The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-04-15

" etS L4SlhAAi9 4AtS"SJ S>]NA - S--S 10y
when ! took a vacation, to pay them a
visit. made proper acknowledgment
of the receipt of the letter and forgot
the matter until year later Ireceived
another letter Of similar import, add
ing that the deer hunting in their Vi
cinity was fine. Again was obliged
to decline the invitation with thanks.
Then, for couple Of years, I heard
nothing further until one day I re-
ceived q telegram summoning me to
small lumber town but few miles
from Robison's mill to perform an op-
Grafton. Z
That evening I took the train, and
on the following afternoon I reached
the place, performed the operation and
was asking The proprietor OF the hotel
where I was stopping as to a mid aight
train / might take on my way home,
when T was very much asto ished to
see my old friend Robson enter the
hotel. He was cordial to enthusi-
asm, told me how, hearing OF my com
ing, he had driven into town especially
to ret NE and take me to his home
for a visit, told what fine lad his boy
had grown to be aud all about the
prosperity and happiness Of himself
and wife. He would not be put off, so
that finally I agreed to go, and we re-
tired fov the night.
The following morning I visited my
patient to find him doing nicely and
returned to the hotel just as M friend
drove up to the offi'e door with fine
dark bay horse hitched to an open
buggy. AS I put my foot on the step
to climb to my seat l noticed, under
the seat partly covered by robes, two
or three large stones netted with ropes
like the stone anchors .improyised
sometimes by fishermen. These an
chors did not excite especial curiosity
at the time, but,a we drove along, my
friend very exuberant and talkatl7e,
those anchors would flash into my
mind every little while SO that between
listening to my companion and musing
as to the stones I had little else to do.
I was surprised at Robisoa's volu-
bility at.frst, and then I was puzzled
by the variety Of topics he discussed
and the unusual energy and excite
ment he showed as he talked He was
s,;,i zIffegy 7osEed II the tramp question
and said he was about to solve it by
erecting two large treaAmills which
he was going to turn III opposite di-
rectionssshy tramp power. The shafts
Of these 'treadmills were joined to-
gethes at an angle 50 that they would
press against each other, the ends of
the shafts when they came together
being protected:by plates of iron and
a universal Joint. The friction result
ing from the opposite movement Of the
two treadmills and the plates of iron
would generate heat sufficient to boil
water and produce steam with which
to warm his mill, run:his electric lights
and grind wood into pulp for paper
making purposes.
Then I was certain I was driving
with madman, and the curiously
covered stones under theseat REQUIRED
to my mind.
At this point Robson turned his
horse from the main road into a little
wood road, remarkihg as he did so
that he wanted to leave the highway
and take look at some shingle tim
ber which he had skidded on the bank
of lake nearby, preparatory to float
ing it over to his mill.
T was not frightened because physi
cally I felt far superior to my madman.
Reaching point quite distance
from the main road, my friend stopped
his horse, and'as he JUMPED from the
buggy I observed that while his face
was covered with strange paIlor his
eyes were weirdlv bright, while ner
vous twitching kept his lips in rest
less state. Surely the climax was at
hand, but what was it?
Jumping from the buggy I saw, over
a slight eminence very pretty little
lake, and on the bank in the foreground
was small boat-a scow made of
rough pine boards. I remarked the
presence of the boat and asked what it
was for.
'It is for you to ride in if you wish,"
he answered ip a quivering, shrill
voice at which stepped more closely
to him. Then he said, as he stepped
upon log, 'let's get up on the logs;
we'll get better view." AS he did
this saw, in the hand farthest from,
me, the handle of revolver, and with
powerful spring I leaped up at him,
seized the hand holding the pistol and
speaking with all the calmness I could
command said: ''My dear Robson.
you do not want to- shoot me; it would
be the mistake of your life to commit
such crime" e..
Instantly his eyes filed with tears,
he released his hold upon the weapon
and answered: doctor, I did intend
to shoot you; I have wanted to do it
for years, but: lam very thankful I
have been prevented. As soon as I
heard you were coming up this way I
resolved to kill you and end my suf-
ferings.''
''Sufferings?" I exclaimed in amaze
ment.
eyes. They have been dreadful for
years." he answered. Shortly after
we moved up here and when my boy
became old enough to talk in amature,
reasonable way, he would engage his
mother in conversation about his i'll.
ness. about the operation, about your
skill and about my opposition to you
when yor desired the county appoint
mart It Eas chair ehiaf racraatiap-