The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-02-24


ached but ere long arose to my feet, and
looked about me. The stream which had
caused my disaster had dw!ndled down to q
mere tiny brook, but marks Of it's food were
left, and could see that it had been quite
! formidable.
/ But one thing surprised me. Not more
than halt mile ahead | saw quite town---a
large, flourishing village. It was some time
before could collect my scattered senses ;but
when did So / became convinced that the
place before me was Decatur. My horse must
have left the true road almost Immediately af-
ter the darkness set in, and there / was near
~ twenty miles out Of the way to the west
ward
But forgot all this--forgot the pain in my
head and limbs-in my thoughts of what had
occurred during the night, and / resolved to
seek immediate aid to arrest. the inmates of
the horrible abode had left, and to set free
my unfortunate companion. | easily caught
my horse and, though gained the saddle
with difficulty, yet, when once there, rode
with ease.
When / reached the town which proved, as
| thought, to be Decatur, one of the first OBJ
jects that met my gaze was a lawyers sign
rode up to the door of the Office and dis
mounted. While | was hitching my horse, a
wagon drove up, in which was gentleman
and lady the gentleman was an elderly per-
son, and whose countenance was such as to
command instant respect. He entered the Of
flee directly behind me. He smiled and shook
hands with the lawyer, and then turned to a
desk, and began to overhaul large bundle of
papers which he had just taken from his pock-
ct.
My muddy garments gave me anything but
a comedy appearance, but as soon as l was as
sured that addressed the lawyer I pro-
ceeded to unfold my fearful tale. The attorn-
ely started and tremblcd as commenced, and
the gentleman who was overhauling the pa
pers stopped from his work and looked at me,
went on, and described every particular my
hair bristled as told of the terrible cries of
the poor victim had left behind, and as | as
sured my hearers that it was the hostler who
had sprung out as | rode off.
A strange, unaccountable expression passed
over the lawyers face. He gazed at me mo-
ment in silence, and then, clapping his hands
upon his sides, he sank back into his chair,
and burst into a long, loud, uproarious laugh.
I was thunderstruck +! The old gentleman
dropped his papers, and actually sank upon the
floor, as wild burst of merriment shook his
frame.
" Ha, ha. ha Why, my dear friend, ut
language, you-ha, ha. hai-yoo were-ha,
M :--you have bccn----O! oho-o-o-ha, ha ]
-he-e-e-e y
sank into a chair, utterly overcome, and
at length | got at the truth. The old gentle
man before me was none other than the cele-
brated Doctor Gabriel Landresser. He and
his wife had left home on the day before, ON a
visit, and the storm had prevented their re-
turn.
His dwelling was private hospital, where
he had number of poor maniacs in course Of
curative treatment, and with the maniacs
had stopped. His hostler was the only really
sane person he had left in charge of the build
Ter had been much averse to my remaining at
the house, and hence his grnff manner toward
me. The man who had led me from my chamb-
er was a poor fellow who had entertained
the idea that some one was seeking to murder
him and his strange monomania had a variety
of phases, according to the circumstances a.
bout him.
He had evidently intended to escape from
the doctors house with me, but the timely APP
rearance Of the hostler prevented him.