The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-03-19
WRITING FOR LIFE.
Insanity From overwork-A Desperate De.
v1ce to Escape Murder.

1asaA1ty From Overwork-A Desperate De-
vice to Escape Murder.
Philadelphia News.
Raven and I were at the same hospi-
tai, st. Lazarus, where he held medi-
cal and I a surgical appointment. We
were both hard worked, often day and
night. Raven looked in good health,
and was very successful; indeed, he
bade fair to rise in short time to
great eminence in the profession. He
was immensely popular with every one.
His gray hair and bright blue eyes, and
healthy Aorid complexion, combined
with = frank, open aud hearty manner
in speaking, made him a friend with
everybody. and inspired confidence in
all his patients as we'll as all his friends.
Raven came up to me, one day, in the
hospital. "I've just received sum-
mons to Exeter" said he. ''The fanai-
ly is wealthy and influential; it is now
just 9:30 o'clock, and we will go down
together. Send me word during the
afternoon if you can come or not.
From what know of the case I've been
called to attend, am sure it's more of
surgical than medical one. It will
be an excellent chance for you, Dawson,
and I can promise you good fee to be-
gin with. Therefore, if you can pos
sibly manage it, meet me at Padding
ton this evening. You promise?"
"Unless something unforeseen should
happen to prevent ME, will be at the
station at 9 80 o'clock"
Raven was dramatically impressive,
thought as we parted, and arranged
my work 80 as to be able to keep my
appointment. I was only just in time
to catch Raven, who hastily opened the
door of the railway carriage.
Jump in Jack; jump in. A half
crown to the guard has secured the
compartment for us all the way down,
so we shall have it all TO ourselves with
out fear of interruption. Times up;
you have to run it fine. Fire away!"
He flung in my bag and the several
rugs, etc., and he entered. The guard
touched his hat and shut the door with
bang. ;
- "This door is unlocked, guard" said
eyes, sir-side nearest the platform
is always unlocked" remarked to Ha-
ven. "In case of accident it would be
impossible for US to escape from this
carriage"
1T doesn't matter" he said, and then
relapsed into silence.
For about twenty minutes he re-
NAMED opposite to me, sometimes with
his eyes closed, sometimes with his
eyes fixed upon mo in the most unpleas-
ant manner. All my endeavors to draw
him into conversation failed, and after
some time gave them up and also re-
1apsed into silence.
Suddenly he arose from his seat, and
drew from inside of his overcoat long
and pointed knife, which flashed omin.
ously in the lamplight.
Jack Dawson, we must both OF us
die tonight, said he, calmly and deGb-
erately, without any excitement of man
ner. II feel that the time has come
for US both to quit this vale of tears"
eyes, I quite agree With you, Tom
Raven, " replied (seeing what had hap
pened) in as calm voice as his own. II
have long thought that life was becom-
ing very undesirable; and to leave it in
your company, with you, my Oldest and
warmest friend, would be the most
agreeable thing that could happen. But
you are not married, Tom"
'"Thank heaven, mol"
Remember, am married and, had
you given me notice of this wish of
yours before starting, I would have
made arrangements and have spoken to
my wife to prepare her. Have you
made your will?"
''No, I have not"
"Good heaven, man! not make your
will! Tom, it is absolutely necessary
for both of us to make our wills before
we die. I have not made mine, and
should not like to leave the world with
the chances of my wife and child going
to the workhouse, or to be chargeable
on the parish after my death. You
would wish to leave your money to
some one in paticular-is it not SOP"
"Of course should like to leave my
money properly-of course-yes! new
er thought of making my will"
"You must also remember, Tom, that
it would never do to die, without leav-
ing to the world our reason for the act.
You would not wish your name to be a
by-word and be cause of derision to
any one, am sure; anu am certain /
don't wish my own to be so. Therefore,
We must draw out our reasons for
dying"
"Do you know, Jack, never thought
of tbat?"
"Well, then, first put your knife down
on the cushion, there, and then we will
set to work. I've plenty of paper in
my bag: and plenty of lead in my pen
Gil, and we've the whole night before
us.
A tremble of the hand, culver in nv
voice, would have been fatal. Iopened
the bag and drew forth the WI iting pa
per. The knife was on the cushion at
my side.
"Now, Tom, let US first state the rea-
sons to the world for wishing to die to-
night by our own hands. If you will
dictate to me your reasons I will write
them down and then we will revise and
correct them. After that I will die
tate my own to you, and you shall
write them. We shall be able to do our !
our work we'll and quickly"
"Quite right, Jack, we ought to give
them our reasons. How odd never
thought of that! Let me see; if I kill
you first I might write them out after
ward"
"Ah, but who will write out mine
Don't be selfish, there's good chap"
"To be sure! Well: are you ready?"
He began debating long and fowery
sentences. Now and again I interrupted
his flow of language to gain time This
kept him thoroughly occupied and in
terested, while the train sped on at ex-
press rate. He had nearly finished his
long, rambling dlctation, when, to my
inexpressible delight, felt the speed OF
tho train slackening I knew my chance
of deliverance was near.
"Roa1 Ovor for vouroo1f whok hovo