davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18
NNNNVA~N1~~NNN01Nf
}<IHE BROWN MANS SERVANT. 8
BY w. w. JACOBS.
{ Author of "rlany Cargoes. s
C~~N~/N0~NCVNA

"The brute's gone mad" said the
assistant, whose face was white. IT'S
flying about upstairs like wild thing.
Mind 1t don't get in; it's as bad as
mad dog"
"Oh. rubbish" said the proprietor.
Cats are often like that"
"Well, I've never seen one like 1t be-
fore" said the other, land, what's
more, I'm not going to see that again"
The animal came downstairs. scuf-
fling along the passage, hit the door
with its head. and then dashed up
stairs again.
1T must have. been poisoned, or else
it's mad" said the assistant. Whats
it been eating, 1 WONDER"
The pawnbroker made no reply. The
suggestion of poisoning was welcome
one. 1t was preferable to the sinister
hintings of the brown man. But even
If it had been poisoned 1t was very
singular coincidence, unless, indeed,
the Burmese had himself poisoned 1t.
He tried to think whether 1t could have
been possible for his visitor to have ad-
ministered poison undetected.
IT'S quiet now." said the assistant.
and he opened the door a little way.
IT'S all right" said the pawnbroker,
half ashamed of his fears; 'get back to
the shop"
The assistant complied. and the pro-
prietor after sitting down a little
while to persuade himself that he really
had no particular interest In the mat
ter, rose and slowly went upstairs. The
staircase was badly lighted. and half
way up he stumbled on something soft.
He gave a hasty exclamation, and
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18

arm relaxed as the snake drew the
whole of It's body under the sleeve and
wound round his arm. He felt it's head
moving. 1t came wriggling across his
chest, and with a mad cry, the wretch
clutched at the front Of his shirt with
both hands and strOve to tear 1t Off
He felt the snake in his hands, and tor
moment hoped. Then the creature
got its head free. and struck him
smartly In the throat.
His hold relaxed. and the snake fell
at his feet. He bent downand seized
1t; careless now that 1t bit his hand
and, with bloodshot eyes, dashed 1t re-
peatedly on the rail of the bed. Then he
flung it to the floor, and, raising his
heel, smashed its head to pulp.
His fury passed, he strOve to think
but his brain was in a whirl. He had
heard of sucking the wound but one
puneture was in his throat. ard he
laughed discordantly. he had heard
that death had been prevented by
drinking heavily Of spirits. He would
do that first, and then obtain medical
assistance.
He ran to the door. and began to
drag the furniture away. In his haste
the revolver fell from the drawers to
the floor. He looked at 1t steadily for
+ q moment, and then. taking it up,
handled Il; wistfully. He began to think
more clearly. although a flumbing SEN
sation, was already steling over him.
xThfrty thousand pounds!" he said,
slowly, and tapping his cheek lightly
with the cold barrel.
Then he slipped 1t into his mouth,
and. pulling the trigger, crashed heavi-
ly to the floor. ro.t.t-. IL
(The End.)
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18

might be inside them. He fought
against this idea and tried to force his
nerves into steadiness. Then his fears
suggested that two might have been
placed In the bed. At this his fears got
the upper hand. and It seemed to him
that something stirred in the clothes.
He drew his body from them slowly
and stealthily. and, taking them in his
arms, flung them violently to the other
end Of the room. On his hands and
knees he now travelled over the bare
bed, feeling. There was nothing there
In this state of suspense and dread
time seemed to stop. Several times he
thought that the thing had got on the
bed, and to stay there in suspense In
the darkness was impossible. He felt
1t over and over again. At last, unable
to endure it any longer. he resolved to
obtain the matches and stepped eau
tiOusly off the bed; but no sooner had
his bare feet touched the floor than
his courage forsoOk him, and he sprang
tumbling back to his refuge again.
After that, in spirit of dOgged
fatalism, he sat still and waited. To
his disordered mind it seemed that
footsteps were moving about the house
but they had no terrors for him. To
grapple with a man for life and death
would be play; to kill him. JOY un-
SpsaKaDle. ne sat Stlll, ilSteiilus. ne
heard rats in the wall and a babel of
jeering voices on the staircase. The
whole blackness of the room with the
devilish writhing thing on the floor be-
came invested with supernatural sig
nificance. Then, dimly at first, and
hardly comprehendng the joy Of 1t, he
saw the window. A little later he saw
the outlines of the things in the room.
The night had passed and he was
alive!
He raised his frozen body to its full
height. and. expanding his chest. plant
ed his feet firmly on the bed. He
clenched his fist, and felt strong. The
bed was unoccupied, except by him
self. He bent down and scrutinized
the floor for his enemy. and set his
teeth as he thought how he could tear
1t and mangle 1t. 1t was light enough.
but first he would put on his boots. He
leaned over cautiously. and. lifting one
to the bed, put it on. Then he bent
down and took up the other, and, swift
as lightning, something issued from 1t
and, coiling round his wrist, ran up
the sleeve of his shirt.
With starting eyeballs. he held his
breath, and. stiffening into stone. wait
ed helnlessly The tightness round his
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18

