Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-08-30


much longer / shall be ssark-starinr
mad. Let me cut. aay r.
lie was now boiling over with fren-
~. Still / kept my ground. s'AIat-
thews, ! said Il know that you ara
not mad. - listen zaosnsssk. How
can get you oufI am not the
head doctor. ] can act without his
ordeEa. Xonr removal has been re-
commended By him. I'll 10 and con-
suit nm now.
NO. you won't. indaed.
Well. ] can't release you, It
would be as much a. my commission
,sis worth 10 connivs at vour escape. I
sallOnld b tried by court martial and
eashiessd il not maraa. That yon
must b aware Of.
That's no matter to me. I'll make
yon1 See this r He opened the
loose gray pea jacket he wore, and, to
my horror, took from within it a round
paving stone. ofsame poundsin weight,
such as the courtyard of the building
was paved with. How he had man
aged TO obtain and to secrete it was
another mystery.
A cold perspiration broke out upon
me. My life seemed to be hanging By
the sfenderest threads. I had no
I. means of defense. The rules preven-
ted my taking into the interior of the
asylum even walking stick, and man
to man the maniac was taller and
stronger than I.
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 ev-
cry instant that should be crushed
beneath II, but still the man seemed
irresolute to strike. Then while, Da-
notes.-the, the missile hung over me,
sudden idea flashed across my mind:
"What if / try to dodge him 7"
"Pnt down that stone T. cried out.
"Let me out, then T. he answered.
"Pnt down that stone, and will.
But first declare that you will tell no
one who did it or how it was done" :"
Doctor, ] swear /" Aud then, to
my inexplicable relief, he lowered his
raised hands.
| looked round once again, really
to spy if any official was in sight; but
in such sly, covert way as TO make
Matthews believe that / feared an
eaves-dropper.
"You know the locality outside the
barracks p
eyes. / was stationed here some
years ago with my regiment"
"Well, this door (pointing to one
which was close to us) "leads down to
very short passage to another exit
opening into the Denes"
He was now all ears-every nerve
strained to hear what l had to tell
him.
Here, take this key" l put into
his stretched out hand one that hap
pened to have in my pocket; l forget
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 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 yon."
Matthews if You escape by the
method / have pointed out no one
shall know il"
"You are the soldiers friend r. 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 without the least shadow Of sus-
picion he entered Immediately. Once
he was fairly in, | pulled it too with
bang which shook the very walls.
He was inclosed in bath room.
The strain Of excitement over, re-
action came on. / felt sick and faint,
and knew no more until saw one oi
the officials and my servant STOPPING
over me. The former, going biz
rounds. had found me lying on the
floor; and as soon as | came to my
senses, / told them what had hap
pened, and steps were SO taken tc
have Matthews so watched that in fu.
ture paving stones would never again
be in his possession. / took care also
never again to perambulate the asy.
lum without an orderly escort.