, 1886-03-26
DOCTOR FINCHS FREAK.

tOlNtutu 10 NtitUIAA0 Ant AIflNal VI my
sister Sarah's Grst baby. The egg.iiip
consumed on that occasion was copious in
quantity and powerful in quality. IL got
into several peoples leads. l deny that
Il got into mine. When we broke up 1t
was II O'Clock. ! was offered seats in
half a dozen friendly conveyances. l
c%ourteously declined them all, and taking
my friend Dick Tomlinson by the arm,
set of to walk home.
Here we ARE at the turnstile, Dick 1
remarked. when we arrived there.
which shall we take, the footpath OF the
main roadi7
"The road" replied Tomlinson; 4the
footpath is muddy, and my soles are
SINGLE
Il prefer the footpath,T 1 remarked,
my soles are double" .
"You funk the ~footpath,r said Dick.
"Funki What Is there to funk'"
sold Finch. They say he prowls about
the oak copse at midnight, shooting rab-
bits with an air-gun"
"Who fears old FinchiT said | valiantly.
/ struck into the wood, but found it
harder work than l had expected. 1
stumbled repeatedly over the gnarled
roots which interlaced each other In every
direction. The night was very dark, for
there was no moon n the sky vas over
cast. so that I could only see n very short
distance before me; but I could distinguish
that there were two objects, differing
from each other In size and shape, placed
in the center OF the open space. l drew
nearer, ms c~ircumspectly as possible, and
presently discovered that the two objects
were a rustic seat. which, l may mention,
was firmly fastened TO the ground. and n
chair. The former was u~noceupied, while
In the latter a gentleman was seated.
CLEARLY DR.. Finch said TO myself,
enjoying the tranquil silence OF the mid
night hour. Rather a damp, chilly night,
though, l must confess. But what does
he want with two seatsfp
l determined to introduce myself TO the
recluse at once, and entice him forth from
his skill Of %seolusion. SO l addressed him
rs follows.
"Doubtless, DR.. Finch, you are an old
traveller, and, therefore, not easily sur
prised. You won't be surprised at my
diverging from the public footpath to in
luire after your health. My name is
retley, the brother-in-law Of Mr.. Stubs,
who asked you TO his christening party,
and he has commissioned me to"
/ paused with some astonishment, not
to say annoyance. for DR.. Finch, though
he apparently nodded once or twice, never
vouchsafed a single word in reply.
"You are not offended at my intrusion,
doctori / continued
As he still remained o~bstinately silent,
| drew nearer to him, %supposing that he
must have fallen asleep. But | could not
heal the slightest sound OF snoring, or
even Of breathing. | sat down on the
vncsn seat. l peered at my companion
through the darkness. / could not see
much Of his face, for his mead was sunk
upon his breast, and covered by n broad
brimmed, low-crowned hat; but / could
perceive that he had a tremendously long
nose.
"A certain proof OF vigorous intellect, y 1
said. Cromwell had a large nose. The
Iron Duke
Presently, growing holder by proximity,
I ventured to touch my mysterious
nqunintance's Inverness cape. next laid
my hand upon his arm, and made an
astounding discovery. He was recurelJ
bound TO his chair by n series Of strongly
knotted cords.
After a few moments Of breathless won
der. n light broke upon my bewildered in
tellect. understood the whole matter. /
lad been accidentally and unintentionally
admitted TO the most secret arcana OF
sp~iritunlism. He had fastened himself
into this chair; he had then, by certain
magical movement Of his head, nodded
himself into n condition Of mesmeric
coma; he was now waiting for the hon Of
twelve to strike, when some obedient
spirit would come and release him from
his bonds. Then, what was the meaning
Of hat other seati Why, this; DIR. Finch
was n polite gentleman. and placed 1t for
the spirit to sit down upon In case he or
she should be fatigued by his or her olsen
tangling eVcrtlon. ] felt so pleased at my
discovery that I closed my eyes to think
over it, and presently fell fast asleep,
slept profoundly, but u~ueasily. l ex-
perienoed the touch OF material hands
pulling pretty smartly at my legs, and
arranging some substance of an irritating
Rnd prickly character round them. Then
/ awoke. The sensation which | had felt
about my lower limbs was not caused by
a mere dream. Some being, natural or
supernatural. had visited the opened
space in the osk-copse during my slum-
bers, aud had disposed a truss or two Of
mouldy-smelling straw around the bench
on which | sat l attempted to stretch
out my hand for the purpose OF discover
whether a similar polite attention had
been accorded my companion, when l
found, to my horror and establishment,
that my arms were bound to my side, and
that I, like my silent companion was
securely fastened 10 my seat. Slowly
turning my read toward him | addressed
him;
"Dr. Finch. I'm sorry for It, but | really
must awaken you. Your preternaturHl
acquaintances very good fellows, l dare
say have been here and tied me up.
Please to request them 10 let me go; my
landlady is sitting up for me at home, and
l don't know what the consequences
mayn't be Or. Finch, | sayi'
/ shouted ont the last words as II | were
hniling n ship. Immediately afterwards,
a voice shouted in return;
"All right. I'm coming directly"
was fairly hewildered; not at the
sound OF the voice, nor at the words he
uttered but at the place from whence 1t
came The figure at my side, which ! had
all along supposed TO be DIR. Finch, sat
speechless and motionless. while the voice
proceeded from a parsonage at least a
hundred yards on, whose outline was
dimly discernible, owing to a lantern
which he carried in his hand.
The advancing figure drew rapidly
nearer, and presently halted a few PAGES
In front Of me lie was a tall, sinewy
man, OF some hve-and-forty years Of age,
with a thin, MISUNDERSTANDING face, and
wild, gllttorirs eyes, shnbhily dressed,
and yet bearing the appearance OF a
gentleman
4Dr Finch, l believer snid l.
The doctor bowed -ceremoniously. and
rcplledi
Yes. that Is my name
Rather curious this, our first meeting.
DOCTOR | remarked with faint Jocularity,
-hnt / trust it may be the commencement
ia pleasant 4rQunintance. ! suppose you
lrlrl me eisafinr DIR. Finch
iiI, ctr
CugE. ron PILF-
Piles are frequently preceded by a sense