Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-09-26

1 =
have been too long in this vii,
place. | want to rejoin my regi
ment; and to see my poor old
mother, and Mary, my sweet
heart. Why am I here2 / am no
mad like the others. God knows
that; SO do you. But if l an
kept much longerI shall be stark
staring mad. Let me out, Isay?'
He was now boiling over will
frenzy. Still / kept my ground
Matthews" / said, II know that
you are not mad; SO listen .
moment. How can / let you out
l nm not the head doctor.
can't act without his orders.
Your removal has been recon.
mendeds by him. I'll go and
consult him now"
"No; you won't indeed"
"Well, l can't release you. It
would be as much as my COM
mission is worth to connive at
your escape. l should be 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'll See thisl He opened
the loose gray pea-jacket he wore,
and, to my horror, took from
within it round paving-st one
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 perspiraiion broke over
me. My life seemed to be hang
ing by the slenderest Of threads.
/ had no means Of defense; the
rules prevented my taking into
the interior Of the asylum even a
walking-stick; and man to man,
the maniac was taller and strong
er than /.
The soldier raised the stone in
his uplifted hands and held it
over my head. which was pro
tected only by my regulation for
age cap. I expected every in
stant that / should be crushed
beneath it; but still the man
seemed irresoiute to strike Then,
while. Damocles-like, the missile
hung above ine, a sudden idea
flashed across my mind: "Wbat
If I try to dodge him?"
4Put down that stone?" l cried
out.
"Let me ont, thenl he an
swered.
"Put down that stone and I
will. But first declare that you
will tell no one who did il or how
it was done"
doctor, / swear" And then
to my inexplicable relief be low
cred his hands.
/ looked around once again,
really to spy il any official was in
sight; but in such a sly, covert
way as to make Mathews believe
that / feared an eavesdropper.
"You know the locality outside
the barracks?"
Eyes. ] was stationed here
some years ago with my regi-
ment.
"Well, this door," (pointing
to one which was close to us)
leads downs very short passage
to another exit opening on to the
Denes
He was now ell ears every
nerve strained to hear what / had
to tell him.
Here, take this key" / put
into his stretched-out hand one
that I hippo led to have in my
pocket; I 70 got to what it be-
Ionged, but I knew that it would
fit no lock inside the asylum. He
grasped it eagerly, and OF 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 lock 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
/ am brought back I'll murder
youl'
"Mathewsl if you escape by the
method / have pointed out, no
one shall know it !"
"You are the soldiers friendl'
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 al
luded to; and without the least
shadow Of suspicion, he entered
Immediately. Once he was fairly
in, l pulled it to with a bang
which shook the very walls. He
was inclosed in bathroom.
The strain of excitement over,
reaction came on. I felt sick and
faint. and knew no more until ]
saw one OF the officials and my
servant STOPPING over me. The
former. going his rounds, found
me lying or the floor; and as
soon as / came to my senses, ]
told them what had happened,
and steps we're taken to have
Mathews SO watched that in fu
ture pave-stones would never
again be in his possession. |
took good care also never again