The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-11-02

the subterranean passages of the asylum.
Turning to retrace my steps. the opaque
density of some heavy body crouched be-
tween me and the outer air. heard Its
stifed breathing-i its stealthy tread ap-
preaching me. Just heavens ! A strug-
gle for life with a mailman In these nar
row, gloomy vaults-to lie in pool of
ones own hearts blood in this undlscov-
cred tomb-and my young wife. Con-
stance WAS maddening.
For all instant my brain was on fire.
ThenI thought there might be an exit
other devious windings in which l could
elu1e my deadly pursuer. Going deity
backwards, [ turned the angle In the
wall, and then plunged at then utmost
speed Of young and active man, along
the back passage. Instantly I knew |
was pursued Meeting another cross
path, struck into it III the opposite di-
rection. The ms lc instantly followed
me. What rae through these caver-
Gus depths of the lDadhouse What
tragic pitfalls might lurk at every step !
what black and stagnant pools lie wait
ing to engulf me what deeper depths
of icy b!aekness into which to fall-and
fall for ever.
The passage grew narrower. We were,
perhaps, under the very centre OF the
building. and farthest from the outer air.
[ had tried to breathe noislessly; the
effort exhausted me. / knew nothing OF
the labrinths; could only guess at our
position by the distance from the en-
trance thought [ could retrace them.
My strength was failing. | was heetest,
but he was most enduring.
Presently he would run me down. 1t
MOULD h., tarr.lla DaCturo hnt the npc-
essity was imminent. | would try it.
Gathering all my force, DATED like an
arrow on into the darkness. The sudden
ness of my increased speed baff1ed him.
[ succeeded in putting fifty yards between
US, gained and turned the next angle !;
then, drawing myself against the wall,
with nerve and muscle strained into pre-
ternaturai tension, with the mighty heav-
ing of my spent chest crushed into ST.
lence by an effort of despairing will, L
waited for him to pass me. L heard HIM
come rushing on with new strength
through the blackneSs, reach the ang lie,
turn it, striking his massive body against
the jutting stones. | heard him spring
like an animal on along the track. l felt
his hot breath like steam-the foam of
his set jaws flung across my face-and he
stopped. | felt that he was feeling for
me that he was crouchlng on the
stones. | saw the red of his eyeballs
glare up at me through the darkness. [
felt the touch of his icy flesh on my hand.
Like lightning he raised himself, and,
throwing his vast weight against me, PIN
Toned me to the stones. And the mad
rage of man at bay surged upward to
my brain. [ clasped my knife conful-
sively, and seized him by the throat. re-
solved to die hard. 1t was hair-it was
shaggy. The hands against my chest
had thick coat of fur. | clasped him
to my breast. 1t was Lion-my dog,
Lion
"Great heaven, Keene! what kept you
the whole night in that cursed dead
house? 1t is near day; the door has been
open this two hours, and Derby and King
have been asleep. | was getting on my
boots to look for you'll
Why in the name of common sense.
did you let this dog out after me? Will
you tell me that ?''
why, he hUwled like maniac, and
clawed at the door, till [ thought you
were in some danger, and | could not
keep him in
''Dangerl Well, we can't talk now.
Rouse yourself; [ have had an interview
with your maniac, and he is proving
round the grounds after me now. Call
up the men. L must go after Philip i'm
mediately"
You don't say so ?''
Yes, don't waste a second.'
In five minutes the whole force Of the
hospital was out in the grounds. We took
him in an angle of the great door, crouch
ed behind the jutting wall, waiting for
ne He drew his lips back over his
teeth. in the dumb ferocity Of a mad
brute, as he saw me, and his eyes settled
into a dull lurid glare, impossible to de-
scribe, as he Kissed out, "Ha! this is
you have triump hed; wait
till the third time |"
Around the blazing CRATE, in the clos
ing hour Of the tempest tossed night, we
shook hands over the gladness of our re-
union, and after the storm was over, and
the horror first, and the laughter after
Eat the close Of my adventure), and Der
by and King had left, and Harry Leigh
and l stood at the window watching the
young winter day rise over the hills, there
was something very like tears over the
bold, bright blue eyes as he pointed to
the granite walls of the mad-house. and
said, Constance would have gone there,
Keene, or died, and mine would have
been a heavy, heavy life after ALL"