The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-20
AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

this physician showed that he was
man of acuteness and penetration.
AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.
The following most extraordinary
event happened in Lincolnshire, Eng
land, In the autumn of 1904. The vio-
lence of fall from horse deprived
Sir Henry s. of his faculties, and he lay
in comatose condition for several
hours. AT length his recollection re-
turned. and he family asked: Where
am T." and looking up found himself
IN the arms of q venerable old man.
Fear not" said the latter. ''yonder
house Is mine. l will support you to it
there you shall be comforted." The
stricken man expressed his gratitude,
and they walked slowly to the house.
The friendly assistance of the old gen.
tleman and his servants soon restored
the victim of the accident to his reason.
Dinner being announced the good old
man entreated the gentleman to join
the party. he accepted the invitation.
ana was shown into a large hail. where
he round sixteen covers, the party con-
slstinS of as many perSons-no ladies
being present. The old man took the
mead OF the table; an excellent dinner
was served, and rational conversation
gave zest to the repast The gentle
man on the left of Sir Fl. asked him
to drink glass of wine. when the old
man, I'm u dignified and authoritative
tone. at the same time extending his
hand, said MOI" Sir II. was astonished
at the singularity of the check. yet, un-
willing to offend. remained silent.
The instant the dinner was over the
old man left the room. when one of the
company addressed the newcomer in
the following words: by what mis-
fortune have you been unhappily
brought here by that unfeeling man,
who has just quilted the room? o, sir.
you will have ample cause to curse the
hour that put you in his power. for you
have no prospect in this world but mis-
cry and oppression. perpetually subject
to the capricious humor of that old
man. You will remain in this mansion
for the remainder of your days. Your
life, as mine is, will became burden
some, and, driven to despair, your life
Will glide on with regret and melan-
choly reflection, in one cold and miser-
able sameness. This. alas" said the
speaker has been my lot for fifteen
years; and not mine only, but the lot
of every one you see here since their
arrival in this cursed abode!" The pa
thetic manner that accompanied this
cheerless declaration, and the singular
behavior of the old man at dinner
aroused in Sir HIS breast q sem
timent of horror, and he was
lost in thought for some minutes.
Then he said: "By what authority
can any man detain me against my
will? l will not submit. I will oppose
him-force to force-if necessary"
"Ah, sir" exclaimed another of the
guests, your argument is just, but
your threats are vain. The old man.
sir, is a magician: we know it by fatal
experience. Your attempt would
prove futile, and your punishment
would be dreadful. II will endeavor
to escape" said Sir Henry. "Your
hopes are groundless," rejoined a third
gentleman. ''for it was but three
months ago that in an attempt to es-
cape l broke my leg" Another said
he had broken his arm, and that many
had been killed by fans in their en-
deavor to escape. Others had sudden
ly Disappeared and had never been
heard of.
Sir Henry was about to reply when