The morning call., 1890-10-09
AN ADVENTURE
QUITE IN THE DARK

myself engaged. Still, there is no KNOWN!
to what they may have to put their wits
and although have no pretenSions to beinl
sharper than the rest of my fellow-sutferers
or claim the possession of any especia
dodglness, yet there is no doubt when ont
has to rely very persiStcntly on all one,'
faculties in order to keep fairly abreast o
ordinary mortals, it is wonderful how qulci
the apprehension and the power OF draw
ing conclusions become. You are not con
cerned with the history OF ms lnlrmlty-
how / lost my sight and so forth-lt Is
enough for the present purpose II say Iha'
| have been blind for some twenty years
that have grown quite accustomed ana re-
conciled TO MY fate, and, without making
light of it, have ceased to think about 1t, Oh
regard it as interfering materially with tht
ordinary conduct of daily life,
Very well, then, | CHANGED some three
years ago to be staying with some friends
10 their country houSc-not very far from
London, but nevertheless situated in de-
lightfuly rural and secluded district. My
host and hostess lived IN good style; kept
much company, and entertained in munih-
cent fashion Most of their friends, too,
were wealthy, and the jeweiry, as l was
told, which occasionally sparkled within
those hOspitable walls, represented large
sunls.of money; it was thoroughly easy
going establishment; meals were made
movable festivals, to suit the var ed ar.
rangementS which constant programme OF
amusement sometimes entliled.
The month was August lie weather
was fine ana hot, and ON the particular even
ing in question, it so happened the dinner
was to partake Of the character of supper,
TO suit the convenience of the house party,
who were going on some picnic boating eX-
pursinu mn the OpiplhOrlDp names.
Now. did not join them for two reasons
firstly, because ] wanted to enjoy the quiet
and peace Of the house, gardens and Shrub
berries when entirely deserted; secondly, be
cause, always rather bad sleeper. had
been more than usually wakeful for some
nights, and determined TO go to bed early
and to take Il certain narcotic which had
been recommended as quite harmless and
exceedingly pleasant. 1t consisted OF Il
powder, and the directions said il was to be
mixed with n pint bottle OF light claret-a
glass or two of which might be taken on
going to bed or in the course OF the night
if occasion required. Early in the evening
secured the wine from the butler, and my
self mixed it with the drug by simply shoot
ing the latter deXtruusly into the bottle.
Then | shook it, corlled it and stood II on
the bed table With a large claret glass, to be
ready Tor use when | retired for the night.
This did as | proposed little before 10,
al " iil IL llut WIS Lit SlllC htlu PAM VI lllt
house, with tie exception Of the servants.
Their quarters. with kitchens, etc, lay at the
extreme opposite wing from that III which
NY bedroom was situated.
Thus, Is | crept up the main staircase
with tile aid Of my stuck, ard by feeling the
Well-knOWn landmarks by which ! am al
WAYS able to guide myself after very little
practice aICug passages ana corridors, my
footsteps echoed strangely, anu l was con-
scious that an unusual air OF solitude Per-
vaded the place. OF course, the autumn
twilight had faded into night by this lime,
but that made no difference u NE, and
equally, Of course, l carried DO chamber
candle. somehow, nevertheless, Ian a
strange feeling OF not quite liking The soil
tude-a sensation akin to nervousness, |
suppose it would be called. Unaceustomed
to regard myself IS coward, L yet could
have wished that the house had not seemed
quite so lonely. 1t was vague, vain and
ridiculous iiea, | knew-Slll, the nearer
got to my room the more il possessed me
When l laid my hand on the lock, for a
moment it quite overwhelmed me, and
need hardly say that when | found the
door resist my effort TO open 1t, my dis
ComfOrlure was complete. Then, after
a moment, / pulled myself together,
feeling heartily ASHAMED Of the rap
iditv with which my heart was beating;
Another push at tie door, and ii opened
partially-enough to admit ne. Something
had fallen inside and blocked ii. | stopped
to discover what II was, and presently NY
fingers lighted on a wsdge-shape1 block OF
wood with screw sticking partially through
it, This had caused the jam. Bat what
could it be? However, ! left il on the floor.
closed tile door ami walked slowly toward
the window, knowing every step OF the way
nearly as well as you would with your eyes.
