he screamed. "If
you fail it will be your last guess in this
world"
dared not cry out, for the knife was
too near | could not escape, for the
strong cords bound me to chair |
could not lift, and could lie there aud
lose my life. What could | do l.?
+" 1t is very hard guess, aud win |
give you three minutes to answer IT."
he said
! summoned all my courage which |