to fancy that there is one Of your brown
friends pet devils crouching. under the
counter, ready to spring" !,
The pawnbrOker grunted and opened
the door. a, y +.
''POof. fog!" said his friend, as q
cloud streamed in; bad night for pis-
tol practice. / shan't be able to hit
anything"
The two men stood in the doorway
l'fee q, minute. trying to peer through
the fog. AZ. heavy. measured tread
sounded In the alley: a huge figure
loomed uD. and. to the relief of the
friend. constable halted before them.
Thick night. sir" said he, to the
pawnbrOker.
Very" was the reply. Just keep
your eye on my place tonight, con-
stable. There have been one or two
suspicious looking characters hanging
about here lately"
Il will, sir" said the constable. and
moved off in company with the friend.
The pawnbrOker closed the door hast
lily behind them and bolted 1t secure
ly. His friends Jest about the devil
under the counter occurred to him as
he eyed it, and for the first time in his
life the lonely silence of the shop be-
came oppressive. He half thought Of
opening the door again and calling
them back, but by this time they were
out of earshOt. ad he had very strong
idea that there might be somebody in
the fog outside.
BAH" said he, loudly; thirty thou
sand pounds"
He turned the gas jet on full-a man
that had just made that sum could af-
ford to burn little gas-and, first sat
isfying himself by looking under the
counter and round the shop, he re-
entered the sitting room.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18
Central Railroad of New Jersey.
Gehigh and susquehanna Divlsion)

Anthracite coal used exclusively, insu:.
ing cleanliness and comfort.
TIME TABLE IN EFFECT NOV. IL, 1896
Trains leave Scranton for Pittston.
Wilkes.Barre. etc, at $50. sis. 11.30 a. m,
12l5. 200. sos, 500. 710 p. m. Sundays 900
q. M, 100. 2.15. 7.l0 p. m.
For Atlantic City, $50 q. m.
For New York, Newark and Elizabeth,
$50 (express) a. m. II; ;45 express with Buf.
fet parlor carl. 3o5 .(express) p m. Sun.
day, 215 p, m. Train leaving 12i5 D. m,
arrives at Philadelphia. Reading Term.
inal, 522 p. m. and New York 600 n. m.
For Mauch Chunk. Allentown. Bethle.
hem, Easton and Philadelphia, $50 q. M.
i2.l5. sos. 500 Except Philadelphia) p. IN.
For Long Branch, Ocean Grove. ETC., a.
$40 q. m. and 12.45 .. m.
For Reading. Lebanon and Harrisburg.
via Allentown. $50 a. m. ,2.45. 500 p. m.
Sunday. 2,15 p. m.
For Pottsville, $50 a. m, 1245 D. m.
Returning, leave New York, foot Of Lib.
erty street, North River. at $40 (express)
O. m, 1.10, 1.30 AIS (express with Buffet
parlor carl p. m. Sunday. 40 a. m.
Leave Philadelphia, Reading Termina,,
800 .. m 200 and $50 p. m. Sunday. c.;
q. m.
Through tickets to all points at loves.
rates may. be had on application In ad.
vance to the ticket agent at the station.
J. H. oLHArsEN. Cen. supt.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18
PART V.

