The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-04-02


feeling the least, dread of him, was yet
not without q strong desire to reach
Spa road. As bad luck would have it,
while yet we had not made half the short
journey, the train again came to sud-
den stop.
Yes, he would be public benefac-
tor who could deliver the people of Lon
don from fog" said.
"He would, would he notp" whis-
pered my companion, eagerly. "Then
l am the man."
AS he spoke he crouched down and
looked up at me with glare that made
me start. He buttoned his coat and
pulled up his sleeves, as he whispered
again, al am the man. can free you
from these fogsI can free myself"
For the first time the thought now
flashed into my mind that was alone
with mailman. recognized now that
wild light in his eyes, that strange
twitching at the corners of the mouth.
do not suppose that am constitution
ally more timid than most of my neigh
bors; yet at this moment felt cold
sweat break all over me, and l know
that 1 looked eagerly out in the dark
ness, hoping that as now the train was
slowly moving we were near the station.
/ saw only the thick fog and the feeble
light of here and there a lamp.
Yes, the man was mad, raving mad.
There could be no doubt about it. Only
a maniac could laugh the mirthless laugh
which now came from his throat as he
drew two steps nearer me and Kissed at
me, "W We shall travel together to the
moon. Adieu to the fogs; say with me,
adieu to the fogs." 5y .m., ....
was now erect, watching my COM
panion intently, nerving myself for a
struggle, which it was easy to tell was
very near. Icould easily see l was no
match for such an antagonist, My hope
was that ! would hold my own for the
few minutes necessary to reach Spa
road, where plenty of assistance would
be available. H' 90
"Your. balloon would scarcely
travel on such a night Isaid, with af-
fected indifference. "The atmosphere
is too thick!"
{" Too thick! Do you think SOP" he
said. iiu .-..'5.N ! ...-. .
81 do. Consider the density of the
fog. How could we possibly get through
"Well, there's something in that"
e-said, sitting down. ''Yet the effort
is worth trial. Yes, It is worth a
trial" ............ ...... .,.
He sprang anew to his feet, and APP
preached me- He threw out his strong
handa, and made clutch at my throat.
"This is how we begin, this is how I
get the gas for the trip. kill you first
to give you start. Then [ start myself
and follow you" One shout gave for
help, but it was lost in the report of a
fog signal; then we were swaying back
ward and forward in the carriage in q
struggle which was literally for life or
death. The madman's breath came hot
on my face, his strong arms held me in
q fierce embrace. There was fierce
joy in his eyes f''''." I'D"
The foam worked out of his mouth,
and his teeth CRASHED angrily against
each other. ,......
Life is dear, and felt no inclination
to yield mine without desperate strug.
gle. tore my antagonists hands from
my throat, and for moment forced
him to act on the defensive. l shouted
again and again for help, and how
longed for Spa road no words can de-
scribe. The train was now running at
a good rate and 1 knew the station
could not be far off. If only l could
hold my own for one half minute all
would be safe.
Pausing in his exertions for moment
the mailman suddenly Quilted me. Just
then, to my horror, the train rushed
through my station without even slack
ening speed. was in the wrong train,
and there was no hope of assistance till
we reached New Cross. 1t was evident
that my fellow-passengers had not heard
my shouts for assistance. ,..
| Without word of warning my COM
panion again threw himself upon me,
this time with 9 fury SO resistless that 4
was borne to the floor. b ...i... .r4.,h
"We shall go 10 the moon," he
shrieked. 81 have knife we can cut
our way through the fog" '
1 felt myself helpless. My previous
exertions had exhausted my strength,
while that of the maniac seemed to in
crease with the struggle. Strive as
might was utterly and entirely in his
power now. ~ ..''0 sr
How slowly the train seemed to move!
l believe now that it was going at q
good speed, but to me it appeared to
progress at q snail's pace. And how
curiously vivid were my thoughts.
saw the home where was expected, the
kind faces waiting to greet me. I won
dered what they'd say when they heard
of my death. caught myself thinking
how ugly we're the madmam's eyes, and
even noticed the color of his necktie--.
blue, with white spots. 1 no longer felt
any inclination to shout for help. l
looked upon myself as dead. l even
began to look at myself as third per-
son, and to lament, in a philosophical
fashion, the i'll, fortune which cut off at
the beginning of his career promising
young man. Then I remembered that
owed shoemaker for a pair of boots,
and pitied the unfortunate tradesman
for the bad debt he had made. While
these and hundred other thoughts were
passing through my brain, it seemed tc
me that an age had TRANSFERRED. In real
ity do not suppose that at the outside
more than minute had elapsed since
} my unlucky fail. Suddenly, as in 8