The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-10-17

Why are you not in the airing-grounds
with the others?"
He turned a wild and flashing eye
upon me, and glared like wild beast.
Then he howled out, ra her than said
"Let me out of this p
"What do you meanp" replied, re-
solving if possible to gain time, and
trusting that presently an orderly
might pass and relieve me from the ter
rible dilemma in which 1 stood.
"Let me out p he repeated. 81
have been too long in this vile place.
l want to rejoin my regiment, to see
my poor old mother and Mary, my
sweetheart. Why am here? l am
not mad like the others. God knows
that, 50 do you. But if 1 am kept
much longer l shall be stark staring
mad. Let me out, ! say ~
He was now boiling over with
frenzy. Still / kept my ground.
Matthews" L said, 81 know that
you are not mad, so listen moment.
How can l get you out ! l am not the
head doctor. 1 can't act without his
orders. Your removal has been recon-
mended by him. I'll go and consult
him now"
"No, you won't, indeed"
"Well, l can't release you. 1t
would be as much as my commission is
worth to connive at your escape. l
should be tried by court martial and
cashiered, if nothing worse. That you
must be aware OF"
"That's no matter to me. I'll make
you! See thisl" He opened the loose
gray pea-iacket he wore, and, to my
horror, took from within it a round
paving stone, Of some pounds in
weight, such as the courtyard of the
building was paved with. How he
had managed to obtain and secrete it
was another mystery.
A cold perspiration broke out upon
me. My life seemed to be hanging
by the slenderest of threads. had no
means of defense. The rules prevent
ed my taking into the interior of the
asylum even a walking stick, and man
to man the maniac was taller and
stronger than |.
The soldier raised the stone in his
uplfted hands and held it over my
head, which was protected only by my
regulation forage cap. l expected
every instant that should be cru ushed
beneath it, but still the man seemed
irresolute to strike. Then, while
Damocles-like, the missile hung above
me, a sudden idea flashed across nv
mind: "What if try to dodge him :"
Put down that stonel" cried out.
"Let me out, thenp he answered.
"Put down that stone and l will.
But first declare that you will tell no
one who did it or how it was done"
Doctor, / swear I" And then, to
my inexplicable relief, he lowered his
hands.
/ looked round once again, really to
spy if any official was in sight but in
such a sly. covert way as to make
Matthews believe that L feared an
eavesdropper.
you know the locality outside the
barra" ks?"
Yes. 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 exit open
ing on to the Denes."
He was now all ears-every nerve
strained to hear what had to tell him.
Here, take this key" 1 put into
his outstretched hand one that hap
pened to have in my pocket; forgot
TO what it belonged, but 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 shall
let you into the passage. Grope your
way for a 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 l am gone
take no steps to have me caught
Remember this: If am brought back
I'll murder YOU"
Matthews if you escape by the
method l have pointed out no one will
know it."
"You are the soldiers friend p he
replied. "Let me shake hands with
you, sir"
l did not feel happy when l found
my palm wrung within his, but
quickly opened the door alluded to
and without the least shadow of sus-
picion he entered Immediately. Once
he was fairly in, l pulled it to with {
great bang which shook the very
walls. He was inclosed in bath
room.
The strain of excitement over reac
ton came on. | 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 on the floor
and as soon as ! came to my senses
, tod them what had happened; anC
: steps were so taken to have Mathews
so watched that in future paving