The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-10-21
CHAPTER XVIII.

IN THE MAELSTRON.
sat for several minutes smothered
by strange terror. There could be no
mistake about it. The miraculous gift,
reproduced after the lapse of centuries
in myself, had departed forever.
Ny vanity was my own Delilah.
Yielding to silly pride, ! had made q
vain display Of my incredible strength.
and now it had vanished, and was as
ordinary men. ''.
Singular that during all my life,
when was not as others, the feeling
of awe, though present with me in a
greater or less degree, never approach
cd in height and breadth and depth
that which now pervaded my being.
And yet 1t should not have been SO.
Rather the emotion should have been
one of inexpressible relief that the gu
pernatural element had been eliminated
and that I was walking on the plane Of
my fellow mortals.
Perhaps such would DO my mood
when became accustomed to the great
change But for the present l shivered
like man standing on the verge Of a
fathomless abyss into which he feels
himself slipping without the power to
draw back.
must do something to fight off my
impending madness. was seized with
an unspeakable dread Of myself, Of my
room, of being alone. l must 20 out
must look upon others and meet men
face to face.
Amid my tempest Of emotion that
saving consciousness remained. My only
escape from the collapse Of brain and
mind was to rush out. Of the building
and plunge into something that would
relieve the terrific pressure by turning
it in another direction.
Without waiting for the elevator
dashed down the stairs three steps at a
time In the clear sunlight breathed
frecr.
Whittier should fly? What was to be
my refuge?
Wall street. In the wild vortex, the
dizzy maelstrom Of that place, might
find surcease from my tremendous emo
tons Thither would 60 and leap into
the pit which has been the grave Of de-
spairing multitudes
True, l had never been there and
knew nothing Of its labyrinthine wind
ings All the better. Iwould 60 it
blind.
But holdl A man must have money
in order to lose money. The $40, 900
which drew some days before was still
in my pocket. Most likely my check
would DO accepted, but it might be ques-
toned had never looked at the bank
book that was showed toward me, and
p did not do SO now.
How much is my balance, please?"
The cashier turned to the bookleeper
and said something in a low tone. The
huokkeeper handed him slip Of paper
with some figures ON it.
That's how your account stands"
said the courteous cashier, passing me
the slip, with which l walked to the
row of desks provided for the acoommo-
dation Of the customers Of the bank.
Even in my exaltation I was surprised,
for the figures were $l5, 1000.
Before Harold went to Europe he
placed some bills in my hands, of which
had made use, such as paying Mrs.
Murphy and my personal expenses. I
had drawn only the single check of $780,
900. He had assured me that just ten
times that amount was subject to my
call, and that half of it was absolutely
mine.
Evidently there was a mistake some
where, for the whole amount left at my
command was $4,000. However, that
was not the time to inquire into the
matter 1t could wait.
drew out every dollar Of the balance
and added it to the package in my pocls
ct. That made a goodly sum with which
could mako or mar my fortune in Wall
street. was resolved to do one Of these
things.
1t would be a fitting climax with
which to wind up my loss of strength.
1 did not know soul in that finau-
cial center, though several persons spoke
to me, and / returned their salutations..
Entering the Office of the first promi-
nent firm of brokers, controlled my
agitation so as not to attract attention
and made inquiries as to the movements
of the various stocks.
"Haye you any intention Of making
venture?" was the bland inquiry.
THAT is what brings me here. What
ioyou advises'
"Have you any preference?"
"None. I simply made up my mind
awhile ago to take flier. Here is $685.
900. Invest it for me as your Judgment
dictates"
He gave me receipt, thanked me for
my custom, and told him l would call
on the following afternoon to learn the
result
walked all the way back to my
rooms up town. The exercise and the
reaction from the grotesquo step l had
taken acted as soporitic. My fever
cooled, and a refreshing calm sufused
my being I was not afraid TO re-enter
my apartment and to sit down in tho
chair, from which had bounded with
Q nameless terror.
looked at the black, ponderous safe,
which seemed to glover and gibe at mo
from the adjoining room as if to say:
'Vain fool, you would lift me again
from my support. Try 1t and be over
whelmed with shame"
But did not accept the challenge. ]
wns not ofrnid to tlo eo Init what man