Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-11-05
AME INCH'S DOWNFALL.

and he was nightly afraid that some
thing would go wrong. Only II month
before he had received his appointment
to the asylum, and escape or revolt due
to lack of proper precautions would, he
knew, mean the loss of his place. He
was relieved when the train rolled in
II a keeper jumped from the steps of
a car, touched his hat, and announced
that all was well.
"A hundred altogether, l believe"
the doctor remarked.
Yes, sir; fifty in each car" said the
keeper.
Well, march them out as soon as
you can" said DR.. Blank, and he
hauled out "A notebook and prepared to
check off the men as they were hand
ed over to his keepers.
They took the last car first, and DR..
Blank drew Il deep breath of relief
when the fiftieth man stepped to the
platform.
Now for the other car" he said.
cheerily, and the keepers commenced
" NNl INT NlllOliullultS OUT.
Mr.. Inch crouched low in his seat and
was passed by. Mr.. Blank. notebook in
hand, sang ont, "F~Orty-nine." just as
the Keeper escorted a man to the plat
form and called: That's ALL"
There must be another" said the
doctor, nervouSly.
You counted wrong" said the keep
err.
NO. I'm sure I'm right, but I'll count
them again." said DR.. Blank, and he
did so, with the result that his first fig
uring was correct.
One mar was missing. There could
be no doubt about that. The car had
only yielded forty-nine men.
Search the car" called out the doc
tor, and the keeper proceeded to do so.
The first maj he encountered was Mr..
Inch, who, having made up his mind
that sufficient time had elapsed to ren-
der 1t safe for him to leave the car, had
risen and was making for the door.
Hello exclaimed the keeper, chow
did you get here?"
Il just walked in from the other
car replied Mr.. Inch. with dignity.
Didn't see a man hide himself
around this Il anywhere. did you?"
Now it happened that some minutes
before the train reached Parlor City
the red-headcd man who sat next TO
Mr.. Inch had slid to the floor. and cud-
died himself up under the seat. Mr..
Inch had seen him do it. and had mar
veled at the mans ability to stay in one
position so long. To tell of this Incl
dent. however. was to admit that he had
been in the car for some time. which
would scarcely do. so he simply said in
Il tone of mild astonsihment:
See a man hide himself? How ride
ulous,' and the keeper, impressed by
his tone, passed by alni started search
ing nj the upper end of the car.
Mr.. Inch continued toward the door.
reached the platform, and stepped
slowly down. Mr.. lnch's personal ap-
pearance was not what it usually was.
\ night in Il country hotel, with neither
hair brush nor comb in the morning.
showed on him. Contact with the
elbow of II lunatic behind him had put
a o d%isreputable looking dent i'm his
derby. His appearance was altogether
bad enough to justify DIR. Blanks ex-
clamation of:
"Ah. here he is. This way. my
friend" which he made when he saw
Mr.. Inch descending to the platform.
MIR. Inch heard the remark. but paid
no attention to it. Instead of obeying.
he %quickened his pace toward the other
end of the platform. but before he had
gone II dozen yards DR.. Blank was
alongside.
This way. my friend" said DIR.
Blank. swinging Mr.. Inch around by
the arm.
What do you mean, sir?' said Mr..
Inch.
Keep quiet, now, keep very quiet"
said the doctor, %soothingly. It'll be
all right if you keep quiet"
why should | keep quiet when a
loafer grabs me by the arm and swings
me around as though | were a log of
woodY' cried Mr.. Inch. Indignantly.
Get back into line," said DR.. Blank.
Get back into line. and let's end this
nonsense" and he grabbed Mr.. Inch
by the collar and proceeded to drag
him down the platform.
Mr.. Inch lost his temper then. and
swung his right around toward his
captor's Jaw with vicious violence.
The blow landed, and SO did a second
and third, sent in with equal precision.
DIR. Blank hung on, though slightly
dazed. He couldn't hit the man back.
There is n State rule forbidding keep
ers or doctors to strike an insane per-