The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-11-28

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streets 70 meet II there
s.Alone?r queried the wondering
surgeon
"I-hope So said the latter. shud-
dering.
vsBe guided By me. said the sur
feon, earnestly. Return 70 your
home, and forget Ill about this mys-
terious compact you fancy yon hare
made. 2
His companion shook his head and
turned TO the door.
Are you going to roam about In the
fog again7" asked Mostyn-
unless you will let me stay here,
said the other, glancing ut him visit
fully you are not nervousr you
do not think shall die?r
..You will die Of fright II you die at
all. said the surgeon, sturdily But
stay, and welcome. II you will" And
no avoid the thanks OF his guest, he
poked the fre until the resulting blaze
almost caused the candles to snuff
themselves out with envy.
For some time they sat silent. The
streets were now entirely deserted,
and no sound save the pickering Of the
fire disturbed the silence Of the room.
Then the surgeon arose and, upon
hospitable thoughts intent. busted him
self with the little spirit-case which
stood on the sideboard; and after sum
dry most musical gurglings from the
bottle as it confided its contents TO the
glasses. appeared in his place again
with two sieaming rotations and
sugar-bowL .'Cognac, said he, with
all its fiery nature subdued. now in its
tranquil old age
the proffered glass. THE last toast
I 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 1t at intervals in favor Of the spirit
he had SO highly commended.
Halt an hour passed. and neigh
boring church clock slowly doomed
the hour OF eleven. One hour more.
The Surgeon CHANGING at his compan-
ion to see what effect the sound had
upon him, saw that his eyes were
closed and that he breathed heavily.
Rising consciously to his feet, he felt
the pulse Of the strong, sinewy wrist
which hung over the side Of the chair.
and then. returning to his seat. sat
closely regarding him, not without
casting certain 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 motionlcss figure in the
chair seemed suddenly to loom large
in front of him and then to be almost
obscured by darkness.
For few seconds it seemed his eyes
closed. When he opened them tho
fire was out. and the figure in front Of
him still sat in the chair, though its
head had now fallen on its breast.
Full OF horrible fear, he glanced
hurriedly at the clock and saw that it
was just upon the stroke of four, then
he sprang 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 slippery thing,
darting swiftly between his feet. van
ished in the gloom Of neighboring
corner.
Ere he could recover himself, the
man in front OF him stirred uneasily.
and rising unsteadilyto his feet, gazed
stupidity at him. Whats the mat
terp" he asked at length. in dazed
tones.
''Matterr' shouted the still trem-
bling surgeon. ny, it's four hours
past midnight, and you are alive and
we'll. -
With violent start, as he remem-
bered his position, the stranger glanced
at the mantel-shelf. Four o'clock!"
said he, -four o'clock! Thank God.
there was no compact!' Then another
fear possessed him: 'Is it's tho
clock rightp"
ITO the minute said the surgeon,
standing gravely by with averted
head. as his visitor, needless of his
presence, fell upon his knees and
buried his face in his hands.
As he rose to his feet, the old church
clock slowly struck the hour of four.
appearing to both the listeners to do
SO with an emphasis as unusual as 1t
was welcome. As the last stroke
sounded. the stranger. who could even
now hardly realize his position. threw
up the window and extended his head.
The fog had disappeared. the air was
crisp and clear, and the distant rum
bling Of the early market-carts, be-
tokened the beginning Of another day.
How came / to sleepP" he inquired.
closing the window and turning to the
surgeon.
N drugged > your drink. It
Was tho OHly vuAHS COuhu w.
You were in such a strange
state OF alarm that you would either
have died or gone mad If had not
done so.
The stranger extended his hand and
caught the young surgeons in a
mighty grasp. you ran fearful
risk! Suppose that had died. My
death would have been attributed to
the drug. and you would have been
accused Of my murder.
II CHANGED it. said Mostyn. simply.
There was no time for considera-
tion."
at has been. q strange business,
said the other. What could it have
/ been that was in my garnet that night,