The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-06-26
# fire. Otherwise his manner was quiet,

of fire. Otherwise his manner was quiet,
and his voice low and muilicd.
"Comp, sir he said, shortly, pre-
pare for death! Fate, whom | serve,
commands me to stay you ut the rising
of the sun. You have just five minutes
in whi tl 10 make your peace with
Heaven then you must die!
1.-THE lSt0l was what was then called
a pcppcr-boX,' the prototype of the
whole modern arsenal Of revolving
weapons. As he held it toward me, |
could distinctly see the balls ut the end
of the chambers; and realized that the
man who held the weapon of death was
Il maniac. III made the least movement
toward the door, my young life would
be the forfeit.
"What should I do?"
Like flash of light came the
thought: The landlord will be coming
to rouse you Try to keep
your wits about you, and gain 4 little
time
- Are you praying?" said the mad
man.
I'm thinking replied, rs quietly
as could, fixing my eyes upon his llvld
that is very harsh treat
mcnt to offer II man who has done
worse to you than to give you 4
share of his ROOM
Cant help it, sir; must obey orders
"'Do you know | said, trying to
control my voice, that you've deceived
me? You didn't tell me, yesterday,
about your being an agent of Fate, or |
should have been better prcparrd; but
YOU allowed me to believe you to he Il
gentleman, travelling on ordinary bust
ness or for pleasure; so | offered you Il
he'd in my room: and in return, you take
my life! To say the least. you have not
behaved like gentleman
"IIe looked little troubled. De-
ccivcd is strong word, sir he began.
81 can call it nothing else | re-
still speaking us quietly as |
could; and what is more, sir, when Il
man dcceivcs me about one thing, I'm
very apt to distrust any other statement
he may make to me. | doubt. now,
YOU were ever in the East ut
all; ! doubt whether you We're ever mar
rird; | doubt if you have Il daughter.
Why, remember how you said. last
evening, you'd show me her miniature;
but you didn't produce it. | don't be-
lievc now you've such Il thing in your
possession
." have / swear have it here in
my carpet-bag y hc said, letting his hand
Which held the revolver full to his side
in his carncStnesS.
"'Wcll,' said I, nonchaiantly, III
believe you when see the picture, not
before
"IIe laid the pistol down on the foot
of nv bed, and strobe across the room.
You NAV believe / lost no time in Sc
curing the weapon.
Just then footsteps sounded in the
passage outside. The landlord waS
coming at last. | sprang TO the door.
md pointed the pistol nj my late would
be cXccutioncr, who had turned, and
waS looking ut his empty hands in con-
;tcrnation.
- You stir another step | cried, it
will he your last STEP"
Il then opened the door and admitted
he astonishcd host. who looked per-
cc;lS agllast rs tried to explain to linn
what had occurred. | was excited al
most to frenzy, while my companion.
Ncl!-drrsscd, bland and Sclf-poSscsScd.
Expressed the greatest amazrmcnt ut my
story, which he depied in every particu-
ar.
Just look At his appearance, he
said. Contrast his manner with mine.
md tell me which of us looks like the
mailman. You heard him outside, just
now, landlord, threaten to shoot me.
lie has the pistol in his hand now. Is
il likely that, if it belonged to me. |
would give it into his possession? The
nan is perfectly insanr-has been act
ne like lunatic ever since he awakened
his morning.
- At this unexpected turn of affairs,
was so nonplussed that, in IN excited
manner, cndcavorcd to show the de-
.cit of the fellow, moving the pistol in
ny excited gcSticulations.
"'IIclp, help! Murder, murdcr.
screamed the man, in apparent terror.
"'IIclp, help. Murder. MURDER.
echoed the wrctchcd landlord. who
.lutchcd ut the others arm, and dragged
lim toward the door, vocifrrating.
Help There's II crazy man up stairs"
Il don't know how should havccon-
iinced the landlord of my sanity if I'M
help had not arrived soon after,
n the shape of two stout, burly keepers
rom an insane asylum in Philadelphia,
who pOunccd ut once upon the old gen
lcman us their legitimate property, and
him in the twinkling of IN
'ye.
"Thcy had most opportmcly arrived
,y the mail-coach during the alteration
Up stairs.
1T seemed that the old gentleman had
ormcrly been IN actor q could well be-
ievc it), but was possessed with Il homi-
'idal mania. and had been pronounced
ncurablc. As soon us his escape from
he asylum was discovered, it at once
occurred to the keepers to inquire for him
It the different coach offices in the city.
"No such person being booked as Il
they were thrown off the
rack, and were searching the city and
IS cnvirons, when they were put upon
he right track by a countryman who
lad seen him waiting on the roadside to
AXE the stage.
They had Just time to send off two
ncn by the mail-coach. which left Phil
ldrlphia at ten. and which arrived ut
he inn Just in time to rescue me from Il
distressing dilemma.
"IIow the maniac obtained possession
If Il loaded revolver they could not con-
rcturc, and he obStinatrly refused to
ell.
However. rs you may imagine, 7 did
lot concern myself Il great deal with that
question. I hurried on with my clothes,
ltr what breakfast ! could, and left the
lullsc by that blessed mail-coach ut six
,'clork. thankful enough that | was able
o pursue my journey uniniured.-
loWth'S Companion.
Probably the oldest timber in the
world Which has been subjected to the
use of man is that which is found in the