Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-05-15
He appeared puzzled,

stranger to me. He appeared puzzled,
and then replied:
&c am the real Joseph Dithmar"
"Who, then, pray, was he who until
last night YVES known here by that
name?"
T "Bogus, bogus" answered the man,
turning to the piano and drumming with
his right hand. -
" Where is he, and where is his
family?' .-,sz. -r.t
GLOW should I know? They treated
me i'll !; but now that 1 am restored to
my rights they may escape-yes, they may
escape" He said this with a dreamy
lair, and still drumming.
= knew not what to think, what to do.
Could this mans story be true2 Ger
tain it was that the Dithmars, one and
all, had flown, and that was in favor of
its truth besides, I remembered the
effect on the family of the intruder's
first appearance-the blank amazement,
the utter crush, Dithmar's unquestion-
ing submission, the dismissal of the
guests, Mary's last words on parting
with me-and ], too, began to admit sus-
picion and doubt. Then reflected that
this was cruel and unkind in me, and in
second bethought me of legal aid.
Just at that moment one of the outer
windows was raised from without, and
at it appeared the head and shoulders
of Duff.
Halo l' cried that worthy, "what's
ap ?''
L went to him, and whisp cred
Not a word. Come in and7watch
this man until I return"
Duff, amazed, andsn knowing what
to make of the aspectsof things, obeyed.
I ran for the constable. I found that
officer, armed with the requisite author
ity, and we were soon on our way back
to the Dithmar mansion to solve the
problem that had been presented, by
Jaw. At the door, much to my surprise
and joy, 1 met Mrs. Dithmar in her
bonnet. ay
So Mr. Simpson" said she, in voice
that yet had a tremble in it, &c am so
glad you've come. It's all over; he's
gone. ss--
I dismissed the constable on Mrs.
Dithmar's assurance that there was no
further need of his services, and went in.
Duff and the lady were the only persons
present. My late companion, the in
truder, was nowhere to be seen.
Whats become ofshim ?" asked.
Duff made answer with laugh:
His keepers took him off.
What P" cried I, with look that
demanded explanation
"Mr. Simpson" said Mrs. Dithmar,
that poor creature who has so sore1y
troubled us is my husbands s demented
brother. He has been confined IN a
lunatic asylum for some years, and none
of our children have ever seen him be-
fore. Yesterday he escaped and came
direct to N-.A0uce among us, his
malady (Which takes the form you saw
broke out afresh and knowing from
experience that the poor man is some
times as bloodthirsty and fierce as a
savage, we dismissed the guests, and all
left the house temporarily, while Mr..
Dithmar went to the asylum for the
keepers. Fearing to alarm or arouse the
maniac, we let the lights. burn and left
him in possession. The rest is soon
told. The keepers, Mr.. Dithmar and
and the lunatic have just this instant
gone, and now, if you please, you and
Mr.. Duff may go and bring the girls
home. They are at EN's, on the
main street.
Thus ended the strange story-the
curious adventure that sprang out of the
"Ball at Dithmar's ''-and now, after q
lapse of years, as I think of it, I shud-
der as I speculate on what might have
ehanced had fortune not favored me
while was alone with and striving with
all my might to irritate a dangerous and
INSCRIPTIONS maniac.