The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-04
FREDERICK A. BURNHAM, President.

young man laid down what he said was
MS last dollar in cash. There must have
been $500 on the table. He called Taylor
and Taylor spread out his hand-three
aces and king. The stranger had three
Kings and an ace. As soon as he saw
Taylor's hand he said:
GU stole that hand
You lie, said Taylor, who at the same
time reached toward his belt
me young man from louisiana as he
saw Taylor move as If to draw weapon.
reached toward his hip pocket for re-
voNer, but Taylor was too quick for him
perhaps he'd been there too often before.
AS quick as flash he had a knife out, his
hand hew up and, coming down. struck
the young man on top of the head. There
was Swapping noise, and the young man
sank to the floor, unconscious. TAYLOR
looked at the knife which he held, and
found that about a half inch was broken
from its point Then he went to the pros
trate form of his man, found that he
was still unconscious, and that the point
of the knife was imbeded in his skull He
felt the young fellows pulse, and, turn
ing TO me- said:
BY -, jim believe I've killed
him.
Maybe not. I replied.
Il examined the follow and found that
his heart was stin beating family, and
little good work soon brought him to, but
he acted queer. Sitting ~ in the middle
of the floor, he gazed around In a blank
way as he had awakened from a long
sleep, but he didn't utter word There
he sat for minutes, while we watched and
waited for him to speak. He, too. seemed
to wait for us to say something Directly
a thought came to me.
Get up l said.
The young fellow stood up. He didn't
speak or try to speak, but kept his eyes
fastened on me.
Sit down, 1 said again
with the words he took his seat The
puzzle was solved.
That piece of steel in his head. l said
to Taylor, is pressing upon his brain at
some point which renders him speechless
and in manner helpless. He has no idea
what he is doing or where he is He is
like man mesmerized. He suffers no pain.
but can hear and act. When he comes
from under this spell he will remember
nothing
But what are we going to do about
it?' asked Bill, with some agitation II
we stay here the devil will be to pay
This fellow has friends somewhere They
will have to be notified, and then the
officers will have to understand a thing
or two before we can clear out Suppose
that piece of steel Is withdrawn, wha,
then? How do you know he won't die
and that quickly?
These and many other questions Tay,
Tor poured into me one right after an
other. l was the older of the two and he
sort of looked to me for guidance ! was
puzzled for awhile Then a scheme came
into my head l laid it before Taylor ana
he approved Of it. Then 1 left Taylor in
charge of the patient, who still sat bolt
upright in his chair, his eyes fixed upon
me with stony, vacant stare. while |
went down 60 perfect the arrangements
a n
Going TO the Office of the tavern I got
the young mans address-he had already
told us his name. Then ] paid his bill and
ours. telling the clerk that we had con-
cluded TO leave at once for Lexington The
clerk suspected nothing, and that far ev-
erything was safe. Then / went across
the street 70 a public stable and hired
hack, engaging driver. In twenty min
utes the hack was at the door of the
tavern. II was then midnight and as back
a one as you ever saw.
Il saw the hack properly stationed and
then returned to our room. There l found
Taylor very much composed aud having
no trouble with the stranger who was
juts as he was when / left him a short
time before. He had scarcely moved
muscle, Taylor said Before starting
downstairs We tried him several times He
would stand up when / told him. sit down
when told him. light a cigar at my com
mand, and so on. / was convinced that
ne was entirely in my power lie walked
downstairs as naturally and as steadily
as either Of us, stepped into the carriage
and we started upon our journey.
Lexington was thirty-ive miles to the
NORTH, and the driver SAID he would take
us there by daylight l had a friend
one of the profesh-living ia Lexington.
ana counted on ending him at home. with
his assistance and influence / was sure
that | gould get most anything done l
wanted. Wen, it was a long and tire
some ride, made more or less trying by
the uncertainty Of the condition OF the