The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-07-23


limbs was broken. came to nurse him.
For seven long weeks ! was his con.
slant, his only companion. | read TO
him, talked to him-and then-and
then"
"He dicd?7
mo; he became q hopeless lunatic.
have mover loved since then; but now
your face brings IL all back to me. Ex.
cuse tho outburst OF my feelings"
She laid her head on his shoulder,
and cried into his collar. Drane could
feel his hair begin to turn gray but he
shut his teeth together with resolution.
Tho other fellow had stood 1t seven
weeks before he went out Of his head,
and Drane believed that he could last
till Jenkins camo.
In fact he did; but it was a close
shave. Jenkins was tall and greedy
man, with hollow checks and cheer
less smile. At his appearance the
woman with a romance in her life
vanished in charge Of hor companion,
who proved TO DO the matron OF the
house. jenkins did not care to question
the new conner. he was satisfied that
all charges would be promptly paid, and
he at once escorted Drane 10 an apart
ment on the third floor. Here the un-
fortunate young man secured some toast
and tea, which, however, did not who'll
ly sustain him against the horrors OF
tho night.
jenkins made a casual inspection OF
Drane's pockets before leaving tho
room.
"You will excuse this formality," said
he, "but tho man who occupied this
room before you brought in piece Of
rope with which he hanged himself over
the headboard OF the bed before morn
ing. We have had many cases OF the
kind. Good night"
This was cheerful subject Of refec-
ton to take to bed with one, and 1t was
still moro consoling to hear the key
turned on the outside OF the door.
81 believe that | shall actually 90
crazy before morning" said Drane as
he stretched himself upon the bed. 1t
was insuflerably hot. Tho windows were
carefully barred and screened In way
which not only prevented the suicidal
egress OF Jenkins boarders but denied
ingress to an adequate supply Of the
free air Of Heaven. After making this
discovery Drane returned to his bed,
where he was soon dreaming that the
dangling heels OF his unhappy pre-
decessor were still knocking against the
headboard.
From this nightmare he awoko
with q shiyer Of horror. lie sat up and
listened. There was certainly q strange
noise in the heavy air. Sometimes 1t
was like subdued voices; then 1t was
signing; and again 1t was Q gurgling
groan. For some minutes Drane could
not summon up the resolution TO In
vestigate, but at length he arose, and
quaking with horror he endcavored
TO trace the disquieting sound to It's
source.
II led him 10 door which apparently
separated him from the next apartments
Nhss bheshJ mJnsoEy my Ueuinu ltT
He hardly dared 10 think. He listened,
and the gurgling sighs made themselves
plainly audible. Doubtless some un.
fortunate was leaving tho Retreat by
the method Jenkins had described, and
had failed 10 arrange his moose in an en-
tirely satisfactory manner. For what
seemed long time, Drane quaked and
hesitated, not daring TO penetrate
further into the secret. Then with .
sudden resolution he seized the knob
and threw his foroe upon IL.
The door opened easily. 1t revealed
IN empty closet with set bowl at the
side, into which q thin stream Of water
was trickling, and running, down the
escape. pipe With the noise which had 90
horrtaed him. Alarm gave place 10
wrath, Hs vowed all sorts OF VEN
geance upon every body who had even
remotely contributed TO his present
evil. plight Every body but Bessie.
ua forGsva her. and In thinking OF her