Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-08-23

Prepared by 7. A. SlOCum Co., New York.
Gorely advised me TO sleep. | could
more easily have flown. All through thai
wretchod night was pacing wearily up
and down, cursing myself for my folly and
vowing, If came scatheless through th
affair, | would be less arrogant
AT Gorely called me. l took a cup o.
coffee with brandy, but IL did little for
me. The field Of honor was TO be the mess
room, and thither we went. 1t was but a
few yards, but had the greatest Difficult
ty In walking there.
The room struck chill to my heart.
All the blinds were drawn, and there were
only two solitary candles TO light the vast
room, which looked funereal All the
mess were assembled, DIR. Mullens look
ing quite as perky and cheerful rs usual.
He gravely saluted me, and then we all
sat down at the table, the doctor opposite
me. was glad we were seated, as my
trembling legs were under the table and
could not be seen. / was shown the pills.
To all appearance they were exactly SINH
lar
"You arc to have first choice, Molever, +"
said Major Gregory, "and the doctor will
take the other" L bowed. My throat was
SO dry that / could not speak.
The pillbox was placed before me. My
fingers trembled so much that l suppose
it was quite "a minute before l could fun
BILE one out. Then the box was passed TO
the doctor, and he took tho other.
Now" said the major, both OF you
place them in your mouth and swallow
them when give the word"
got mine in my mouth, and, with a
great effort, got IL down. "Swear on
your honor you have swallowed them,
said Gregory. II swear have swallowed
Ii, almost shrieked, for that pill burned
my throat and gullet as IL went down. h
glass Of wine was handed to each Of us,
and then Mullens rose.
"Molevcr," A" he said Il am truly sorry
the luck is against you. know from the
tasto Of my pin 1t is the harmless one l
should like to have your pardon while
there is time. Let us shake hands"
But shake hands / could not While
he was speaking the agony began. My
throat was burning and 1 could trace tho
passage OF the pill by track of fire.
There were awful pains ir my stomach,
and i could feel the poison was running
with my blood over my body. My brain
was on fire. l could not see. fell from
cave mel O-h-hl' groaned as l writhcd
and rolled on the floor. Since then l have
seen war in all parts OF the world ana
been wounded three times, but the pain
was nothing TO what felt then. could
not see my comrades to distinguish them,
only I know they were standing round
watching my death struggles.
Good heavens, Is 10 mistake, Mul-
lensi" heard some one ask, and Mullens
answered, 'Of course not. it is just what
told you it would be. Fetch my stomach
pump, Fletcher, and be quick about It. "
And then he knelt by my side. Poor fell
low, does IL hurt so very much"
Il am dying-dying-dying" and my
voice rose in shrek, and l writhed and
rolled again.
The doctor knelt and felt my pulse, and
his face became very grave. Then he
rose and whispered something 60 the 9th
ers Instantly there was great shout of
laughter that came peal on peal for about
threo minutes.
Dying as / was, l raised myself on my
elbow to look at the inhuman wretches
who could look on and laugh while com
rade lay dying in agony. That look, l
thought, would haunt them throughout
their lives But there came a louder laugh
than ever.
"By Jove Mullens, couldn't have be-
lieved it, although you were so conhdent"
said Gregory. THE best thing l ever saw.
Ha, la, hal" and the whole room roared
again.
"Get up, for goodness sake, said Gore
" to me. 'I've heard of bread pills be-
fore, but / did not know they were so
deadly. Why, man, both pills were made
of bread, and you have been acting like
that
Contempt and disgust would not let him
finish.
1T was near being a serious matter,
though, said Mullens. He had all but
killed himself with fright" And they
rolled this time in laughter.
If look could have done murder, /
should have slain them all where they
stood With as much dignity rs / could
muster / rose and left the room, feeling
half inclined to take dose Of strychnine In
leal earnest Strange TO say, all my pains
had left me as suddenly a. they began.
II turned out as had feared. Before
the day was out the clubs and drawing
rooms were In commissions with the tale
and l believe his majesty was even enter
tained with it. / could not summon sutli
clenJ courage 10 NlslJ GclalulnC lnhJ uay,
and when / did see her / knew Of no OK.
euse that would DO Of any avail. But
was spared all excuses The next day
when went TO sec her the footman told
mo she was not at homo. met her the
day after. She cut me dead.
"But what caused all your symptoms,
majorY' we asked.
simply and solely my imagination"
answered the major "Mullens solemnly
declared that II had been left few min
utes longer Il would have been all over
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