Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-11-19

lie needed me no moro than II had
been myself phantom of the temp, St
instcad OF n being of flesh and blood.
ltlt that had no power to restrain him,
so shifted my hold and caught him
round the knees. We fell together on
the ground at the very verge OF the
piecipice.
Then began terrible struggle. He
fought with tho strength OF a mailman,
l with the desperation of q man who
contends for his life. Tho storm howled
about us, and the whole air seemed full
of knocking voices, shrleks and laugh
tor. Slowly but surely ho was dragging
me TO the edge. l would gladly have
released him now to save myself, but he
would not loose his hold. Soon felt
that he had got himself half over the
cliff, and knew that was too ex-
hausted to hold on much longer. Near
er and nearer came TO the fatal spot.
gave myself up for lost, and tried my
best to frame prayer. AT least, L
thought, If die, 1t is in a good cause.
Suddenly strong hand caught me
by the collar and drew me violently
back. Tho wrctched man lost his clutch
of me and fell. A long Shrek came up
from below and mingled with the eXult-
ing shrek of the wind.
was borne into the house and laid
on couch. / am not given to faint
ing, but it was some moments before
my nerves could recover the shock they
had received. At length looked about
mo and saw my Sergeant, the landlord,
and another well-dressed man whose
face l did not know.
"Well, SIR" the Sergeant was saying
to the latter, 'your work seems to have
been taken out OF your hands tonight.
We were only just in time!"
"Only just in time, indeed!' was the
answer. Snow, sir, | see you are your
self again; and 1 must ask you TO tell
me how the scene came about that we
were fortunate enough to interfere in.
l am q police officer from Bow street."
As well as I could, told him all that
had occurred. He heard me to the end
quietly, and the Sergeant, meanwhile,
at the earnest request of the landlord,
translated tho story into Welsh rs
went on. When l had finished the de-
tective shook his head
az / see must make up the best tale
/ can for my superiors, he said. mo
olcnse to you, sir; but they wouldn't
believe word of what you have just
been telling me. l can't say just what
/ think about it myself; | never heard
of such case before. Why, he must
have gone quite mad! 1 knew he was
very fond of the woman, and thought
something of the kind was likely; but
what you told me you heard is beyond
me, | confess. Had you known any
| tbino IF tho murder sirp'
mo" said l; "surely you don't
mean to tell me that that man was q
murderer"
He was, indeed, sir, and 1 came
here tonight to arrest him. He had
evaded us all for the last week; but
Yesterday I got clew as TO where he
had gone. and followed him down. l
got your Sergeant here TO act inter-
prefer for mo with the landlord, when
met them both in the village, and
from what he said l knew that his
quiet gentlemen who collected bits OF
rock was the man l was after; so
came on here at once, and you know
the rest. 1t was lucky for you that we
did not enter the house by the back
way Five minutes more would have
done for you, sir!''
They would. indeed" answered,
shuddering little at the recollection.
"But who, then, did he murder9'
Ellis own wife, sir; woman from
all accounts as fond of him rs she
could be. Some one 1 have yet to find
forged letter that made him
think she had ceased TO care for him.
| fancy he was always subject to fits oi
madness; anyhow, no one knows ex
actly how it happened, but she was
found dead in her bed, with the marks
of fingers on her throat, ard he had
disappeared, taking with him all the
loose money he had in the house. III,
had good sum lying in the bank
which he could have withdrawn at any
time by writing q check, and his nc
having done so is proof to me thsS HI
had not premodtated the murder.
: daresay the temptation came to him a!
on q sudden-it usually does, / have Oh
served. Anyhow, he is dead now, poo
J gentleman, and may God have mere.
on his souln'
"Amen" answered.
That is the story o. my might of ad
venture. L have often thought owe
: what appears the supernatural part o
1t since, but without much effect. TIL,
, only theory can frame to account TO
il is the somewhat lame one that tn
Authorizations OF my mad companion
: were so powerful that his mind ha'
succeeded in impressing them upon my
. own, as tho mesmerizer can force al
idea upon his patient. confess an
, not myself satisfied with such an ex
! planation; but if any OF my reader
have not better one ready they mus
take it for the true one. London So
ciety.