Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-11-14
Saint Hafg|s Beacol.


all its fiery nature subdued, now in
its tranquil old age.
Thanks, said his visitor. taking
the profFered glass. The last toast ]
shall drink Long life to you. He
tossed of the contents. and again
lapsed into silence, while The surgeon
slowly smoked his long pipe. remov-
ing it at Intervals in favor Of the spirit
he had so highly commendsl.
Half and hour passed, and neigh
boring church clock doomed the hour
of IL. One hour more. The surgeon,
glancing at his companion TO see what
effect the sound had upon him, saw
that bic eyes were closed and that be
bresthed heavily. Rising cautiously
TO his feet, he felt the pulse of the
strong sinewy wrist which hung over
the side Of the chair, and, then, re-
turning to bis seat, sat closely regard
ing him. not without casting uneasy
glances into the dark corners Of the
room. His-pipe went out; the FIRE
burnt low, and. seen through the haze
Of fog and smoke, the motioniess figure
in the chair seemed suddenly to loom
large in front OF him and then to be
almost obscured by darkness.
For few seconds il seemed his eyes
closed. When he opened them the
fire was out, and the figure in front
of him still sat in the chair, though
his head had now fallen on its breast
Full Of & horrible fear, be glanced
hurriedly at the clock and saw thst
it was just upon the stroke Of 4, then
he spraDg to the side of his guest and
seized the wrist nearest to him. AS
he did so, he started back with wild
cry of horror, for some slippsry thing
darting swiftly between his feet van
ishcd in the gloom Of q neighboring
corner.
Ere he could recover himself, the
man in front Of him stirred uneas;ly,
and rising unsteadily to his feet,
gazed stupidity a: him. What's the
matter?' he asked at length in dazed
tones.
'Mstterl' shouted the still trembl-
ing surgeon. why it is four hours
past midnight and you are alive and
WELL
With violent start, as he remem-
bered his position, the stranger
glanced at the mantel shelf. -Four
oclockr said he-4 o'clock Thank
God, there was no compact Then
another fear possessed him; Is it's
the clock right?'
TO the minute said the surgeon,
standing gravely by with averted
head, as his visitor, needles, of his
presence. fell upon his knees and
buried his face in his hands.
As he arose to his feet the old church
clock slowly struck the hour of 4, ap.
pearing to beth the listeners to do so
with an emphasis as unusual as it was
welcome. As the last stroke sounded
the stranger, who could even now
hardly realiz. the position, threw up
the window and extended his head.
The fog had disappeared. the air was
crisp and clear and the distant
rumbling of the early market carts
betokeningthe beginning of another
day.
How came I to sleepP' he inquired,
closing the window and turning to the
surgeon.
i drugged your drink. It vas the
only thing | could do. You were in
such strange state of alarm that you
would either have died or gone mad
if / had not done So
The strangeDextended his hand and
caught the young surgeons in
might grasp. You ran fearful risk.
Suppose that had died. My dea.h
would have been attributed to the
drug, and you would have been ac-
cused Of murder
4 CHANGED it. said Mostyn simply.
There was no time for consideration
1T has been strange business
said the other. What could it have
been that was in my garnet that night,
and what could have taken the agree
mentT
Rats said Mostyn. smiling. 'One
of them frightened me terribly lust
now; but it would not have done SO
if l had not been in a very excited
condition. The same state of mind
perhaps, though in a milder form,
that you were in on the night you
wrote your agreement
There were rats in the room, re-.
member. said the stranger, but |
never once thought of them. You
have saved my reason, If not my life.