Despite his efforts, the proprietor
| could not get rid of the sense Of loneli-
ness and danger which possessed him.
| The clock had stopped, and the only
| sound audible was the swapping of the
eXtinguished Goals in the CRATE. ne
crossed over to the mantelpiece, and,
taking out his watch, wound the clock
up. Then he heard something else.
With great care he laid the key soft
ly on the mantel shelf. and listened in
| tently. The clock was now aggressive
ly audible. SO that he opened the case
again, and putting his finger against
the pendulum, stopped it.. Then he
drew his revolver and cooked 1t. and.
with his set face turned toward the
door and his lips parted. waited.
At first-nothing. Then all the noises
which lonely man hears in house at
night. The stairs cracked. something
moved in the walls, he crossed noise
lessly to the door, and opened it. At
the head of the staircase he fancied the
darkness moved.
who's there?" he cried, in a strong
voice.
Then he stepped back into the room
and lit the lamp. I'll get to bed" he
said, grimly: "I've got the horrors"
He left the gas burning, and with
the lamp in his left hand and the pistol
in his right slowly ascended the stairs.
The first landing was clear. He opened
the doors of each room, and, holding
the lamp aloft. peered in. Then he
mounted higher, and looked in the
rooms, crammed from floor to ceiling
with pledges, ticketed and placed on
shelves. In one room he thought he
saw something crouching in a corner.
He entered boldly. and as he passed
along one side of row of shelves
could have sworn that he heard a steal
thy football on the other. He rushed
back to the door, and hung listening
over the shaky balusters. Nothing
stirred. and. satisfied that he must
have been mistaken, he gave up the
search. and went to his bedroom. He
sat the lamp down on the drawers, and
turned to close the door, when he dis
tinctly heard noise in the shop below.
He snatched up the lamp again, and
ran hastily downstairs. pausing half
way on the lowest flight as he saw
dark figure spreadeagled against the
side door. standing on tip-toe to draw
back the bolt. e..
At the noise of his approach. It turned
it's head hastily, and revealed the face
of the brown man; the bolt shot back.
and at the same moment the pawn
broker raised his pistol and fired twice.
From beneath the little cloud of
smoke. as 1t rose, he saw that the door
stood open and that the figure had
vanished. He ran hastily down to the
door, and, with pistol raised, stood lis
tening, trying to peer through the fog.
An unearthly stiffness followed the
deafening noise of the shots. The fog
poured in at the doorway as he stood
there, hoping that the noise had reached
the ears of some chance passer-by. He
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18

and crouched there. breathing heavily
and trying to think. y
He tried to think where he had put
the matches, and remembered there
We're some on the window. sill. The
room was 80 dark that he could not
see the foot of the bed. and in his fat
utty he had barricaded himself in the
room with the lCathsome reptile which
was to work the brown mans ven-
genance. -s ,..-r, .f.. re-
For some time he Law, listening in
tently. Once or twice he fancied that
he heard the rustic Of the snake over
the dingy carpet, and ne wondered
whether It would attempt to climb on
to the bed. He stood up. and. stretch
Ing his body to the utmost. tried to get
his revolver from the drawers. 1t
was out Of reach. and as the bed
creaked beneath his weight a faint
hiss sounded from the floor and he sat
still again, hardly daring to breathe.
The cold rawness of the room chilled
him. He cautiously drew the bed
clothes toward him and rolled himself
up in them, leaving only his head and
arms exposed. In this position he be-
gan to feel more secure. until the
thought struck him that the snake
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18
SYNOPSIS.

A sailor brings valuable diamond to the
proprietor of a pawnshOp in the CONNER
cial Road, in London. They retire to an
inner room, and the sailor offers the dia-
mond to the proprietor for f500. The pro-
prietor offers small sum, but the sailor
sticks to his price, and the proprietor goes
off to bring friend for consultation.
They return, and pay the sailor his fo0O.
and the sailor leaves. The same night he
comes back and warns the pawnbroker
that the diamond has been stolen by him.
self and three others, one of them Bur-
mese man. He himself has gained sole
possession of the stone, and his move
ments are dogged by the Burmese and
another of his late companions. He noti-
fies the proprietor to- look out for them.
The next day both of them call on the pro-
prietor, demapd the stone. display the belt
of the sailor. whom they have murdered.
and threaten the proprietor with death,
If he does not give up the jewel. He ig-
nores their threats.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18

