The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1885-09-26
CRAZIEST CRANK.
A Mem Who Believes Himself with
cut = Body.


Those who live in view OF Bryant
Park, New YORK, and the nurses and
children who daily throng its path
ways, are long accustomed to see q
quiet, elderly man enter by the north
west gate, on the corner OF Forty
second street and Sixth avenue, who
goes the whole round of the walks,
touching every lamp post in the park
with his cane. Hail, rain or shine he
comes there regularly every morning
and pursues his melancholy and mys-
terious tour without speaking or no.
ticing anyone.
"There he goes again." said tho
officer on that beat to a reporter. 81
have watched him daily for the last
six years almost, and have never vet
found out what he means by doing
it," he continued.
At the suggestion Of the reporter he
made up his mind then and there to
inquire OF the melancholy pedestrian
what his object was. :.
When the man again came round
the officer was in such q position that
the lamp-post could not conveniently
be touched, SO with a deep sigh the
man was about to retrace his steps,
perhaps in the hope that the ofiicar
would soon leave the spot. Before
he could do so the officer buttonholcd
him.
Now" he said. and he put on .
most confidential smile, cant you
tell us why you worry over these old
lamp-posts. II you have any doubt
that they are not made ofiron, or that
they are not firmly fixed why let me
know and we will have them all
taken up and fixed better"
There was no reply. The mystery
only smiled pitiiully on the policc-
man who went on:
I've seen you every day for years,
and think you ought to look upon
me more as asfriend.
The spell was broken, and in 4
calm, quiet tone the answer came:
"Ah, my poor, deludcd mortal,
you have never seen me. Ny soul
frequents these shades" (the trees are
all bare) "and daily performs the
duty imposed upon it by the angel. !"
"'S that so?.'
Eyes, my body is now miles with
in the earth's caverns, but you
might have seen my soul on it's daily
duty OF regulating the light and heat
OF this great planet. You have oh
served the manner in which l touch
the iron, which is the conductor Of
the power which to me alone has
been given. Now l touch it slightly
upwards, because the enemy is SUBJ
dued and mercy is shown, but in the
centuries and the ages past" (the
officer says about two years ago. "I
struck it downwards and the angel Of
night had to yield"
"Well, WE'LL" murmured the
officer, II used to see you tap ths
ground three times, about two or
three years ago, bnt on that day you
did not touch the lamp post"
Poor mortal, that was centuries
ago. On those days the spirit Of
darkness revolted and my striking
the earth shook 1t to the center and
made the evil one quake with fear in
his cavern"
"Where do you live ?"
"Where should the soul live? Not
in the earth, but in the sky, where
the clouds float onward and forever,
until l sound the trumpet and all
will take their mortal shape again.
But l must not delay, for the evil
that must conquer might gain
strength, and If it should succeed,
what. oh, mortal, might become Of
your"
Saying this he touched the lamp
post lightly with an upward move
ment and walked off to the next one.
"Well, l never thought he was as
bad as that" said the policeman. II
knew that he must have been little
bit gone in the upper story but he 10
by all odds the craziest lune / ever
came across"