Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-11-23
'asS, and relieve me from the terrible
! iileluIn1 in vbirI I cto.J

LET me out =" he repeated. 81
have been too long in this vile place
want To rcjon my regiment; to see my
poor old mother, and Mary, my sweet
heart. Why am here? am not mad
like the others. God knows that; so
ii" You. But ii am kept much longer
| shall be stark. staring mad. Let me
out. say"
He was now boiling over with freenzy
Still kept my ground
Mathews" said, II know that YOU
are not mad; 81 listen a moment. How
can let You out? am not the head,
doctor. can't act without his orders.
lonr removal has been recommended
by him. I'll 60 and consult him now "
NO; you won't indeed
"Well, | can't release you. 1t would
tie nS much as my commission is worth
To connive AT your escape. should he
tried by court martial, and cashiered, il
not worse. That you must be aware of -
"That's no matter to me. I'll make
you. See this He opened the loose
gray pea a-jacket he wore, and, to my
horror, took from within it round paw
! lng-stone OF some pounds in weight,
such as the courtyard of the building
was paved with How he had managed
to obtain and to secret it, was another
mystery.
y cold pcrspration broke out upon
me. My life seemed to he hanging by
the slenderest of threads | had no
means Of defense 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
uplifted hands, and held it over my
head, which was protected only by my
regulation forage-cap. IeXpected every
instant that should he crushed beneath
it; but still the man seemed irresolute
to strike. Then, while, Damocles-like
the missile hung above me, a sudden
idea flashed across Iny mind -
"What if try to dodge him."
"Put down that stonew | cried out.
"Let me out, them he answered
VI uoNii tiitt L WILL
But first declare that you will tell no
one who did it or how it was done"
"Doctor, swear" and, then, to my
inexplicable relief, he lowered his raised
hands.
i looked round once again, really to
spy if any official was in sight; but in
such sly, covert way as to make Mat
thews believe that | feared an caves
dropper.
"You know the locality outside the
barracks?"
eyes. l was stationed here some
years ago with my regiment"
"Well, this door" (pointing to one
which was close to us) "leads down a
very short passage to another exist
opening on to the Denes."
He was now all ears-every nerve
strained to hear what had to tell him.
"Here, take this key" l put into
his stretched-out hand one that hap
pened to have in my pocket; forget to
what it belonged, but l knew that it
would fit no lock inside the asylum.
He grasped it eagerly, and at the same
time dashed the paving-stone on the
floor
"What then, sir?" he asked in less
excited tones.
"This. With my pass-key l shall
let you into the passage. Grope your
way for yard or two down; feel for
the look of the outer door; open it with
this key, and escape"
"YOu will tell no one that am gone
take no steps to have me caught
Remember this, if l am brought back
I'll murder you"'
Mathews! if you escape by the
method have pointed out, no one shall
know it,
"YOu are the soldiers friend!" he
replied. "Let me shake hands with
you, sir"
did not feel happy when found my
palm wrung within his; but quickly
opened the door alluded to; and with
out the least shadow of suspicion, he
entered Immediately. Once he was
fairly in, pulled it to with hang
which shook the very walls. He was
inclosed in bathroom.
The strain of excitement over, reac-
ton came on. felt sick and faint, and
knew no more until l saw one Of the
officials and my servant STOPPING over
me. The former, going his rounds, had
found me lying on the floor; and as
soon as | came to my senses, l told
them what had happened; and steps
were taken to have Mathews so watched
that in future paving-stones would never
again be in his possession. / took care
also never again to perambulate the
asylum without my orderly escert.