weight Then he burst into a laugh as
the being who had just been threaten
ing him with terrible and mysterious
death changed into a little weak old
man coughing and splitting as he
clutched at his troat and fought for
breath.
What about your servant, the
devil?" asked the proprietor, malic-
iously.
He serves when am absent" said
the brown man, family. Even now l
give you one more chance. l will let
you see the young fellow in your shop
die first But no. he has not offended.
/ will kill"
He paused. and his eyes fell on the
cat, which at that moment sprang UP
and took its place on the counter.
Il Will kill your cat" said the brown
man. II will send the devil to worry
it. Watch the cat. and as it's death Is
SO shall yours be-unless-"
"Unless?' said the other, regarding
him mockingly.
UNLESS tonight before ten O'Clock
you mark on your door post two crosses
in chalk" said the other. DO that
and live. Watch the cat"
He pointed his lean, brown finger at
the animal, and, still feeling at his
throat, stepped softly to the door and
passed out.
With the entrance of other custo-
mers, the Dawnbroker forgot the an
noyance to which he had been subject
ed, and attended to their wants in a
spirit made liberal by the near prospect
of fortune. 1t was certain that the
stone must be of great value. With
that and the money he had made by
his business, he would give up work
and settle down to a life of pleasant
ease. So liberal was he that an elder
ly IrishwOman forgot their slight diff
ferences in creeds and blessed him fer
vently with all the saints in the cal
endar.
His assistant being back in his place
in the shop, the pawnbroker returned
to the little sitting room, and once
more carefully looked through the ac-
count of the sailors murder. Then he
sat still trying to work out a problem,
to hand the murderers over to the po-
lice without his connection with the
stolen diamond being made public, and,
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18

after considerable deliberation. con-
WINGED himself that the feat was i'm
possible. .s -
He was interrupted by a slight scuf-
fling noise in the shop, and the cat
came boiling into the room, and after
running round the table, went out at
the door and fled upstairs. The as
sistant came into the room.
What are you worrying the thing
for?" demanded his master.
I'm not worrying It," said the as
sistant in an aggrieved voice. .It's
been moving about up and down the
shop, and then 1t suddenly started like
that. IT'S. got a fit, I suppose"
He went back to the shop, and the
proprietor sat in his chair half
ASHAMED of his nervous credulity, lis
teniYig to the animal. which was rush.
ing about in the rooms upstairs.
"Goi and see what's the matter with
the thing. Rob-" he cried. .
Tie assistant obeyed. returning has,
tily lin minute or two, closing the
door behind him. l'f.
.well, what's the matter?" demand
ed his master.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18
PART w.

The Burmese paused, and the pawn
broker noticed that his face had
changed, and in place of the sardonic
good humor which had before possessed
it, was now distorted by devilish
malice. His eyes cleaned coldly, and
he snapped them quickly as he spoke.
We'll, what do You say?" he de-
manded.
This" said the other.
He leaned over the counter, and TAX
ing the brown mans skinny throat in
his great hand. flung him reeling back
to the partition, which shook with his
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18
DEL, Lack. and Western.
Effect Monday. October 10. 1898.

Eject Monday, october 49, 1898.
Trains leave Scranton as follows: FIX.
press for New York and all points East,
lao 25O 6.l5. 500 and 95S a. m: l.lo and
Express for Easton, Trenton. Philadel.
phia and the South. 5.l5. SEQ and 9.55 a. m.
l.lO and S.33 p. M.
washington and way stations. a45 p. m.
EXPRESS Tor Binghamton. oswego. e FL.
mira. corning. Bath. Dansville. Mount
D. m, making close connections at Buffalo
to ali points In the West. Northwest and
Southwest.
Binghamton and way stations, los D. m
Nicholson accommodation. sis p. m.
Binighamton and Elmira express. SIS;
EXPRESS for Utica and Richfield Springs
235 a. M, and LIS p. m.
Ithaca 235 and Bath 915 a. m. and 15;
For Northumberland. Pittston, Wilkes.
Barre. Plymouth, bloomsbury and Dan.
Vile, making close connections at North.
cumberland for Williamsport. Harrisburg,
Baltimore. Washington and the South
Northumberland and intermediate sta.
lions, COO, 955 a. m. and I. IS and 600 D. M
Nanticoke and intermediate stations. sos
and II. 20 a, m. Plymouth and intermediate
stations, $40 and S47 p. m.
Pullman parlor and sleeping coaches on
all express trains.
For detailed Information. pocket time
tables. etc. apply to NJ. L. Smith. city
ticket office. 22s Lackawanna avenue. or
depot ticket Office.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18
Sf5'[|iiijIi5|jI;Zl|N||||z|ll|3l '[iiji|jI; l||||||l|3
LEHIGH VALLEY RAILROAD SYS.

