The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-05
HIS OWN IMAGE.


actor, having got an engagement in St.
Louis, made the journey there from New
York and stopped at a hotel in back
street. AS he was being shown to his
room he was startled by a most demoniao
yell, succeeded by the moss horrid laugh
ter, apparently from some one in a room
on the corridor they were approaching.
The servant fastened to explain that it
was a gentleman who had been drinking
too much and was suffering with delirium
tremens Not relishing such a neighbor,
my friend hesitated about proceeding far
Their; but, on the assurance of the servant
that this was the first time that the sick
man had made any noise, and that he was
in charge of two friends who had volun.
teered to sit up with him, Charley con-
cluded to proceed.
1t was with much misgiving that he de-
posted his valise on the small table in the
room, and prepared to take possession OF
his quarters. The wind was bowling
mournfully around the house, and the
rain beat wildly on the window panes. He
would have liked fire if he could have
afforded it, for the weather was chilly and
the room damp. Hastily disrobing himself
and extinguishing the candle, he enjoyed
the luxury of the first stretch in 4S hours.
No one appreciates that luxury better
than he who has been confined in the ex-
asperating limits of a seat in railroad
car for two nights in succession.
He fell asleep almost instantly. How
long he remained SO he could not tell; but
some time during the night he was awak
ened by quick, sharp noise at his bed
side, resem bling the overthrow of piece
of furniture, or the bursting open of a
door. Starting up in his bed he was hor-
rified to see standing near him a figure in
white, with glazing eyes and disheveled
hair, apparently about to spring upon him.
He at once realized the situation. The
victim of mania potu had escaped from
his watchers and obtained admission to
his room. The thought passed like light
ming through his brain, and his heart
stood still with alright. Almost as sud
denly, however, the apparition vanished.
The disappearance affected him no less
seriously, for he knew not from what
quarter to expect an attack. Anything
was preferable to such uncertainty, and,
momentarily expecting to encounter the
maniac, he CROPPED his way in the dark to
the table where he had left the candle.
Never will he forget the horror of that
situation. 1t seemed an age to him be-
fore he succeeded in obtaining a light.
When it's feeble glimmer penetrated the
room, to his establishment it was empty.
Aiming himself with his cane, he COM
menced a search, but without discovering
the intruder. The door was locked on the
inside and the windows secured. There
was but one closet in the room, and that
was empty.
After looking everywhere that it was
possible or impossible for any one to Sc
crete himself he drew q long breath, in
the assurance that he was the only occu-
pant of the room. Could he have been
mistaken? Could it have been dream?
At all events, there was no more sleep
for him that night After dressing him
self he was about to go to the Office of the
hotel and apply for another room, when it
occurred to him that it would be rather
EN- barrassing to explain his reason for de-
manding a change. And in the hope that it
was near morning, for he had no watch,
he wrapped the bedclothcs around him and
sat in chair awaiting the break of day.
The candle burned to its socket before day
dawned. Its first feeble glimmer had
hardly made it's appearance when he de-
scended to the Office and awaited his
breakfast, with the determination of seek
ing other quarters afterward.
He had decided to say nothing of his
scare. But when the clerk, surprised at
his early appearance, inquired if he had
not rested comfortab bly,, he determined to
confide in him, with the hope of obtaining
an explanation of the mystery.
The clerk, after hearing all the circum-
stances, evidently believed that it was
nothing but a dream; but, to satisfy my
friend, he sent to inquire if the sick man
He received the positive assurance of
both the Watchers that he had rested very
| quietly and that such thing was impossi-
BILE, as Mother of them had closed his eyes.
Strong as this testimony undoubtedly
| was, it failed to shake my friends belief
that some one had visited his room. In the
| hope of setting his mind at rest, the clerk
| suggested that he should sit near the door
| of the breakfast room and inspect the faces
of the guests to identify, If possible, tho
intruder.
The arrangement was carried out, and
after the last guest had breakfasted my
! friend was forced to believe that none OF
them could have been the intruder, but
| the impression yet remained that he could
not have been deceived.
| The clerk surprised at his firm ness in
his belief, determined to go up stairs and
make an examination of the rosm- This
was done in the presence of my friend, who
accompanied him, without discovering any
possible means of exit other than the door
and windows, all of which he confessed
| were secured when he had examined them
| after his surprise in the night. Vexed and
| annoyed with himself for having invited,
| by his confession, the i'll concealed amuse-
ment of the clerk, he sat upon the edge OF
the bed, endeavoring to recall all the cir
cunstances of the case. While in this posi-
ton he slowly raised his head, when his
| eyes M4isAO SSSAAASN W 10 SA4O e-P
partition that had previously presented it
self. A second glance Redeemed his cheeks
with shame when he recognized himself il
| a mirror.
The explanation flashed upon him in c
moment, and with this Glow to guide hin
he discovered that the noise which hat
awakened him was made by the porter o.
the hotel, who overturned chair in an at
tempt to extinguish a lamp which wa
burning in the corridor. Starting in sur
prise from heavy sleep, my friend behelC
by the brief light of the lamp which shon
through the transom of tho door his owl
reflection in the glass, which disappeared
of course, when the Ii ght was extin guished
This is the veracious history of a maj
], rs,-.