The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-17
Before could answer him again he
 

SASA$N " SSNodSC lb lCddS, SO kO SpGdk, kO other things. Now, I'm not hungry my self not now-and it follows that my re- mark was not an insinuation that desire refreshment. For the moment may say flor the moment only, pray understand my appetite is impaired. Probably be- cause l had pheasant and a pint of Johannisberger in the hall just before you opened the door"
 "You had a-what ?' exclaimed.
 If there had been more water in your cooler" he continued imperturbably " 1 think should have taken a glass or two of dry Sillery. Dry wine with me is Mry provocative of ideas"
 did not stop to consider what the water in the cooler had to do with either champagne or his ideas for the conclu- sion flshed upon me that my visitor was maniac and that might be in bodily peril. was quite alone in the house, with no immediate help nearer than the servants in the distant kitchen Fortu. nate thought, however, there was the district telegraph call. would signal for a policeman at once and have this noxious intruder summarily ejected
 He evidently suspected nothing from moving toward the instrument, for, smil- ing in quizzical way, he went on:
 Now, walt-wat, Don't let your hos pitable instincts impoverish your larder on my account. Don't press anything upon me. Fact is, I've called to ask you to dine with me, and, as the weather is bad-yes, it's raining again -supposing we enjoy the banquet right here"
 Dine with you-here? Confound it, sir, don't wish to dine with you, and this room is not a restaurant" 1 replied angrly.
 I've brought the dinner with me" he continued calmly, There's a lovely brace of woodcock -"
 felt my temper give way.
 "WiIl you be good enough to leave tkis--"
 In my hat" he interrupted, complet- ing his sentence, besides the soup and well, see for yourself
 He drew another package from the n- terlor Of his extraordinary head-covering, and opening II displayed some dozen or two of white pills. These he carefully divided into two heaps, about an equal number of ptlssin each.
 "There," he said in d satisfied way |" a dinner-a q feast for two of twelve colffsesl'
 had heard of lunatics assaulting peo- pie with deadly weapons, but never of their forcing their victims to swallow poison in the shape of pills. Would that policeman never come2 l sounded the signal again.
 Meanwhile my eccentric visitor had possessed himself of pitcher oi water and had filled two glasses. Then re- turning to the table, he proceeded to un- wind his roil of wire, which he separated into four lengths. To one end of each of two pieces he attached little button of bright silvery metal by short scrap of gold wire of exceeding tineness To the ends of the other pieces he affixed what appeared 10 be light metal rings or brace lets.
 Somehow his performance just then began to arouse an unaccountabiei interest in me, and found myself almost invol- untarily closely watching him.
 Now from his inner coat pocket he produced case, such a one as homCr)- pathic physicians use t)r carrying their medicines, and also, like theirs, this case contained row upon row of minute vials, each one neatly labelled in some unread able hierogyphics. could not discern the contents of the bottles, except to see that some contained powders and some liquids. Lastly he unwrapped the news paper from the box which he had first taken from his hat. About this box there was nothing peculiar in its external ap. pearauce, but its owner evidently attached ANtranVIi1a .s he carefully placed it on the table as far from me as possible, and then, alter fast ening the free ends ot&is wires to it, cov- cred it up with his hat.
 The apparatus-ahem l-the appara- tus which am about to exhibit" he be- gan with an explanatory wave of his hand, is not so perfectly arranged as 1t might be. In f!ot, have and always expect to have m any improvements in con!empia- tion. Stil think we may obtain favor. able results Will you approach the ies- tive board 2"
 listened anxiously for the expected heavy tread on the stairs, ba, in vain. think lnvoluntarily sounded the signal once more. One ot the oldest things about the whole aftlir was now that l look back upon it-that never thought of leaving the room. The door was uu- locked and the road to it was clear. but yet to attemp, to escape never occurred to me.
 Without waiting for me to respond to his invitation, he had appropriated the most comfortable easy chair in the room, which he had drawn up to my table. A glass of water was before him, and no- uced that one of the bracelets with its wire was attached to one of his wrists, while from the corner of his mouth trailed the hue gold tilament, showing that the little button had been put inside. Loll- ing luxuriously back, he S s-rusiuzed his collection of vials musipgly.
 Shall it be Cios-de. bougeo,," he said to himself thoughtfuliy, rich, fiery, blood oi Burgundy or shall it be the It. quid sunshine of fair Clicquo;? By the way, that reminds me-" he exclaimed an- imatedly looking up. "Dld you ever taste the real Aurum Po.avile-that grand old stuff, which some poet or other says