TEN.
Anthracite Goal Used Exclusively Insur.
ing Cleanliness and Comfort.
IN EFFECT NOV. Is, 1896.
TRAINS LEAVE SCRANTON.
For Philadelphia and New York via D.
n. r.. r. at 6.45, 7.45 a. M, 1905, l.2O, S.33
(SIack Diamond EXpress) and I30 D. M.
FOR Pittston and Wilkes-Barre via d.
W. Il; r.. 600. sos. 1l.2O a. M, 1.55.
o'1U. oW and S.E y. m
ror White Haven, Hazleton, Pottsvillo
anu principal points In the coal regions
VIA u. d II. X. r.. Gas a. m, 1906 and Al
p. m.
. For Bethlehem. Easton, Reading, Har.
,,;sDurg ana principal intermediate sta
~ ions via y. e. II. r. r., CAS-, las a. M.
tz;I' iSG 5S3 (Black Diamond EXpress).
81 and ll:30 .. m.
For Tnnkhannock, Towanda, Elm,ra.
Itnaca, Geneva and principal intermediate
STATIONS via d.. l.. & w. r. r., 6OO sos.
S'55. a. M. 1920 and $40 p. m.
FOR Geneva. Ruchester. Buffalo, Niagara
FalIs. Chicago and all points west via d.
q n. y r., 7.45 a. M, 1905, 3.33 (Black Dia-
m0nd Expressl, $50 and ll.3O p. m.
,Pnllman parlor and sleeping or Lehigi
valley chair cars on all trains between
Wilkes Barre and New York, Philadel-
phia, Buffalo and Suspension Bridge
ROLLIN H. WILBUR. Gen. Supt.
A.; w. NONNEMACHER, Asst Gen.
Pass Agt., South Bethlehem Pa.
scranton Office. 800 Lackawanna avenue.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18
RALLROAD TIMETABLES
Pennsylvania RAILROAD,
Schedule In Effect June "a. ,s,s.

Schedule In Effect June u. 1875.
Trains Leave Wilkes. Barre as Follows
7.30 .. M, week days. for Sunburv,
Harrisburg, Philadelphia. eaiai.
. more. Washington. and for Pitts.
burg and the West. 49,.
l0.l6 q. M, week days, for Haxleton.
Pottsville. Reading. Norristown,
and Philadelphia; and for Sun.
bury. Harrisburg, Philadelphia.
Baltimore, Washington and Pitts.
burg and the West.
SIT .. M. week days. for. Sunbury.
Harrisburg. Philadelphia, Balti.
more. Washington and Pittsburs
and the West.
SIT p. M, Sundays only, for Sun
bury. Harrisburg. PhiIadslp hi
and Pittsburg and the West
600 p.N M. week days. for Hazleton
and Pottsville.
J. r. WOOD. Oen'l Pass. Agsak
$. N. PROVOST. General Manager.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-18
Erie and Wyoming Valley.
Effective Nov, 2.

EIIeCVINe 1NOV. 9.
Trains leave Scranton for New York
Newburgh and intermediate points on
Erie, also for Hawley and local points at
7.05 a. m. and 2.2S p. m, and arrive from
above points at 1923 q. m, BIS and Sa
D. m.
The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-07-03
THE NEWS OBSERVER FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 1896

must be plain to every thoughtful
man who has observed the course of
events in this country since Mr.. Sher-
man stealthily fastened the gold stand
ard system upon our government in
1873"
with the mOneyed men of 'the coun~
try holding alo1f from your cause,
how would il Inc possible for the Dem
ocratic party to raise campaign funds
TO meet the Doodle of Mckinleyism?
The Republicans viii have millions Of
dollars to spend
AS / uttered these words Mr.. Bland
folded his arms across his chest and
threw his head back.
NO "BOODLE' NEEDED.
This campaign for silver is a move
ment of the common people he an
swered eve need no Doodle. We are
not afraid Of Doodle. See how the free
Silver cause has spread from farm to
farm, from town to town and from
State to State, until it embraces the
workers of every part Of the counry?
All this has happened without the use
of money.
1--WE are right-Ghat is our cam
paign fund.
What money we need for legitimate
purposes will be furnished by the yot-
ers themselves. They are so aroused
and earnest that contributions to the
campaign fund will come from men
who perhaps have never given for such
a purpose before.
THE Democrats VIII stand by this
true Democratic principle and thou
sands of Republicans will join us. You
can count them off here and there in
every community you enter. am con
fident that fhe next President will be a
Democrat
Then Mr. Bland STROBE back to his
bayfield, with his little daughter tod
ding at his heels.
+ JAMES CREELMAN.