The Colfax chronicle., 1891-10-10

ridden half mile to the northward
, that ] frightened the rein.
thought was acting the towards
|, part thus to leave my companion in the
hands of murderers, but the second
; thought convinced me that should do
better to keep on. While l was free
they would not dare to kill him. for
they must have known that should
give the alarm, and then the crime
would be detected. If should return,
they might capture and kill us both
without fear of detection.
1 Again gave my horse the rein, and
he galloped on l know not how far l
had ridden, when thought detected
stream OF water directly ahead; but no
movement of mine was necessary. for,
with sudden jerk, my horse stopped,
and was thrown far over his head.
remember the sensation of falling, but
that was all
When came to myself it was day.
light, and the warm sun was looking
brightly upon me. / moved heavily to
sitting posture, and found my horse
at a short distance from me. cropping
the long grass. I felt stiff and nv
head ached; but ere long arose to my
feet and looked about me. The stream
which had caused my disaster had
dwipdled to mere tiny brook; but the
marks OF its food were left, and I
could see that it had been quite for
midabie.
But one thing surprised me. Not
more than half mile ahead 1 saw
quite town, a large fiourishing vii
iage. 1t was some time before l could
collect my scattered senses; but when
did SO, became convinced that the
place before me was Decatur! NY |
horse must have left the true road al |
most immediately after the darkness
set in, and here was nearly twenty !
miles out of my way to the westward!
But l forgot all this--I forgot the /
pain in my head and limbs-in NV
thoughts of what had occurred during
the night; and l resolved to seek inn
mediate aid to arrest e inmates of
that horrible abode / had left, and to
set free my unfortunate companion.
easily caught my horse, and, the agh /
gained the saddle with difficulty. vet.
when once there, i rode with ease.
When reached the town, which
proved, as l had thought, to be Deca-
tur. one OF the first objects that met
my gaze was lawyers sign drove
up to the door of the office and dis
mounted. While l was hitching NV
horse, q wagon drove up in which was
gentleman and lady. The gentleman
was an elderly person, and one whose
countenancc was such as to command
instant and universal respect. He en-.
tered the Office directly behind me. He
smiled and shook hands with the law
Ver, and then turned to desk, and be-
yan to overhaul a bundle of papers
which he had just taken from his pock-
t.
My muddy garments gave me any
hing but comely appearance, but as
Don as l was assured that addressed
ne lawyer" l proceeded to unfold
ny fearful tale. The attorney started
nd trembled as commenced. and the
who was overhauling the
apers stopped from his work and !
ooked at me. l went on. and de-
cribed every particular; my hair
ristled as / told of the terrible cries :
I the poor victim had left behind,
nd assured my hearers that it was
ne hostler who had sprung out as :
ode Off
A strange, un accountable expression !,
assed over the lawyers face. He
azed at me moment in silence, and :
len clapping his hands upon his sides :
sank back into his ch air and burst =
ito long, loud, uproarious laugh.
as thunderstruck. The old gentleman :
ropped his papers and actually sank =
pom the floor, and wild burst of mcr- !,
ment shook his frame 9
'Ha, ha, ha! Why, my de ar friend" :
tered the lawyer, as soon as he could =
language, .syou-ha, ha, ha! 8
you were-ha, ha!--you have been :, !,
=. 0! oho-o-o-o-ha, ha!-he-e-e-er' =
sank into seat, utterly overcome. =
I'd at length got at the truth. The ~
gentleman before me was none :.
her than the celebrated DR.. Gabriel -
andresser. He and his wife had left - -
me on the day before on visit, and 10
storm had prevented their return. *,
s dwelling was private hospital, III
1ere he had q number of poor ma :.
acs In course of curative treatment. ~
with those maniacs had stopped! ~
hostler was the only really sane -
rson he had left in charge of the ~,
ildings, and l afterwards learned a.
It this hostler had been much averse j.
my remaining at the house, and =
nee his gruf manner towards me. ~.
e man who had led me from nv
amber was poor fellow who had
ertained the idea that some one was
king to murder him, and his strange
nomania had variety of phases, .
ording to the circumstances about "
J. He had evidently intended to have til.
aped from the doctors house with net
but the timely appearance of the inf
tier prevented him. da'
andresser insisted that should re- Gle
a with him to his house and remain sue