The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-04-10
The Maniac.

The maniac was a giant. lie had broken
his heavy chains as Sampson had broken his
withes-had torn open the door Of his cell
torn the keeper literally to pieces-burst
open the door-killed the watchman with q
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 and
dissecting-room, who were connected with
the asylum, had to 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 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 a
hand struck the light door, and the yell of Il
maniac rang through and through my brain.
Above the door. through the small venti-
lator, the face of the nadman and the
| murderer peered down at me.
All, ha | have caught you at last-here
and alone l have been waiting for you.
You took me once, didn't you? Ia, ha ,
Let me in!
The coolncss OF imminent peril brought
my powers to action. | held his eye an
instant; but it was evident lac was too Wild
| for that his blood was up, and it royed with
| eager ferOcity through the room and over
! the frail walls. With the light bound Of a
| leopard l gained the door and shot the
double bolt. \ gleam of rnge darted from
his eyes; but he laughed, " Ha, ha you
! think that will keep me out?
He leaped to the ground. In an instant
the light was out.
Wait, ! cried. . 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 it in your
| heart. If it bat touch you, you are dead
man. You may kill me, but Il you also, rs
certain as fate! -
The swarthy giant shook the door until its
| hinges creaked and groancd beneath his
| hand. Then, laughing again low to himself,
muttered, " Fool, Ill outwit yuu yet, and
| stole off in the darkness. | heard him,
for an instant, pressing against the wall
| of the building, and it swayed and bent
inwards with the weight. Then silence.
| The din of my pulses made thunder in my
ears, as | tried to hear his stealing tread,
and the sobbing wind rising anew with
weird, unearthly Shrek, made my efforts
| fruitleSs.
y thousand times I heard his low, muir
| derous laugh. \ thousand times | felt his
| brawny strength against the door, and saw
! his wild face looking down at me through
the gloom; but still he did not come.
| tried to think he had abandoned the design
and slunk off discouraged; but [ knew il
was not sol knew he was crouching ir
some corner, on the watch to spring on NE
| when | passed
Could | stay there all night? No, ccr-
tainly not. An hour more, and Harry Leigh
! (my young wife's brother) would come 70
| seek Income unconscious Of the danger,
until bloodhound at his throat would choke
/ the brave young life down there forever.
| listened in the intervals of the now ftful
storm 10 hear if ne was breathing near me
! I waited for the next luil. 1t came-that
deep hush that follows the gusty wind.
put my soul in the sense of hearing, but n
| human shadow of sound greeted it.
When the storm swciIed again drew the
bolt and looked into the night; black pal
/ hung over the earth and sky. | had a. 200,
chance to pass him in the ohscurity as h,
to catch me. With my knife in my teeth
and the massive thigh bone of skeleton t,
fell him with, if | must, drew of my shoe.
and stepped out into the darkness. ! sud
den whir! of the tempest almost tool, me of
my feet, and a brick. di-lodged from oue OF
the chimney gra1e,l my head IN IL iIa--;,e,
aad broke in half GA the pavement.
With bated breath, and 8 sep Ike the
tread Of panther scenting his prey,