Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1875-02-19

A minute later he felt flood of light IL
Illuminate the mill, and looking up, he saw
that the old gentleman had pushed back
the wooden door, and stood gazing through
the opening upon the sky and landscape.
But presently Thad was surprised to see
him raise his hands far above his head and
gesticulate towards tile sky. He repeated
this several times and seemed to be speak
ing meanwhile, though the noise prevented
him from being distinctly heard.
Thad did not know what to make of such
strange conduct, and the longer he looked
the more he was puzzled, for the man aloft
grew louder in his speech and wilder in his
gesticulations every minute.
All at once freezing sensation shot
through the boys frame. 1t had occurred
to him that the old gentleman might be
crazy He certainly looked like ii.
There was the white haired figure perch
ed upon the very edge of the sill, half in at
the door and half out of it, talking to some
lnaSlEdry perSon III lIe dlr.
What would he do nextp What could
be done to stop him .? Thad looked wildly
around. The door was 1T least thirty feet
above him. There were two ladders, and
it would take him full minute to climb to
the top. And then-what was he to do
when he got up there ,?
But there was the strange old gentleman
in immediate peril Of his life. Thad was
half distracted. OH, that some one would
appear to help,
Suddenly he caught the sound Of wheels
in the road. He ran up to the door, but
he was met Mt the threshold by two men,
who asked hastily
Have you seen him? Have you seen
him pnss here -
who 2 cried Thad.
Col. Mansfield he has escaped from
the lunatIc hospital
Thad turned pale. There he is gasp
ed he, pointed to the open door in the loft.
a long, loud, shrill laugh came ringing
down, and the men looked only to see a
wild figure waving its arms and swinging
To and irn in the sunlight.
Aba :. screamed the maniac, in a voice
that could he heard distinctly above the
thunder of the mill. Aha. you fools, I've
escaped you! I'm off on the wings Of the
wind. shall leap on the backs of these
four fleet horses and be swept into ethereal
space, and he pointed exultingly to the
four fans of the great revolving wind wheel.
At that instant quick thought entered
into Thad's mind, and rushed up the steep
steps near the hopper He pulled lever
and stopped the mill. He expected the
sails would stop, but no, they continued to
20 around. The huge stones were not turn
ed, but in some way the machinery had
broken, so that huge arms of the sails were
not held. He examined the machinery in
his hurry and nervousness, but could see
no way to remedy the accident. The two
men rushed up and examined the huge iron
but were ignorant of what should
be done, and helpless.
Then all of them rushed down the base
of the mill and eagerly watched the maniac
in the tower, but they could do nothing
The mad Colonel continued his gestures
and shouts, and the hush of the now partly
silenced mill made his voice and words to
sound doubly appalling.
In an instant l shall be shot amid the
stars | shall shine forever! You will
see me there n light of the first magnitude !!
Good bye!'
He kissed his hand to the gazers below.
Involuntarily they turned away their eyes.
When they looked again he was gone.
With cry of dismay they darted out of
the door and ran around the mill, fully ex-
pecting to find the remains of the crazy
man lying on the ground.
But they saw nothing. There were the
four huge arms sailing magesticallv round,
but nothing more.
Suddenly Thad uttered n shrek and
pointed upward. And now all eyes saw a
sipht that made their blood run cold. The
old gentleman was clinging TO one of the
revolution arms of the wind wheel Round
and round with il he went. his head now
uppermost. and now his feet In mo-
mrnt more he would be dashed to the
ground.
Horror stricken. the spectators could
make no movement to overt the catastro-
phe all will soon be over. But in that
moment of helplessness The boy conceived
a plan almost as wild as the fancies of the
maniac on the wheel, but nevertheless
worthy the spirit of hero. There was n
life to be saved He hurried back into the
wind mill, whipped off his jacket as he ran.
and rushing to the ladders mounted rapid
" to the tower door.
Several coils of rope hung near. on the
wall TO the left. He seized one of the small
est and leaned out toward the revolving
arms. They went down on the right and
came up on the left. One went past. He
looked up, ready to leap upon it, but the
man was not there. Then n second one !;
but there was nobody, clinging to it. Then
the third, it too was empty. Its huge form
swung by and disappeared. Could the old
gentleman have fallen? No. The fourth
arm came up, and there he was clinging,
pale and speechess.
Thad collected himselffor one strong effort.
He leaped desperately forward, seized the