The Window French Gne-Opening on to
small balcony, to my surprise was not
closed. as | am certain | lett it an hour OF
two earlier, when | brought ND The vine To
my room. You might think these little dis
COveries would have increased my nervous,
ness. They had 4 contrary effect; at least
every sensation was swallowed up in sur
prise and curiosity as TO what could have
happened
However, I began 10 slowly undress-a
blind man has TO do most mechanical! thugs
slowly, if lie would not he parpetuaily bruis-
ing or manning himself, AID so | went on
for few minutes fumbhEg about with my
garments as usual, depusitlng eacn in Its ac-
customed place, for only by that means ARE
we incapables able to ind any object with
certainty again.
Suddenly L thought Of the purpose which
had brought me to bed so early. and began
to doubt if | was going through a good prep
aratlon for giving the sleeping draught a
fair chance. had grown wider and wider
awake every moment from that wheG as
cenGing tie stairs, had first felt sense OF
loneliness. Nevertheless, | would take a
glass of my light claret forthwith, consider
ing that by the time | should be getting into
bed it would be beginning to take effect.
stepped out IN the direction of the table
where it stood. felt about for an instant, and
the next had the bottle within my grasp.
Then found the glass, ard was proceeding,
as | expected, to take the cork out, when lOl
Il ere was no cork. Raising the bottle, ill.,
stantly knew from its liehtnesS that it was
empty. This discovery was conclusive.
Somebody had been III tine perhaps
was in the room at this momcnt-a most
unpleasant notion, but l was ho longer ner-
VOWS.
WHO is there? speak, [ cried "Who
are YOU, and where are you?"
NoIeply. ] listened iDtently not sound
broke the stiffness of the sweet autumn
night Taking my stick, l thrust it under
Of the room. The furnitare appeared a
little disarranged, but otherwise there was
no evidence Of the presence OF any human
being. Very strange, | thought Anyway,
| must ring Tor the foOtman-f0r | may say
here that | dislike being valeIed; and be-
yond Indispensable asS!S aGce, prefer doing
everything as much as l can for myself,
especially in my bedroom.
As my hand passed across the corner oil
the table it knocked something oil on 70 tie
ground, which ratified like tin and glass.
Not stopping to investigate, the next dis
covery nay sensitive fingers made on tie
table was some short iron tool. | took it mp
and felt it, but could not make out what 1t
was, so proceeded to grOpe Tor the beIl-Iopc,
close to the beGhead.
Now. with all that had gone before, i'm
agine my sensations when, as my fingers
passed over the edge of the pillow on thin
way to the top OF the bedstead, they fell
upon a warm human cheek Yes! The
cheek of a man, as knew instantaneously
from his sparse beard, whiskers ana hair !
Imagine my sensations, say, at that
momenti
That l was startled beyond expression /
admit; but | checked my impulSs to shout
aloud. / stepped back into the middle of
the room, humping against chair or some
thing in my haste. In two seconds, how
ever, l collected my wits. Quick as thought,
almost, l drew my conclusions ana settled
what to do. | went to the window, closed
and fastened it as securely aud as nuise-
lessly as | could for l had no desire to dis
turb the intruder, who. so far, except for the
warmth of his flesh. apparently showed no
sign of life-my quick ear told me that. /
stood still for moment listening, and could
not even hear him breathe. Then | crept to
the door, felt for The key, which had been, |
knew, inside, but it was no longer in the
luck. by great good luck, just as l was de-
batting bow might secure the door outside,
my foot trod on what knew to be the key.
1t was lying close TO that wedgs-like bit of