The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1871-08-09
3amilp Reaoins ano Mems Jtems.
A NIGHT WITH A MANIAC.

his heavy chains as Samson broke the
withes-had torn open the door of the cell
| torn the keeper. literally. in pieces
burst open the door-killed the watchman
with a heavy iron bar he wrenched from the
door-and escaped with his formidable
| weapon into the city. The whole place was
aghast at the news and we students at the
hospital end dissecting room, who were
connected with the asylum, had 10 nerve
ourselves to help capture the escaped wild
beast.
| had gone to the dissecting room alone.
and was about to commence using the knife
on a subject. There was a storm raging.
and with low sob the wind swelled through
the long aisle of forest trees, and flashed
| with the gathered force of an ocean wave
against the dead house. Simultaneously,
hard struck the light door. and the yell Of
a maniac rang through and through my
brain.
Above the door. through the small ventil
ator. the face of the madman and the mur-
derer peered down at NEE
',Ah. hd. l have caught you at list
here-and alone. have been waiting for
you. You took me once didn't you! Ha!
The cooiness Of imminen. peril brought
nv bowers ID dCtIOu. uCtu uio Cy ho o's
instant; but it was evident that be was too
wild for that his blood was up. and it roved
with eager ferocity through the room and
over the frail walls. With the light bound
of a leopard gained the door and shot the
double bolt. A CLEAN Of rage darted from
his eye; but he laughed. "Ha ha! You
think you will keep me out :"
He ieaped to the ground. 1n'an instant
the light was out.
.WelI,"I cried. IL have weapon in my
hand keen as a razor. 1t is poisoned by the
dead body have been working on. Burst
the door, and I'll plunge 1t in your heart.
| If il but touch you. you are dead man.
You may kill me. but I'll kill you also, us
certain as there is God"
The swarthy giant shook the door until
its hinges creaked aud groaned beneath his
hand. Then, laughing again low to him
self. muttered, Fool, I'll Outwit you yet"
AMI stole of in the darkness. heard
him, for an instant. pressing against the wall
of the building, and it swayed and bent in
ward with the weight. Then silence. The
din of my pulse made thunder in my ears.
as l tried to hear his stealing tread, and
the sobbing wind rose anew with weird
Ishriek. aud mode my efforts fruitIess.
A thousand times heard this low, devil.
lsh, murderoas laugh. A thousand times
felt his brawny strength against the door
land saw his wild face look down ut me
through tho gloom; but still he did no!
come. l tried to think be had abandoned
1.-THE design, and skunk off discouraged bu'
knew it was not SOL know he was couch
ling in some corner, on the watch to spring
on me when passed.
Could stay there all night! No, GER
tainly not. An hour more. aud Harr,
Leigh, (my young wifa's brether) would
come to seek me-come unconscious OF tht
danger, until bloodhound at bis throat
would choke the brave young life dows
) there forever.
listened in the intervals of the now fl.
| iH1 &R1 AforWt g hear if be was breathing neal
th., a.. "aueo.xar the next lull. 1t came
III nnt IT, "usn mat follows the gusty wind
40 HhumIgx umIgx SAQRl IL tho sensa of -6esriao hn
When the storm sWolle6 again drew ths
bolt and looked into the night =. ksr..
| nah h,a.Hr-----essc- -cwrsu uuu yKy. had Al
good a chance to pass him in the obscuriiy
a. he to catcl, me. With my knife in my
teeth, and the massive thigh bone of ne.
gro to fell him with, if must drew of
my shoes and stepped out into the darkness
A sudden whirl of the tempest almost toot
me of my feet, and brick, dislodged from
one Of the chimneys. grazed my head in il,
passage, and broke in half on the pavement
With bnted breath. aud a step like III.
tread Of panther scenting his prey,
parted the !hick darkness, and turned m,
face toward the hospital He might b.
either here. at any point along the passage
or hid in the angle Of the wali at the dool
through which l must enter. This seemed
most probable; bot there was another dool
known only 10 the doctors.
thought would elude him. With in.
fsite caution began to scale the high vail
tdresding horribly lest some sudden breat
in the sky might reveal me To the Wild eye,
tbat watched for me-bnt no.
5 Safely passing the summit. l threw my
lex over for the descent, and felt my fno
seized. u Was but the climbing tendril u
= Wild vine. skirting the wall. Grsepin1
my knife in my right hand. / crept alopl
4 the bushes for 6fty yards. then struci
across the lawn for the side entrance. Th,
darkness perplesrd me. bat Thought va,
steering straight. Suddenly my foot strucl
bricks. What was this! tried 10 recol
Ilect. There wss no pavement roend tha
| part Of the hospital.
/ pushed on uncertaiuly and feeling
weight in the cir. put ont my hand to crops
f.r .smc clue 10 my wb~rabuuts. was Il
j Nh alley hanked With stone walls far above