The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-05-04

state Of mind 80 contrary TO my habits
and nature. Evidently my physio-psy-
Geological system was in moment Of
crisis
How could get out Of it---be cured?
Must |. too. take the first train and 90
into the country Perhaps that would
be the best way. But unfortunately
could not. had an important engage
ment TO supply some work. and could
net run away and leave it for whims Of
a dreamer fit for hysterical woman.
per baccol" | told myself. PAY no
attention TO the thingl Let us be man.
what, the deucer
And | returned home that evening as
usual. after having dined and visited the
slfc.
had planned TO work hard that even
ing in order TO make haste to finish.
Having entered the house | made as
usual an inspection Of the apartment
and found everything as before. Not
even chair out Of place. Then went
into my study and lighted the gas. to be-
gin work.
But as soon as | seated myself at the
desk and cast a glance upon the manu-
script where had left of writing, "A
marvellous. amazing surprise awaited
me.
You must know that | was writing a
novel-oh. what a novel; Something
fine. exceptionally hnel A romance like
that surely no one ever wrote. The
real and the fanciful, the romantic, the
oil ol~t11rttIIts
mingled in II.
Now that day when went out had
interrupted the story at very interest
ing point. and the period ended thus:
HE burst into a sonorous laugh Of
scorn; he was very sure that the time of
phantoms and specters was long pastl
That apparition then gave him no fear
II must be trick"
had left it there
tinue. with my good cigar lighted in my
mouth, cast my eyes ON the paper, and
what did 1 see?
Just heavensl What indeed
Directly below the last line written by
me had been written one word only:
Fooll There it was. ironical and mem
acing, in Gothic letters, which showed
the handwriting Of a former age.
Who had traced this scornful and
hooking word? You can imagine wheth-
er remained amazed. will say even
more-I felt an impression of terror
My servant did not know how to read or
write No one had come into the house
during the day. Then by whom had the
words been written?
| grew livid and felt myself shudder.
| sprang to my feet felt the hair
stand on end upon my head and a cold
perspiration trickle down my forehead
Tic. the accursed stuffed cat, looked
fixedly at me, and his green eyes seemed
to dilate and become variegated with
thousand colors. But was that cat
really stuffed? Or was he not rather
alive by virtue of some witchcraft?
All at once | reused myself. | had a
feeling OF shame and rage; and furious.
striking with heavy fist on the writing
desk, exclaimed:
But who is the demon who has writ
ten this word? | would like to know
him to twist his neckg"
If were to live a thousand years, |
shall never forget what happened then.
had hardly finished speaking those
words when the study resounded with
hooking laughter-dry. strident. infer
nal
Then the wall opened suddenly, and
there came forth woman wrapped in
great black mantle. And Tic, the ac-
/ 10 I.a.. l.tu ,,tl1a,.
and mewing as he had never mewed in
his lifetime went to rub himself against
that mysterious being.
drew back more dead than alive
Still, had enough presence of mind TO
stretch hand behind me. open drawer
of the desk and take out loaded re-
volver AS soon as | had seized the
weapon felt safer
raised my arm and pointed the re
volver at that being. with the exclama-
ton:
"Now, we will see who you are!"
Alasl Once, twice, thrice l touched the
trigger. but the revolver was no longer
obedient.
The mysterious figure made two steps
toward me. The black mantle that en-
folded her fell TO the floor.
What fearful sight 1t was not a
man nor woman. Itwasa skeleton-a
skeleton with two lights flaming in its
empty. cavernous eye sockets-a skeleton
that laughed satanically. while the cat
Tic made fantastic and wild leaps.
IL vast was DEATH
In the morning they found me insensi-
BILE in my den. The servant ran to call
physician. who found me in a high
fever. My family FASTENED from the
country. | was taken care Of. treated
and cured. But the fact remains. my
hair had turned gray.
When was able TO return TO my den.
the cat Tic was no longer there My
wife had made a coup d'etat and sent it
to be thrown into the river. The column
had also disappeared. IL had been given
away, do not know TO whom.
My manuscript was, however. still in
its place. Only the word "Foolv was no
longer there.
Then il had not been written?
Still was very sure of having read il.
Who knows II the cat Tic had still