Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-02

with uudllOJo4 plcdSuIo duu WIN WV
belief that he spoke the truth, yet thai
very night the boy died, and | was
instrumental in his death. I'D .
-.It must have been about three
O'Clock in the morning when | awoke
all in shiver. The little fellow was
sitting up and crying. l asked him
the matter, and he said he did not
know, but that he was miserably
afraid Of something and asked me to
take his hand. AS reached out TO
do this, l felt the old awfulness come
over me, and, knowing what this
meant, drew back nv hand with a
cry, and prepared to leap out Of bed
and run-anywhere. With my FIRST
movement, however there glided into
view from behind me the pallid faced
Angel of Death. Coming between
the beds with no sound in the sweep
of its shroud.like garments, and with
no relenting in its marble eyes, it
seized my hand and laid it in that of
the wondering boy. Even as took
the poor, thin hand in mine, it grew
numb, but the weeping ceased, and
with a faint cry of 'Mother!' the little
fellow smiled aud passed.
Again he was silent, and was 81
lent, too. What, | thought, does the
fellow mean? Is he taking me for a
credulous old man; is he in earnest,
or is he numbering lunatic?' The
latter idea was impressively persist
ent, and ! concluded that it was wise
to be as quiet as I could and to get
rid of him as speedily as possible. So
l got up, threw the end of my cigar
away and yawued, as l said: Very
remarkable story. but us.
Then he rose, tooy Don't say any
thing further, sir he said; 4 under,
stand exactly your sentiments, or,
rather, I should say, your doubts.
You doubt my truthfulness, perhaps
my innocence, and possibly my sanity
Now this was getting too close to
mind reading to be comfortable, so /
tried another tack. :.
Now, look here, l said, plainly,
do you mean to tell me that your story
Is true one?'
4 began by telling you that, SIR he
said; lit is as sadly and unaffectedly
true as that nature is mans bitterest
enemy; or, if that is toqargumentative
a protest, then let me say that it is as
true as that we stand here. l am mis-
elable man, possessed of the Angel of
Death . u ..
Then, for Heavens sake,' | ex-
with some excitement, why
10 you tell me your story when, at
,he same time, you know the dangers
hat hang to the relation? Are you
experimenting in some devilish way
On me?' ..@ ", .'t q"
With that a strange thing occurred.
He leaped in peculiar way back
wards and then to the top of the
piazza railing steadying himself there
by grasping one of the uprights.
the disengaged hand toward
nv open window, he called aloud in
lis great booming voice: Get in, sir,
md bolt your window, and lock your
ioor, too. Go quick, and remember
his: When next you see me, shun
ne as you would the rider of the pale
horse himself. @.f
may as we'll tell the truth; I got
nto my room In very short order, and
took especial pains to secure every
means of ingress. The fact of the
natter is I had Dad case of nervous
lisorganization-funk we used to call
t when I was boy. l did not even
20 to bed that night, but sat up with
he lights burning, waiting for / did
lot know exactly what. / do know
hough, that when the morning came
had my things packed, and went
luaking down the stairs and took the
'arly train for San Francisco.
By the time we had reached Los
l had measurely recovered
ny equanimity and was buisly trying
o convince myself that l had business
lp north which required my presence
here. The train was by no means
and had section to myself,
With no one to object to the rather
elfish disposition Of my belongings
N both seats. I felt the necessity of
however, and just before we
cached San Fernando, ! went into
he smoker, where three lively drum
ners were making the air blue with
obacco and tough yarns.
Apprised by the Whistles shrill
DOT that the big tunnel was quite
ear. ! started up to see that my sec
ION window was closed, and had got
ound into the isle, when, to my dis.
,ust, I saw a tall man planking down
big yalise in my seat. I fastened
Onward in no ve-y good humor, and
ad just reached the fellow, when the
thistle gave a last shrek and the
rain rushed INTO the tunnel. As it |
i'd SO, the tall man staightened up,
nd then my blood stagnated in my
aims, for there in the half light, the
astly face of the grewsome waiter
leaned down upon me. With sort |
t groan, ! turned and tottered in