The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-03-27


door savagely, and Mr.. Guy Cheevers
stalked into the room, carrying an OBJ
long box under his arm.
He placed the box on the table, and
then took a seat oprcsite Mr.. Maddox
and stared blarllly at linn.
s'What do you WANT" asked Mr.. Mad
dox fiercely. Don't you see am en-
gagedY
"Oh, / know" said Guy, "what you
are about to Go! Don't think that am
going to interfere not at all. But be-
fore you make your quietus / wish to
ask you few questions. Have you pro-
vided for your niece's future welfare?"
"What's that to you?'
considerable. I am about to marry
Miss Silver; so her interests are natural.
ly mine. >
sThen She is provided for-amply."
"Thasnk you for your information.
Very glad to hear it, And now excuse
the apparent impertinence Of the ques-
ton, but where is your will?"
''Here," said Mr.. Maddox. laying his
hand on it.
Suppose you give it to me to take
care off"
"Giye it you! Why, pray?'
''It might become misplaced" ex-
planned Guy.
'.Ill keep it myself" said AMr. Mad
dox roughly.
'.Then just leave a memorandum on
the table," said Guy earnestly, ssto
tell where it is. It will save trouble,
perhaps.
Get outi'' cried Mr.. Maddox angrily.
'sAh, / see!" said Mr.. Cheevers coolly;
sin a hurry to begin. Well, won't de-
tain yQn; but have little suggestion
to Offer
'sWell?" said Mr.. Maddox impatiently.
sit is this" said Guy. miss Silver
informs me that you have made several
previous efforts to cut short your trouble
and youl. breath, and always unsuccess-
fully. Now it seems to me you don't go
the right way about it. This box" and
here he opened the box before alluded
to, contains several little plans that
think might please you. Here's one" !"
and he. showed little steel instrument.
whats that?" asked Mr.. Maddox Gu
riously.
''This," said Guy, sis an article that
you can place round your neck like a
collar, then, by striking your hand on
the left side of your neck, a sharp spike
is driven right into your jugular
vein'%-
"But that would kill me?' said Mr..
Maddox, staring.
"Well, amt that what you want"
demanded Guy sternly. .sNow, here's
another" he went on. Here's wheel,
you observe; you place this band round
your neck, pass it round the wheel and
give it two OF three turns-then let go.
The recoil will twist your head almost
off your shoulders-kill you to GER
tainty."
Mr.. Maddox stared at him with un-
feigned horror.
''Then," went on Guy coolly, '.here's
a little package, a torpedo. 1t contains
nitro -glycerine. You place it in your
mouth, snap your teeth on it, and off
goes your head smashed into millions
of atoms"
'Good heavensr exclaimed Mr.. Mad
dox fearfully. What a terrible idear
''Not at ALL" said Guy soothingly.
Beautiful invention-I quite pride N.Y.
self on it-scientifc suicide, you see!
Anybody can take poison or blow their
brains out, but to do it scientifically re-
quires real talent. You have it, and l
am confident that you will reflect credit
on my inventive skill. Now" he con-
tinued confidently, s'if you could use all
three of these inventions at once-cut
your jugular, garrote yourself and blow
your head off, all at once-why, I'd thank
you"
"What!' cried Mr.. Maddox fercely,
edo you think I'm crazy? Do you think
I'm going to use any of your internal
inventions? Get out of this room, you
cold blooded villain, before throw you
out of the windowf'
But have a great many more to
show you" demonstrated Guy, ..'and you
see want you to try as many as posi-
bic. Well, well!'' he added, as Mr.. Mad
dox grasped the poker threateningly,
''Pm going. But I'll leave this box here,
and before you get rid of yourself just
make u memorandum of what you will
use and leave it on the table, because
you know there will probably be moth
ing left of you to draw conclusions from,
and So
Here any further speech was cut short
by Mr.. Maddox seizing his visitor and
hustling him out into the passage.
"Well?' said Lizzie, anxiously, to
Guy.
81 think it's all right, said Guy, grim
ming. Get the lunch ready. Your
uncle is all right. He'll be down."
And sure enough, so he was, and
though he spoke not he ate most vora-
ciously Of everything.
''Lizzie," said he suddenly, after an
hours pause, 'did you ever see an infer
nal old fool and an idioty
Never that l know Of" said Lizzie.
"Why:"
because just look at me and you'll see
one" said Mr.. Maddox grimly, and he
stalked upstairs.
Up to The present time of writing Mr.
Cyrus Maddox is still alive, enjoying re-
markably good health, and he seems to
be ON friendly terms with Mr.. Cheeyers
and his wife Lizzie. He probably for
gave that gentleman on account of dis
covery that he made that the nitro-gly-
cerine torpedo contained nothing more
dangerous than salt, and the other Gin
fernal inventions were internal in about
the same ratio, but Guy still maintains