Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-04-08

head, ana rocked nerSel1 10 anu ITO.
"Do harrow your feelings too greatly oy
my story ?" asked the patient
''It's terrible" she replied, "but [ want
to hear the rest of it,"
swell, I'll make it brief. inferred, from
some conversation which followed between
these men, that the Drummond to whom
they had alluded was in some way their
enemy, or had incurred their dislike, and
that they wanted to spite him that he had
planned getting hold of my body, secretly,
as he supposed, after burial, and that they
had found out his design and meant to frus-
trate it. They said that they had bribed
'Smith'-some employee at the hospital,
suppose that he had given them charge
of my body. Presently they lifted me out
of my horrible bed. What was coming
next? 1 knew not; but with the change of
position I experienced slight, very slight
relaxation of the rigid contraction which
held me fast, faint sensation Of returning
vitality, as though the stagnant blood was
beginning once more to stir in my veins.
Still could give no sign. They lala me
carelessly upon a table. Now said one,
I'VE must take the coffin in the next room
and Kit. Lock the doors; he'll be safe till
we come back I heard them 60 out and
turn the key in the lock. Quivers of agony,
of vain longing, thrilled my brain and my
body. I made superhuman effort, and
opened my eyes. 1 was alone, and it was
likely that I would remain So for short
time, at least. / mightcry out and givethe
alarm, or it seemed to me if I tried I could
do so; but did not wish to try wished
to escape, to get secretly away from that
dreadful place. There was high, narrow
window in the room. struggled to a sit
ting posture, feeling my strength gradually
increase, and succeeded, after some vain at
tempts, in slipping noiselessly down to the
floor and creeping to the window. looked
out and found that narrow street was be-
low, clambered up, let myself over the ledge,
lost my grasp and fell. I was hurt, but not
stunned. Nobody saw me. Providence
must have aided me, I am sure, for it was
really wonderful that was not discovered.
I was fortunately completely dressed, ex-
cept that had no hat-and would you be-
lieve it?-there, hanging on nail just inside
of little gateway, was an old felt hat,
whose owner was probably not far off. l
took it down, put it on, and got away as fast
as I could. At last was free-but | think
my brain was disordered, or became so soon
afterward. The pressure which my nerves
had endured had been so intense that the
reaction overcame me. For two days 1
walked continually. My only wish was to
get as far away from the city as possible.
For the first time in my life, begged for
food; and people, seeing that [ looked re-
spectacle, gave me willingly. 1 suppose
they thought I was some queer character
out on tramp"
"And you had no money with you?"
"Not a cent"
"How on earth did you manage to get
this far?"
"I walked mostly and one or two wagons
gave me lift. Once milkman stopped
in the road, seeing that looked dusty and
worn, asked me to ride, carried me to his
little farm, housed and fed me for two days,
and sent me on my way with pockettul
of bread and apples. Nobody was rude or
unkind. AS said before, Pm sure Prov
idence took special care of me-"
"Well, its wonderful-wOnderful," said
Mrs. Baker. 81 can hardly believe it. It's
just like a story out of a fairy-tale book,
or one of those things that Mr.. Poe wrote"
She looked as if she was troubled at her
own incredulity, yet could not help being
incredulous. But when the story was re-
peated in the family circle, young Joseph,
starting up, declared that here was the eX-
PLANTATION of what had been such puzzle to
his two student friends and himself-the
empty coffin which they had unearthed at
Lone Mountain cemetery, that dreary No.
vember night; and putting all the facts to-
gether, there could be no doubt that it was
indeed so.
Joseph was very much excited over the
discovery. Hewould have written straight
way to his companions of that midnight ex-
pedition, telling them the whole story, but
that the quondam Mr.. DAILY begged him as
favor to keep it quiet for the present. For
new idea had come into this mans head;
he did not wish the fact Of his existence to
be revealed to anybody, except one or two
men of business to whom he would be COM
PEELED to present himself. Least of all did
he desire his curious adventure to be cir
culated over the land through the medium
of the newspapers. And to the Baker fam
lily he did not even announce his true name.
He had his own reasons for wishing to
remain incognito.
AS soon as his strength permitted, he
babe adieu to the ranch where he had been
so kindly treated, and where, it must be
admitted, his departure caused no regret,
but rather feeling of relief. For Mrs.
Baker owned that it made her feel "all
upset" to live under the same roof with a
man who had escaped out Of coffin, and
who might even now be lunatic for all
she knew. However, they parted very
kindly from him; and acknowledged him
to be real "gentleman' when, some weeks
later, there came to the ranch package
containing handsome shawl for Mrs. Ba-
ker, presents for each member of the family,
and hundred dollar bill, which as an
accompanying note stated, could never re-
pay their friendly hospitality, but might
help to convince them how thoroughly it
was appreciated.
In San Francisco his business was soon
accomplished. He had an astonishing, but
satisfactory interview with his bankers in
that city; wound up his affairs with all
possible dispatch, and accomplished his
preparations for departure, without the
knowledge Of any but the chosen few whom