Milford chronicle., 1883-08-10

1 shall be stark, staring mad. Let M
ont, say p
He was now boiling over with frenzy
Still ] kept my ground. 'AIathews,'
said, 81 know that you are not mad 81
listen a moment. How can let you out
I am not the head doctor. I can
act without his orders. Your remova
has been recommended by him. I'll &c
and consult him now"
''No, you won't indeed"
"Well, I can't release you. 1t would
be as much as my commission is worth
to connive at your escape. I should
be tried by court-martial, and cash
iered, if not worse. That you must be
aware Of
"Thats no matter to me. I'll make
you See this !" He opened the loose
gray pea-iacket he wore, and to my hor-
ror, took out a round paving
of some pounds in weight, such as the
courtyard of the building was paved
with. How he had managed to obtain
and to secrete it was another mystery.
A cold perspiration broke out upon
me. My life seemed to be hanging by
the slenderest of threads. I had no
means of defence; the rules prevented
my taking into the interior of the asy-
lum even a walking-stick; and man to
man, the maniac was taller and stronger
than /.
The soldier raised the stone in his up
lifted hands, and held it over my head,
which was protected only by my regula-
tion forage cap. I expected every in
stant that l should be crushed beneath
it; but still the man seemed irresolute
to strike. Then, while Damocles-like
the missile hung above me, sudden
idea flashed across my mind: "What if ]
try to dodge him p
PUT down that stone, - I cried out.
"Let me out, then p he answered.
"Put down that stone, and I will.
Butfirst declare that you will tell no one
who did it OF how it was done.
Doctor, I swear !" And then, to nv
inexplicable relief, he lowered his raised |
hands.
I looked round once again, really to
spy if any official was in sight; but in
such a sly, covert way as to make
Mathews believe that 1 feared en- caves
dropper.
"You know the locality outside the
barrack ?"
eyes, I was stationed here some
years ago with my regiment" "
"Well, this door," pointing to one
which was close to us) ''leads down to a
very short passage to another exit open.
ng on to the Denes."
He was now all ears-every nerve
strained to hear what had to tell him.
Here, take this key" I put into
lis stretched-out hand one that I hap
'ened to have in my pocket 1 forget to
What it belonged, but I knew that it
would fit no lock inside the asylum. He :
rasped it eagerly, and at the same time
ashed the paying-stone on the floor. !
"What then, sir ?" he asked in less /
xcited tones. Z
This. With my pass-key shall let /
on into the passage. Grope your way :
II yard Or two down feel for the lock
the outer door; openit with this key, S
Il
"Will you tell no one that am gone {
take no steps to have me caught ? Re II
ember this; if am brought back, I'll y
urder you y 81
"Mathews if you escape by the II
ethod I pointed out, no one shall know o.
"You are the soldiers friend, " he re- :,
led. 'Let me shake hands with you, q, a.
:" r
l did not feel happy when I found my m
I'm wrung with his but I quickly fo
ened the door alluded to, and without 3 3
e least shadow of suspicion, he en- W W
ed Immediately. Once he was fairly al
l pulled it to with a bang which bl
0ok the very walls. He was enclosed ~ ~
a bath room. =, ~
The strain Of excitement over, reac- of
n came on. I felt sick and faint, and in
ew no more until saw one of the pc
cials and my servant STOPPING over W
The former going his rounds, had un on
nd me lying on the floor; and as ~,
n as I came to my senses, Told them to-
at had happened; and steps were fol
en- to have Mathews so watched that re-
future paving-stones would never 70, 70
in be in his possession. I took care in, 5u
never again to perambulate the T6
lum witheut my orderly escort. - in
Im6er8's Journal. mo
eaI