The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1888-08-08

| managed to reach the table and TO
light IL candle. At this the man, with
some iucoherent gibberish, rushed at me.
had thought l was strong, but,
whether owing to the terror of the situa-
tion or what, this fiend incarnate
had me by the throat, and was
oh, help!-killing mel remember
struggling and writhing, but all to no
purpose; aud then choking, burning
sensation, and then all was blank.
When l came to found was once
more in bed. The candle was still
lighted, and / saw Macray sitting on a
chair near me with his head buried in his
hands. A slight movement on my part
caused him to start.
"Are you better, old fellowp
Eyes" l answered; lit is goneW
He seemed to understand, for he said
simply, "les."
"What-or who-was itl"
al will tell you everything tomorrow /;
had you not better waltz" replied Mae
ray.
mo; tell me now. am all right.
think, though had a pretty tight
squeeze"
at was my brother Charles who
attacked you. II is a strange story, and
/ will not ask you to believe it. Some
five years ago Charley was in business
and had a home of his own. One day
he told his wife he had to go to Gin
cinnati. The nature of his business re-
quired him to 90 quite often on short
t ips TO the neighboring cities.
This time he was absent about
week. When he got back
he had not the slightest idea where he
had been,. nor could he give any account
of his movements since leaving New
York. He said he could only remember
travelling good deal on the. cars. To
me and his wife he admitted although
he could not at all explain it, that he felt
he had suffered some harm; but of what
nature he could not say. This went on
for year, when in the same week pre-
cisely, as a year before, he had an attack
of insanity, which lasted Just week and
left him perfectly sensible; yet very much
exhausted. Fortunately this first attack
occurred when he was alone with me on
fishing excursion in the mountains
| What had to endure that week no one
can imagine, and no one will ever know.
W Clls iulS has BOuG Ou lOl SCNCldl years.
The mysterious attack always comes on
in that particular week of the year. The
doctors declare it is not insanity; in fact
| can get no definite answer as to what
is the matter with my brother. Charley
has always had morbid fear of an in
sane asylum, so promised him always to
take care of him during that particular
week in the year. So secretly has the
matter been kept from the public that
not even his own wife knows of it. You,
and one or two doctors to whom
Il have introduced my brother
as a stranger, are the only ones that have
seen Charley in one of his fits, or what
ever you like TO call them. Ihave al
ways had taste for carpentering and /
have fitted up the room directly above
yours for him. Last night he managed
/ TO escape out of the window, and thus
/ got into your room. 1t was most fortu-
nate that arrived when | did, for in an
other moment he would have strangled
/ you. However, there is no need OF
/ further alarm. l saw him safely into his
strong room, with no possibility of an.
other escape. If you like it, we will &C
and see him. think that would be the
| best means to settle your nerves."
/ thought so myself, so we went. Al
/ though the room was directly above
mine, we had to walk quite distance
through an upper hall before we came tc
it. Stopping at heavily barred door
Macray after unlocking an upper and
lower lock, drew out a long thin key
with which he finally opened the door.
"Are you not afraid to go in"
asked.
"Oh, no, he always seems to know
me-"
Holding lighted candle, we entered
At first l saw nothing of my late in
truder; but heavy stertorous breathing
led us to where he lay in front of
thickly- barred window. We lifted hin
up and carried him to a small iron bed
stead. The candle light fell on his face
which was a repulsive one with a savage
scowl still lingering on it. His hair wa
thickly matted.
After standing moment, Maeray said
"COme, we will have a glass of some
thing. l see your nerves are shaken
bit. Look out or you will drop tha
candle"
"Of course, Jack, " continued Macray
when we were downstairs, "you vii