The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-06-01
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Many men can tell stories of thrilling
escapes and Of salvations wrought so mar
vellously that one wonders if the day Of
miracles has indeed passed, but 1 doubt If
any man was ever saved from a horrible
and painful death in stranger manner than
was 1 twenty-five years age, when was
employed as under time-keeper at Wheatly
& Sons great saw mills in the Westminster
Bridge road.
My adventure sprung directly out of an
incident connected with my domestic life
that l may, perhaps, be pardoned for re-
ferring to the incident In question. 1t was
as follows:
When first came to the sawmill 1 lodged
with fellow employe named Maxwell. He
was tall, powerfully built. dark fellow,
possessed of curious manner which made
many Of US call him mad, though believe
none of us ever thought him really insane.
When in good humor he was about the
best Of companions. and after time he
and 1 became great friends.
Our friendship would have doubtless con-
tinued had 1t not been for the Intervention
of that breaker Of so many friendships be-
tween and mana woman. Ella Langley
was the sweetest girl 1 ever looked upon,
and when l first saw her face 1 longed to
make her my wife, l confided my purpose
one evening to Maxwell as we sat smok-
ing our pipes at our lodging, and he sprang
up as though l had shot him.
Course you, Graham he said, in a
hoarse tone, the old mad look blazing in his
gray eyes; Il mean to marry that girl my
self Keep away from her, do you hear?"
could not help laughing.
Your behavior is extraordinary" I said
and your remarks still more SO. Haven't l
as much right as you to Miss Langley"
Right or no right he said, in logged
tone, you had better mind what 1 say. We
have been good friends Graham; but,
Heaven help you If you make Ella Langley
your wife. If l cannot have her myself, l
will take care that you do not ether
Il have heard" 1 replied quietly, "of the
story of the dog in the manager, but 1 never
thought you were that kind of animal, Max
well. Come let us shake hands, as pals
should do and forget this nonsense We
both have equal chances, as I understand it.
and let the best man WIN"
He held out his hand sulkily, and mutter-
ed that he had no desire to quarrel but that
he was very jealous and hated the idea OF
having rival. Putting down his late out
break to some mad impulse which he could
not control, dismissed the incident from nv
mind and soon forgot all about it,
TO make long story short. 1 may say
that shortly afterwards L asked Ella Lang
ley to marry me, and she consented. We
were wed within a short space, and Max
well congratulated ne along with the
others, l wondering at his ma gnanimity
Little did 1 guess the hideous vengeance
which was already developing in his brain
otherwise l doubt if l should have gone
my way with my bride as joyfully as I wen,
1t then.
The weeks passed uneventfully enough.
and brought us to the August bank holiday.
On that day the entire factory was closed.
the only person on the premises being my
self. l had to look after the building until
p. M, when the night Waterman would
come on duty.
l went my rounds methodically on arrival,
and 1 returned TO the yard office, where
my report book was kept, heard ring at
the gate bell. Going to the gate, l found,
to my surprise, that the visitor was my late
fellow-lodger, Roger Maxwell.
Hello, old man. he said I've just
come to get my watch, which 1 was duf1er
enough to leave in my locker in the shop
yesterday. Sha'nt be a minute
Although he spoke in calm manner, anC
seemed friendly. l did not like the look In
his eyes. Somehow or other began to feal
the madness which we had always attribut-
ed to him was now taking hold of him in
real earnest; but, of course, could make nc
reasonable objection to his fetching his
watch, 1 therefore admitted him, and
bidding him look sharp" l returned to my
stool in the yard office.
The day was exceedingly hot and very
soon my head dropped forward on my book.
and l dozed off into a vague, restless slum-
Der. Dream followed dream in f1tful sue
cesson and suddenly the face of Maxwell
seemed to come into my vision. His Visage
was black with hate, and something seemed
to tell me that he was about to seek my life
l was meditating flight, when l awoke with
a curious feeling in my throat, to find the
man whom l had seen in the dream bending
over me in reality, his fingers twisting them
selves around my neck.
l struggled fiercely, but the struggle was
an unequal one, for he was infinitely my
superior in size and strength, and then the
fierceness Of madness redoubled his vigor.
Five minutes later ! lay on the floor Of the
yard office bound and helpless. To cry for
assistance was useless, for the door of the
Office was shut, and even had it been open
no cry of mine could have reached the
street.
My position was indeed appalling. Here
was l, unable to move hand or foot at the
mercy of a fierce maniac for 1 knew now
that he was indeed mad, and that his real
son, which long had been Wavering, had fled
altogether Making, however, mighty eff
fort to be calm, l said, as quietly as could
what is the meaning of this, Maxwell?
What are you going to do with me?"
His laugh low and demoniacal, told me
that 1 might expect little mercy. When his
fendish nirth was exhausted he said, with
sneer:
"You will know my meaning and what l
intend to do with you soon enough. Long
before the afternoon is out you will have
ceased to live"
What injury have I done your I plead
ed, though 1 feared that my words would
avail little; what injury have l done you
that you should seek my nfe?"
He knelt down beside me, his mouth SO
close that I felt his breath on my face, and
said, hoarsely:
You know well enough, but I will tell
YOU all the same. You stole from me the
thing 1 loved best in the world-the woman
1 longed to make my wife. You took my
Elsie from me, and 1 am going to take your
life in return. You stole Elsie, who was as
precious to me as existence itself; it is but
just that your life should pay the penalty
of the theft"
TT was no theft" said. ''She loved me
and she did not love you. We had eQuai
chances, and 1 won. Such things happen
every day"
AYE" he returned with look which
made me shudder, land men go mad for