The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1893-04-06
A LUNATIC.

rome up the river camping out; we had
done our second days work. It was
early morning on the third day; glorious
weather. Twas in the boat getting the
steering lines in order; Giffard and
Dixon were on the bank talking to DR..
Rawle. As l understood it, he was at
the head Of a private asylum for luna
tics. He was Giffards friend, not mine.
He had been taking constitutional
when he happened to fall In with Us just
as we were sitting down to our open air
breakfast. The chance meeting led to
Giffard inviting him to share our gypsy's
meal He did.
He was pleasant fellow, not too old |
and not too young. I liked him exceed
ingly. We talked Of things in general
and of lunatics in particular. Something
led to his mentioning-I think 1t was
speaking of the cunning of certain
class of lunatics and the difficulty OF
keeping them within four walls-the fact
that one of his inmates escaped day or
two before and had not yet been retak-
en-. This was the more angular, as 1t
was tolerably certain he had not gone
far. and search had been made for him
in every direction.
AS Giffard and Dixon were saying
goodby preparatory to getting into the
boat the doctor laughingly said:
"Should you happen to come across
him l shall consider you bound to bring
him back safe and sound. He's man
of forty-four or forty five, tall and bony,
hr;v D,nI hoo n rvvrtn11o hQhit
of showing his teeth and winking his
left eye. Don't look out for a raving
lunatic, for on most points he's as
right as you and l. He's wrong in two
things. Whatever you do don't let him
lose his temper, for whenever he does,
though ever so slightly, he invariably
goes for murder-he's all but done two
keepers already. And don't talk to him
of England or Englishmen, for if he
should get upon his native land, he'll
favor you with some observations which
will make you open your eyes,"
We laughed ALI and Tom shook
hands with him and got into the boat.
We promised, if we should happen to
meet him, we would certainly see him
returned to safe custody. Alf stood up
and showed us from the shore. We sang
out q last goodby and left the doctor
standing on the bank.
It was beautiful morning. The river
was delicious, clear as crystal. We could
see the bottom and every stone and peb'
BILE ON it. Just gentle breeze famed
the surface OF the waters into ripple
We lit our pipes and took 1t easily.
am good bit of o traveller, know many
lovely hooks and crannies in foreign
lands, have lived abroad as much as Al
home, but / will match the higher
reaches of our own Father Thames fol
beauty and for charm against any seen
cry in Europe; and on an early summe
morning, after a spell Of glorious wealth
or, it is all in its prime-the water 81
cool, so clear; the banks so green, s.
charming; the stately trees on eithe
side; the mansions seen over the mea
dows, or peeping out among the trees
You may choose your Rhine, Garda, o
your Maggiore, or your golden Bay
Naples, but leave Cookham and oil
Father Thames to me.
Presumably we had come for rive
beauties and the camping out Pre-
sumably, but as matter Of fact,
young lady lived not 30 far ahead, mt
tual friend, Lillian Travers. Separated
and Jointly we had high opinion {
Miss Travers--not only Of her beauty
but of other things as we'll; and havin
come so far we hoped we should M
have to return until at least we had
peep at her. Unfortunately, though "
knew Miss Travers, we had no acquain
ance with mister-there was no mistres
We had met the young lady at sewers
dances and such like, but on each occ
sion she was under the chaperonage I
old Mrs. Mackenzie Apparently M
Travers was not a party man. But Ii
lian had promised to introduce us
him whenever she got chance, and '
were not unhopeful she would get Il
chance now. So you see that little g
cursion riverward had more in 1t tbs
met the eyes.
We went lazily on, just dipping Il
oars in and out, smoking, watching Il
smoke circling through the clear al
All thoughts Of the doctor and his pal
ing words had gone from our mind. v
talked little, and that little was Of L
liam and the chances Of our meetin
We had gone some 200 or 300 yards; ,
were close to the shore; ALI could almc
reach it by stretching out his oar. '
were dreaming and lazing when su
denly some one stepped out from amol
the trees. He was close to us-not
dozen feet away.
He was tall man, rather over tn
under six feet. He was dressed in
dark brown suit of Oxford mixture.
had q stick in his hand, wore bill
cock hat and his coat was button
right up to his throat. He had ig
whiskers; heavy, dropping nustac!
hair usually long and iron gray in coll
He might be soldier retired from
profession or an artist out painting.
certainly looked . gentleman.
We were passing on when he rails
his stick and shouted out, "Stopw
II was regular shout, as though
were half mile from him. We stopp'
although it was an unusual method
calling attention.
'Gentlemsn," he said, still ct the
Of his voice, II should be obliged II J
could give me seat. Ihave along n
10 go and am tired"
We looked at him and at each 9th
II WAS free and eaav stvle NJ aakiu