The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-12


so off as soon as he'd finished his
breakfast, and I'd never see him again
till supper-time. thought 1t over day
after day while I was plowing-its as
tonishing how much thinking a man
Will do, sir, with the lines around his
wrist and the plow running smooth
and one day had kind of instinct to
go over to Maggie's. SO left the horses
right there in the furrow and ran
across the fields till came to their
garden. Then l crept in behind the
rose-bushes and got close to the sum-
mer-house-and there they were, sir,
he with his arm around her waist and
she resting her head on his shoulder.
But I'm engaged to your brother
l heard her say.
THAT may be- says he, but you're
going to marry me; and then they
both laughed.
Il went back and finished my plow-
ing. Next day it was hot. awful hot.
bill l says to him. let's go for a
swim this morning.
"'All right, old stick-in- he-mud,' he
| cries out, in his hearty way. I didn't
know you dared stop blowing for half
day, for fear you'd forget how
I'VE went to the creek and swan
| around for about an hour. Then he
| said he was going out, and turned over
| on his back to float, shutting his eyes
| on account of the sun, and l swan up
| beside him and hit him with all my
might on the temple and held him.
stunned as he was, under the water till
| he drowned"
| had forgotten to smoke in my atten-
| tiOn to his story. At the last words |
sprang to my feet with an exclamation
| of horror. Then 1 realized that the
fellow was certainly crazy, and resumed
| my seat, but the glib connectedness of
! the story was so convincing that l
could hardly believe it was not all true.
The narrator went on with no sign that
he had noticed my movements.
| II dragged the body to the bank and
lay down beside it with one arm about
it's waist like as if I had swan in try
ing to save him, and waited. 'Twasn't
long before heard old Silas making a
terrible yelling, and presently lot of
them came down and lifted us together
into a cart-for they couldn't loosen
my arm-put out clothes on top of us.
and threw q blanket over the whole
thing. And. sir, as we jolted along, l
and twisted it's head about with the
water dripping from its hair, and leered
| at me with it's dead eyes, and whis-
pered that it was going to take my soul
for it's life.
| Il shrieked and screamed but no.
body seemed to hear, and the thing
only grinned and reached down and
took a great knife out of Bill's coat
| c1n
hand, catching me by the throat with
the other. fought and cried out and
tried to get away, but it wasn't any
use. First it cut off my thumDs-iust
to remember me by, it said, for the
soul would be so black it would not
know that-and then, with a swift
cash across my chest, it suddenly
grabbed something and disappeared.
80 / came on here" be continued in
a bewidered manner, land. an---"
At this instant there was n heavy
knock at the door, so sudden and un-
expected that 1 jumped UP again, up
setting my chair.
Come in.' cried, and with rush.
a nervous little ack-moustached man
trotted into the room. He was drench-
ed and spattered with mud from head
TO foot and left a pool of water at
each step. AS he appeared my visit
ors face frightened.
Hello, Roger" he called out. "Cilad
to see you. Thought you'd be along
soon. My, but didn't you catch it
thought" he added with a laugh.
You eXasperating rascal" began
the newcomer. Then he turned to me.
My dear sir-Can't tell you how sur-
ry. Shameful. Put you to such in
convenience. Now, Norris, come out
with me. Leave the gentleman in
peace"
The queer figure in the chair actual
ly began to cry. mo, no, Roger" he
pleaded with a whmper. Get all wet,
nasty, moist. Cold, consumption, die.
And what then without a soul?"
You mustn't think of going ont on
such night" l hastened to add. "If
you didn't get actually drowned, yOu'd
drive over bank and break your
neck. AS it happens, there are three
vacant beds here, and you and your
friend had Ear better spend the night
with me-"
We'll" I declare. Good oc YOU"
said the little man promptly. "Snce
you say so--Norris, go in there; go tc
bed" The lanky figure rose without a
word and disappeared in one of the
rooms. And now must explain. You
see, I'm doctor. Take care of him yon-
der-wrong in the head, you under
stand"
yes" l assented. Il gathered as
much from his conversation"
He shook all over in a fit of silent
laughter ALLOW me-give you my
card. Doctor Roger Barclay-at your
service. Yes. Poor chap. Worked in
a mill. Rich-devilish rich-but always
eccentric. Caught in a wheel one day:
both thumbs torn ont; breast cut open.
Never straight since; fancies his soul
lost" and again he laughed noiselessly.
sit down and take something ia
keep off the fever said I, land then
pray tell me how in the world you
happened to reach this desolate place.
"Trip in the tropics. Thought woult
help him. Port Antonio by fruit steam
er; then what does he do? Gives me
the slip-nobOdy knows where. Tracked
him. For siN mortal hours been driv-
ing like Jehu-son Of Nimshi-furiOus,
ly."
laughed at his odd manner. "Well,
sir. let me give you a bed, and I shall
be more than pleased to hear your
story in the morning. Where is your
horse?"
Foot of the hill Stabbed him; in
the old sugar works. Had a feed with
me-he's all right. Awfully Obliged;
pretty tired; glad to sleep; talk all day
tomorrow"
/ fitted him out with a pair of paia-
mas, and showed Kim into Redmond's
room, hut before leaving the office he
carefully locked the doors Oh the Other