The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1879-08-07

make yepr peace with Heaven; then 80
, must alti
The pistol was what was then called
pepper boa, the prototype ol The whol
modern srsepal Of revolving wsAPons. a
he beld Il toward me, | ooald distinct
see the balls st he ends 81 the chambers
spd realized that The msn who held n
weapon Of death was a msnisc. n ! mad
ihe least movement toward the door m
Young liia would be the forfeit
What should doY
Like flAsh Of light came The thought
The landlord will be coming present..
TO rouse YOU. Try to keep your wit
about you, aud gAin little lime.
\ Are you praying said the madmau.
/ I'm thinking, Ireplicd, IS quietly IS
could, fixing my eyes upon his liyi'
oounteBsuce, that Il very harsh treatment
to offer = man who has done nothing
worse TO You than to give you . share o
bis room.
Can't help It, sir; musl obey orders.
Do you know, said trying to contro
my voice, that you've deceived me9 YoI
didn't tell me, yesterday, about your be
ing an agent OF Fate, or / should have
been better prepared; but you allowe(
me to believe you to be gentleman
travelling on ordinary business or iol
pleasure; so offered you bed in my
room; and in return you take my life
To say the least, YOU have not behaved
like gentleman.
lie looked little troubled Deceived
is strong word, sir, be began,
| can cali it nothing else, returned
still speaking as quietly as could; ant
what is more, sir, when a man deceivei
me about one thing, | am very apt to dis
trust any other statement he may make
to me- doubt now whether you were
ever in the East at all; | doubt whether
you were ever married; doubt II you
have q daughter. Why, remember how
you said last evening, you'd show me her
miniature; but you didn't produce 1t.
don't believe now you've got such a
thing in your possession.
have swear have il here in my
ce rpet bag! he said, letting the band
which held The revolver fall to his side in
bis eagerness.
Well, said |, nonchalantly, I'll believe
you when | see the picture not before.
lie laid the pistol down on the foot OF
my bed, and strobe across the room.
You may believe lost no time in secur-
ing the weapon. Just then footsteps
sounded in the passage outside. The land
lord was coming at last sprang to the
door, and pointed tbs pistol at my would
be executioner, who had turned, and was
looking at his empty hands in consterna.
ton.
You stir another step, cried, il win
be your last stepl
then opened the door and admitted the
aslonished host, who looked perfectly
aghasl as tried to explain TO him what
had occurred. was excited almost to
frenzy, while my companion, well dress
ed, bland aud self possessed, professed
the greatest amazementat my story,
whihc he denied In every particular.
Just look at his appearance, he said.
Ionfrant hia v,aapuar ~ Vnfna and faU ~ a
which of US looks like the madman. You
heard him outside, just now, landlord
threaten to shoot me. lie has the pistol
in his hand now. lie it likely that, il 1t
belonged to me, would give II into his
possession? The man is perfectly insane
has been acting like lunstic ever since
he awakened this morning,
AT this unexpected turn OF affairs, ]
was so nonpussed that, in an excited
manner, endeavored to show the deceit
Of the fellow. moving the pistol 10 my
excited gestieuations.
Help, help Murder, murder screamed
the man, In apparent terror.
Help, hclpl Murder, murder echoed
the wretched landlord, who clutched the
Others arm, and dragged him toward
the door, vociferating, Help! There's a
crazy msn up stairsl
! don't know how should have con.
yinced the landlord Of my sanity If unex-
pected help bad not arrived soon after, in
the shape Of two stout, burly keepers
from an insane asylum 10 Philadelphia,
who pouneed al once upon the old gentle
man as their legitimate property, aud
bandcuflei him in the twinkling ofan eye.
They had most opportunely arrived by
the mail coach during the alteration up
stairs.
II seemed that he old gentleman bad
formerly been an actor Il could we'll be-
lieve I'D, bat was possessed with suicidal
mania, and had been pronounced incura-
bic. As soon as bis escape from the asy.
lum was discovered, it at once occurred
to the keepers to inquire for him at the
different coach offices in the city. No
such person being booked as passenger,
they were thrown of the track, and were
searching the city and lls enyirons, when
they were put upon the right track By q
counlryman who had seen him waiting
on the roadside TO take the stage.
They had just time to send or two men
by The mail coach, which arrived at the
inn just in time TO rescne me from dis.
tressihg dilemma.
How the maniac obtained possession OF
a loaded revolver they conld not conjeet.
ure, and be obstinalely refused to tell.
However, as YOU may imagine, did not