Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-08-08


Then Jim Carson teiegraphed in the
morning he was coming to see me by
the first train next day TO have q
look around my estate. N no called
it: 90 l gave up the idea Of going, as
I should 10 too tired In tho morning
10 show him around. Anyhow my tog-
gerry failed 10 show up In time. so ] was
boxed In any case.
= After reading few more bits Of news
In the paper began to feel sleepy. 10
got up TO go to bed--frst. however.
going around the house to rco that all
was locked ny and secure, AMI TINT Ben
son. who was sleepng for the time being
in ono Of tho attics. had not forgotten to
put tho kitchen lamp out. which some
times he dn.
The window u my room Yves wide
open and lovely fresh breeze came
blowing in 1 sat down on tho bed for
a minute or two TO enjoy ii. a nice in
titatiop for an enterprising burglar, !
thought. II II were known thero was
anything worth stealing about the
house. Ho could DO mp the trelliswork
in half minute. Then tho escaped
lunatic, too, IL might have afforded
shelter to him II closely pursued. Thus
musing. clipped of my things prepara-
tory TO getting into bed, bat before do
ing 30 therc Was duty ! had to per
form and which Ialways had done stnco
slept In tho house.
There was n door leading from my
room into kind Of dressing room,
which was sometimes opened during tho
day for various purposes and In front OF
which curtain was rigged mp. Being
naturally rather timid. always used TO
see that this door was properly locked
and the space under my bed untenanted
ero settled down to slumber.
Taking up tho candle. l mado my way
across the room 10 the door, but when
within a couple OF yards or 30 OF 1t ]
come TO dead halt. The paragraph !
bad read In tho paper seomod TO whirl
through my brain, and for tho moment
had hard work TO keep myself from
oollapsing on TO tho floor.
Tho lunatic at the timo Of his escape
was nttirod In morning suit Of black.
and wearing dancing pumps! was
startled. CON toll You. but not without
reason-for peeping out below the cur
tain which covered tho door were tho
toes and half tho feet Of pair Of patent
leather bootsl | regnined my composure
gradually, and moved away back to-
ward the bed, but keeping my eye on
the curtain tho whole time.
Who knew hut that the lunatic might
have been watching mo through PIN
holo tn tho curtain. and, oonjecturing
tho place % his conccalment Ind been
discovered, make rush at me? But no.
He evidently was ignorant OF my dis
covery, for tho feet remained there mo-
tfonless,
What was l 10 do2 Hero | was In q
room by myself, within five yards OF q
madman. standing feet inches In his
socks. whom under ordinary circum-
stances Il would tahe n couple or three
men to, %acklo and satisfactorily dispose
Of shuddcred as thought OF II.
mentally measured whereabouts his
bead would DO behind the curtain, and
casting my eyes around the room, 10 my
JOY they rested on pair OF Indian clubs
was in tho habit OF exercising with In
tho incoming. That was my surost
chance.
moved casually across b. where the
clubs were standing, and taking them
mp commenced to occupy myself with
few Of the exercises 10 work MP steam
for the coming blow. Now or neverl
Suddenly dropping one of the clubs on
tho bed as I brought it around, with tho
other made for the door and directed
10 with all my strength at where sup
posed tho head Of the nadman TO be.
Crash! I fell forward against the cur
tain after tho blow, and commenced
striking ont savagely with my fist b. fol-
low II mp. Down came the curtain with
o run, and tho brass rod with it, strfk-
ing mo on tho head and completely stun
ming me.
10 must have been peculiar sight ms
Benson saw Ii, when he came tu,nbliug
down the stairs TO Gee what oil the row
was about There was | on the floor
mveloped In the curtain, bleeding from
q wound above the temple, knuclyles cut
and bruised and panel OF tho door at
tho back smashed in by blow that
would have pulverized half dozen
lunatics had they been there.
"Tho mad man he's escapedw
managed TO gasp, sitting MP among the
wreck.
"The 90, str7~ anxDusly asked Ben
con. helping mo up and leading mo to-
ward tho basin in order TO bathe my
injured head.
"Mad-man-behind the curtain. Got
IN at tho window-escaped from Brad
ley asylum last night during tho ball
Wearing patent leather boots-eaw them
under tho curtain,"l ierked ont spns-
medically.
~Saw IS whaty cried Benson, drop
ping tho sponge he was holding and re-
garding mo with amazement.
~Hie patent leather boots, man, peep
ing ont from beneath tho curtain"
Benson seemed 10 jump In the air ut
that.
"Gor lumtny, mister; them weren't
madmnnl Them was your moo uns 90
came this morning. puts 'cin behind
tho curtain there 80 as 10 keep out tho
dust sn muck. Oh. Lor', sir. you hev
made O mistake"
by Jove, and hadn't I inst. and dis
figured myself for month OF no in tho
bargain.
There was no doubt about II, for from