The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1886-12-18

"1en pounds from the Marquis OF
Cheshire. Renewed cheers.
Again. too. for the twentieth time.
heard the treasurer thank the
secretary, and the secretary thank
the treasurer; and then, Mt last,
not little furried, | rose myself to
propose 1.-The LADIES'" who smiled up
on us IN the gallery all the tinls
thinking only of pretty little Nelly
Plcdgeit my doctors daughter, whom
! saw bcaming and radiant in front
seat. got quite eloquent on the SUBJ
iect of female beauty. and sat down
amid tremendous applause. | was re-
piled to by the good doctor. who.
thanking th, meeting on behalf of the
ladies' begged to propose the health OF
one of tho best friends of the society
need he say he alluded to-"Osbert
Wilkinson. Esq.a' [chccrs.]
But suddenly, through all these mot
ley rccolections, there ilnshe u painful
thought-a suspicious apprehension of
scarcely knew what coming evil. II
seemed. when think of it now, almost
like II prcscntimcnt of what shortly after
happened. remember that. as l sat
down, somewhat heated by my speech,
and was pouring myself out glass
of that excellent sherry to wind up
with, my old friend the doctor who.
by the way, sat opposite me ut dinner
--lcanod ncl oss the table and gave me
q peculiarly keen and searching look
from under those thick gray eyebrows
of his.
"What docs that detectives look of
yours mean, doctorp" said /, pleasantly
enough.
''lt means that you must take care of
yourself, y said he in grave voice. and
no more passed between us, for at that
moment | rose TO leave, having some
business that would call me up early in
the morn ng He followed me out
though. and when we shook hands in
the doorway am not sure that he did
not hold his stop-watch in one hand and
feel my pulse with the other, but | was so
busy helping Nelly on with her scarlet
opera cloak that l did not pay much at
tention to the nervous old fellow, who,
between ourselves, think is rather get
ting past work; he worries one so with
warnings and mysterious threats, as if
wasn't in the finest health and my
life insurance lust advantageously set
tied. Dear Nelly! what as anxious
look she ave me rs stepped into my
cab! / was sure that girl loved me.
All this evening | had been haunted
with anXieties about that troublesome
chancery case of mine, "Wormwood
versus Widgutt," the vexation and de-
lays of VIII ch had nearly driven me mad.
l had really felt quite giddy over it that
very morning, and began TO get alarmed
about overwork ng my brain. rs my
doctor taxed me with doing. could
not get the thought of it, even now, out
of my mind. till certain growing APP
prchension ovcrpOwered it.
1t was here that, for the first time, /
began somehow or other to have some
vague apprehension of the sanity or
honesty OF my driver. Then came
thronging into my brain stories | had
heard years ago in Paris OF celebrat ii
and dangerous gang of thieves who had
for their accomplices many of the drv-
crs of the night tiacres. These fellows
drove whatever passengers they could
procure into obscure streets. and there
robbed and sometimes murdered them.
Was / to be the victim of such scheme?
and if was. what hope had ], alone
and unarme1, to es ape, at such an
hour, too, and on such IL nighte
Now was the time to resist, however,
before it was too late. My resolution
was prompt. struck ut the window as
loudly as l could W thout breaking the
glass; kicked at the panels of the door;
| shouted. Suddenly, with tremcn-
dous Jolt on the curb. the cab stopped.
AS the door opened l cried: Let mo
out, you rascal; I'll not be robbed"
stepped forward to get out but was met
by fierce blow on the chest from tho
cabman. whose eyes now literally glared
with rage.
That's enough of your mad tricks,
Bedam Billy" he said, rs he thrust me
back violently into the cab; you want a
straight vcstcut, you do, and You shall
have onc;' then, slamming the door
W tn wrench that showed cxtraordi-
nary strength. he leapel on the box and
drove away again with n fury that sent
me reelng into corner OF the seat.
Hitherto had dreamed only of rob-
berry; now was sure that the man who
drove me was mad-stark, staring mad.
He was gong to drive me into some
river. or down some pit, on in some way
or other to hurry himself and me to
horr BILE death. There he was now,
standing up to drive, leaning for
ward to lash on the eager horse, that,
frothing with pain. leaped up Mt every
blow of the mans whip. do not know
why did not instantly break both
front windows and pull the man off the
box. or force open the door and throw
myself out or, breaking all the glass.
ShOut to every one thrOuph the OpcninOs
that the man who was driving me had
gone mad.
On VIC flew, on-the horse leaping
and plung'ng as if it would have brok-
en- from the harness. We dashed down
streets whose random lamps seemed to
race past us; we tore down lanes where
houses were yet but few, except at the
beginning. Now the wheels grazed
against post, and now against gar
den wall; but still the madman who
drove me seemed some how or other to
struggle through all dangers and drive
on more frantically than before. Once
we dashed through turnpike. Some
voices screamed after us and my driver
screamed to them in return, but what
they said, or what he sad l could not
distinguish. What could l do? What
use was it to threaten maniac with
violence, with blows of the tist-a
man who perhaps imagined himself
hunted with devils or escaping from
his would-be murderersp His crazy
suspicious had already, doubtless. asso-
ciated me with some old prosecutor or
supernatural enemy of his. How could
| reason with him-how could l. soothe