The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-12-20
A Misty Nights Adventure

One ening,about year ago, was stand.
ing on the corner of 9th avenue and seth
street. 1t was about l l o'clock, and heavy
mist was falling, though the night was warm
/ was about to take down car, when was
accosted by tall, broad d-shouldered, fine.
looking man, who called me by name, but
whose identity could not fix in my mind
though knew had seen him before.
Patsey, old boy, how are you ?" said he
grasping and heartily shaking my hand
I'm glad to see you, Pat, really. Come
take a walk with me up town. The night
isn't particularly inviting, old boy, nor is il
terribly severe. Comet"
Why should take walk with man
whom | couldn't "place," at that hour, and
on such night, l didn't ask myself and
can't answer even now. Perhaps it was the
mans manner of speech, earnest and per-
emptory, his commanding rather than solic-
ltng tones, that caused me to think he had
some kind ofan affair on hand which he did
not wish to "give away" and that com
paniUn would be desirable. Something in
| huenced me at any rate; for, with a Come
on !" to him, and without asking his name
or anything concerning him, hoping tc
''place' him by my own efforts at retrospec.
ton, turned and started off with him VI
the avenue mentioned.
His pace, though not hurried one, was
as earnest as his speech. lie put his feet
down as if he had something to walk for,and
he talked commonplaces in crisp and solid
tone, so to speak. In shorts there was moth
ing of the idler IN his walk, and nothing o.
the sleepy-head in his talk.
walked along beside him, wondering, a!
| walked, what was up, of course, imagin
ing all sorts of things. We walked till W,
reached Central Park, having "dropped in
once on the way, at his invitation, to par
take of the inevitable "invigorator," when
scanned my midnight companion closely
not for mental inventory of his apparel
but to "take in the situation" in respect tc
his sobricty.
If was any judge-and thought wa
he was as Straight as a string" as fire,
from the influence of liquor as a lamp post
and standing as firm, while his eyes shon,
with light as clear and bright as healtl
and vivacity could impart. have though
of that light since-I should have NOR,
closely observed it then-it was a glare.
We entered the park. | was now an in
voluntary, may say, mechanical accom-
paniment, and nothing more he walking
and talking as usual, putting his foot dowl
as firmly and speaking as earnestly, though
+ dwelling not for moment on any one top
ie, broaching and iisposing of one in les
than that time, and taking up another.
My curiosity in regard to my companion
and his mission" was now only exceede,
+ by my desire to be in at the DEATH" as i
were-to " see the thing out"
5 "Who the deuce is this man?" For tn
life of me couldn't place" him, though
had worked the retrospect" TO the best @
my ability. "What is his lay ?" Ho,
will it ends" " He isn't drunk" al
isn't lunatic." ats mighty queer, any
how" Such were few of the question
and remarks mutually asked and made b
myself as was drawn along beside the tai
unknown" drawn" that's what 1t wal
for was impelled by some strange inAuenc
to keep alongside my companion, whethe
| would or not In fact, it didn't occur I
me not to proceed further with him. l
such cases, fancy, il never does occur [
one to attempt to break the spell upon hir
the "spell' operates TO the contrary,
suppose.
Well, on we went through the mist an
darkness-opaquehe let me sayj fo
though "lost TO sight" there was moo
a above us, according to the almanac, and
was not dark, dull gray, ghostly sort
light tpervading-until" "the lake" was reach
!, ed, when my companion incontinently sea
y ed himself, pulling me down beside him
physical effort on his part, and not one
y attraction, magnetic or otherwise.
NJ SDuutI NtIc VIC hcdbeu Nldu ut spph
of the gray mist, as if for the first time n,
ticing it, and went on to remark upo
mists in general, il not this one in parti,
ular.
= He discussed msts for two minutes, PEI
' haps, when he dropped the subject as one
It well, too moist, perhaps, or maybe too "dry.
At all events, he dismissed the mist with
+, out ceremony, and, for the first time sine
we set out on our walk, spoke not for th
space of iorty seconds.
Suddenly he broke the silence with
remark that came from his lips as suddenl
as the fash and report OF a gun, and, il NJ
50 sounding as the report, quite as startliu
10 mei
I . "Patsey ?" Il never shall forget how shor
e sharp aud decisive was the pronuncialio
- Of my christian name) cure you fond Of SCI
sations? tell you we'll create Jne in II
morning, you beli When they find US bot
, laid out here, dead as herrings, in Il
4 morning, rather think therell be som
thing Of a sensation-eh ?"
I. He paused then, aud it dawned upon II
, that my companion was a lunatic Al
y when, the next moment, I saw in his risl
hand good sized revolver-none Of yo'
little, vest pocket adairs-the broad sunllsl