Mesa free press., 1898-11-11
ALONE WITH A MANIAC.
Quick Wit and Possession Save
the Intended Victims Life.

EOB9G88lOu save
the Intended Victims Life.
1t was on the fifth day of our voyage,
as we were amusing ourselves on deck,
that message was brought me to say
that Mr.. A. would like to see me
In his cabin.
| had no difficulty in finding his room,
and was met at the door by Mr.. A.
himself. He shook hands very cordially
and invited me to enter and take a
chair. No sooner had l done so than he
carefully locked the door. Thinking
this rather strange, inquired as to his
illness. He did not reply for some
time, and then said:
Il am not i'll. sent for you," laying
his hand on large knife, ITO cut your
throat"
He was man had not before par
ucularly noticed, but now, as looked
up, fully made up my mind that he
was q maniac.
l am not coward, yet even now the
thought Of that moment makes me
shudder. There was, in a remote
part Of the ship, alone with madman
of twice my strength, without chance
to escape or means to give an alarm,
and being unarmed, quite at his mercyl
| had heard Of other somewhat sim.
liar cases, and, though a tyro in the
profession, had had some experience
among the insane. knew, therefore,
that resistance would be Of the least
service to me, and that apparent ac-
Quiesence would be best. All this quick
~ passed through my mind, and ac-
cordingly, feigning the utmost indiffer-
ence could, said:
"Ah, yes, Mr.. A., to be sure. It
won't take long, will it?'
"Oh, no." he said calmly, survey
Ing the knife he now held in his hand.
"Oh, no; the job is quite light one"
Here he poured out glass Of wine
and begged me to drink 1t. AS did
SO an idea struck me, and said:
'By-the-by. Mr.. A., your knife
doesn't look very sharp; the trachea is
tough, you know, and will want some
cutting"
He looked hard at me, as If to read
my thoughts, but after a time, con-
vinced that my suggestion was good
one, and examining the knife more
closely, he said:
"Yes, doctor, think you are right.
A little grinding will do no harm, so, If
you don't mind waiting, will just run
to the carpenters shop"
This rxyo ovoOflu xxrhoAkT Urn v,kod NC
feeling sure that he would not lock the
door after him, / thought my escape
would be easy. What was my dismay,
then, on his departure, at finding that
it was locked as securely as before!
Ipassed up and down insdespair, tore
ut the door, flung open the portfolio win
dow and shouted with all my might,
but all without avail.
Time went on, minute after minute,
and he could not be long now. In the
frenzy Of despair groped about from
corner 10 corner, in search Of some
weapon Of defense; but no, not even
the merest stick, not the. smallest thing
upon which to lay hands. And then /
heard footsteps approaching in the dis
tance.
l felt my pulse quicken, my brow
grow hot. Impulsively I flung of
my coat got to the ,farthest end Of the
room, and, standing as defensively as
possible, resolved to fight to the last.
l remember then the door bursting
open, and the entry Of A., not
alone, as 1 thought, but securely pin
ioned, and attended by two Of the ships
crew, in charge Of the second officer.
The relief OF the moment was SO
great that it completely prostrated me,
and my nervous system was much
shaken for some time, while the inten-
sity and reality Of my situation often
now makes me feel something akin to
what the condemned about to be
hanged must experience.
learned afterward that the peculiar
and excited manner Of the maniac, the
large knife In his possession, and his
anxiety to sharpen 1t, drew suspicion
on him, which, with the fact that had
been called to see him, induced the
officer to secure him and come to his
cabin.
The Old Circus Man.
IF were going to give word OF
advice TO young man just embarking
in the show business" said the old cir
Gus man. II should say never let a g1-