The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1882-01-04

den stop.
"Yes. he wo- bea public benefactor
who could deliver the people of London
from fog" said.
"He would, would he not?" wins
pered my companion eagerly. "Then
am the man"
AS he spoke he cronched down and
looked up at me with glare that made
me start. BE buttoned his coat and
pulled up his sleeves, as he whispered
again, 4" i am the man. can free you
from these fogs-I 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 q GOLD
sweat break all over me, and know
that looked eagerly out in the dark
ness, hoping that as now the train wss
slowly moving we were near the station.
saw only the thick fog and the feeble
light Of here and there lamp.
Yes, the man was mad, raving mad.
There could be no doubt about ii. Only
q maniac could laugh the mirthless
laugh which now came from his throat,
MS he drew two steps nearer me and
Kissed at me, eve shall travel together
to the moon. Adisu to the fogs !; say
with me, adieu to the fogs."
was now erect, watching nay COM
panion intently, nerving myself for
struggle, which, it was easy to tel, was
very near. could easily see was no
match for such an antagonist. My hope
was that / would hold my own for the
few minutes necessarZ to reach Spa
road, where plenty of assistance would
be available.
"Your balloon would scarcely travel
on such a night" said, with affected
Indifference. "The atmosphere is too
thick I" . -
"Too thick Do you think sop he
said.
"I do. Consider the density of the
fog. How can we possibly get through
"Well, there's something in that, he
said, sitting down. "Yet the effort is
worth trial Yes, it is worth trial. "
He sprang anew to his feet, and APP
preached me. He threw out his strong
hands, and made clutch at my throat
This is how we begin, this Is how
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 q
fog signal; then we were swaying back
ward and forward In the carriage ID
struggle which was literally for life OF
death. The madman's breath came hot
on my face, his strong arms held me in
fierce embrace. There was fierce Joy
in his eyes.
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 I tore my antagonists hands froo
my throat, and for { moment forced him
TO act ON the defensive. I shouted aga,r
and again for help, and how iongeG
for Spa road no words can desc,ib,
The train WINS now running at gOo1
rate and knew the station could not be
far of If only could hold my own for
one half minute all would be safe.
Pausing III his exertions for moment
the mailman suddenly quilted me. Just
then, to my horror, the train rushed
through my station without even slack
ing speed. I was in the wrong train,
and there was no hope of assistance till
we reached New Cross. 1t was evident
that nay fellow-passenger had not heard
my shouts for assistance. & AN
Without word of warning my com
panion again threw himself upon me,
this time with fury SO resistless that /
was borne to the floor.
- We shall go to the moon," he
shrieked q" I have a knife-we can cut
our way through the fog"
II 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, I was utterly and entirely in his
power now. q. r,.rr-~r
How slowly the train seemed to move.
[ believe now that it was going at good
speed, but to me it appeared to progress
at snails pace. And how curiously
vivid were nay thoughts. I saw the home
where / was expected, and kind faces
waiting to greet me. / wondered what
they'd say when they heard of my death.
caught myself thinking how ugly were
The madman's eyes, and / even noticed
the color of his necktie-biue, with
White spots. no longer felt any incli
nation to shout for help. To all looked
upon myself as dead. even began TO
think Of myself as third person, and 10
iament, in a philosophical fashion, the
III fortune which cut off at the begiEing
of his career a promising young man.
Then I remembered that owed a shoe
maker for pair of boots, and I pitied
the unfortunate tradesman for the bad
debt he had made. While these and
hundred other thoughts were passing
through my brain, it seemed to me that
IN age had TRANSFERRED. In reality do
not suppose that at the outside more
than minute had elapsed since my I'M
lucky fall Suddenly, as IN dream,
heard the mailman, who now was seated
sstride my chest, hiss /:
"Weu cut our way to the moon-my
knife is sharp. Lets try it on your
throat" et -
With curious elaboration he drew
strong pocket knife and opened it.
"All right, friend, eh?" he cried,
laughing. Now mind, do not leave
the carriage till I come up to you"
"I am swift" said !, and I declare 1
did not recognize my own voice. eli
/ go first, you shall certainly not over
take me-yOu start and I'll follow"
"Me start?"
''Yes, you're Drawer, stronger, and
you have the knife; you must go first to
clear the way" an
"Of course, forgot that, he cried,
almost to my horror, so utterly was l
surprised. "Of course, forgot that"
he cried again. 81 must clear the
way"
Still sitting on me he deliberately
drew the bright blade across his throat.
In another moment / was deluged Eith
blood. At the same time the knife fell
from his nerveless grasp. To spring to
my feet, to seize the open wound and
press the edges together was the work of
an instant-thougn the sudden escape
made me staggsr. At the same moment
we reached New Gross station, and @
porter threw open the carriage door.
Rorkuy,afaIU the salf-infIictAd wound