The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1899-11-07
MY ESCAPE.
A Case of Mild, Mild Ecoentricity.

a ACase Of Mild, Mild EcceniricHy. !
o
81 suppose I am eccentric" said
Dick Clavering ''st least they tell me
so; at any rate there is story anent
thai, il you care to hear
''ifo on, so on WAS the unani-
nous vote.
Dick settled himself comfortably
that is to say, threw himself back in
his chair, with one leg over the back
of another.
1T was queer thing to do" he
began.
"Hhat was?"
The will he made" said Dick;
''bus suppose he was eccentric, too"
You forget that you haven't yet in
trodaced the gentleman one Of us
reminded.
Well, can't say I know him NY
SELF, returned Dick, though I was
distant relation; he lad none but dis
taat relations, IN fact, OF whom 1 was
the NEST distant. It was for that
reason, Perhaps, or maybe because
never having seen me he dislike;l NE
less than the others, that lie left me
all his wealth.
The cut-of relations, you may be
sUre,' he continued, ''looked upon my
good fortune with anything but equan-
unity. They considered me supplant-
er, spoiles, -ss1s6rf Of .ostam entary
us1xper, in snort who had robbed
them Of their rights. The nearest
of blood tried to upset the will. The
testator, they said, wasn't in his right
mind when he made it, and proofs
were brought Dip OF many queer things
he had said and done.
But the jury thought man could
be queer without being crazy, and so
found verdict establishing the dis
! puted doeESent.
'lOfAHse, was hated worse than
AIeFer by the disappointed claimants
but their spite gave me small concern.
With lig int heart and plenty Of
money man is apt to be on good
terms with himself, ard not to mind
much what other people think.
81 went TO spend summer at an
d.Gssl--..-4.; -. "a iaal,3,1e VI
anu Gaif fac>H1rct4fN.I 20 svp s'N Sc-nsoIt-
able quarters and pleasant companioas
among the later couple OF half
fedged doctors, in whom the pranks
and vagaries into which exuberauce Of
spirits often led me, seemed to excite
lively interest. They were constant
~ seeking to draw me out. They
seemed to think me amusing. TO hud
entertainment in their freaks, and to
sratify them was ever ready with
some new eytrayaga1ce.
~, "One evening they invited me to
take ride with them to visit a friend
in the neighhorhood, a brother chip,
they said with whom they assured NE
would be delighted.
at was a long ride, but we chatted
the time away, AID at length, as the
nigh: began to fall: drew up before a
lar3e building.
g This is Dr. Crotchett's, said one
Vi my companions.
'':As we alighted and assembled the
stess tie doctor came 10 the door.
He received Us cordially and, the cere:
mory Of Introduction over, led the
way in. He was tall. lank man, with
one of those perpetual smiles which it
wouId be a relief to see broken now
AMI then by irown.
Show Mr.. C!aye!ing up, Leech,
said he to one of MS friends; you
know the way, and I have a word or
two to say to brother Pellet here.
''Leech took my arm and, at the
end OF long corridor on the third
floor, let me into dimiy-hghted room.
thought it strange place to conduct
a guest to, but made no remark.
'''2e seated said Leech; 4 shall
return in MON ent.
so saying he stepped cut and
closed the door.
Though is was summer the night
air was keen, and morning and even
ing fires were customary.
fleeing little chilly after our
long ride I attempted to draw chair
which stood near the wall towards a
fireplace at the end Of the room.
Judge Of my surprise to find the
chair imm ovabie.
my curiosity was excited-l took
survey Of the apartment. The lamp
by which it was lighted hung from the
ceiling out Of reach. The only articles
OF furniture were the stationary chair,
q small iron bedstead and bedding,
the former fastened to the wal. and
washstand similarly secured. ex-
amined the window; it was narrow
and guarded by thick iron bars.
"What could be the nearing Of all
this? began 20 feel a tremor coming
Over me. Beads 0; perspiration stood
on r,y forehead went to the door,
essayed to open it, but found it locked
from outside: I shook it violently,
= called loudly 70: Leach, and then made
desperate efforts to kick down The
door; bns il was tco strong anu heavy
AID inspection revealed the fact that
il was tkickiy plated with iron.
~ vague feeling Of horror had
driven NE almost frantic, when a
slight gr&t'n noise attracted my atten-
tica. 4 o:tion Of the door turned
onward rs If npon al hinge, aisclos-
inS 4 small ar rertuce, thrcagh which
::isee:uai? tie face OF DR.. CretcAett,
with i rig:s: s;chenias smile