Sharp County record., 1899-12-22

at his calculation, he completed ten oi
these revolutions a minute. ''' -
Upon one occasion the professor
called upon him, and Warren shouted;
Thief! thief! give me back my
watch!" -".r 49,
The old man retreated hastily, and
now the patient was visited by no one
but the servant, who contented himself
with knocking upon the door and leav-
ing the tray of food outside.
Warren was growing insane. He be-
gan TO fear himself, but what he dreaded
most was the loss Of time. To Warren
time was deity, alternately worshiped
entreated and feared. ''.'. .-...
Summer had passed without any Wis
ible change in his condition. Hisfriends
were hopeful still, and the professor
although reticent, expressed his belief
in the ultimate success of the rest cure.
Warren had become Indifferent to
everything but his task. The walls OF
his room were defaced with knife cuts;
there remained only an inch Of space
upon which to mark his interminable
hieroglyphics. Observing this, he be-
gan to argue with himself where he
might begin anew. He shook his head
sadly. ... '.' '.''..
"Only an inch," he muttered.
Then he sprang up, and, seeing a
knife, began to work industriously
One, two, three, then up to 60, then
go again, and so on until the space was
completely covered. He was in despair
Suddenly brilliant idea occurred tc
him. He gathered up the rugs, rolled
them together and tossed them out Of
the window. Then he began to cut
marks on the floor. Frequently weary
and bending, his knees callous, his
hands shaking, he would fall asleep
and wake only to continue his task
Day and night became alike to him.
Finally the floor was covered. Wha
was he to do now? AS the problem
confronted him the madman wept tear:
of despair. He sat for some timt
crouched beneath a window, then {
slow smile diffused itself over his face
He tore away his sleeve, and, barring hi
arm, pricked his skin with the point o
the knife. He counted aloud as he die
so, while the blood trickled from tn,
wound. Then the madman grew elated
there would remain yet another arm
after that the legs, finally the chest.
His fingers were clotted with bloot
as he worked eagerly, tattooing arm
and legs. In the silence of the room h.
heard familiar sound. 1t resemblet
the ticking of clock. He paused twic
to listen. Yes, he was not mad; no on
could mistake the steady "tick, tick"
A clock! He sprang to his feet, tn
knife Gathering upon the floor.
clock! Where was it? He dashed abou
the room. He could see nothing-th
clock was hidden. Still steadily sound
ed the "tick, tick" Always at the sam
distance, no nearer, no further.
He remembered watch that he ha
carried when boy; silver gift watcl
given him by his father
He felt his pocket. Perhaps it wa
there now. No, his pocket was empty
He bent his head over his left shoulder
listening intently. Then he cried alou
in delight.
He had found the clock. 1t was there
where his heart had once been-in hi
body, on the left side. How loud
licked! He held his coat over it t
muffle the sound that seemed to pene
trate the walls. With his nails he du
into the flesh, striving to tear from i
the precious timepiece.
"Tick, tick"
Heavens! How time was passing
He struck his chest fiercely. With tn
movement he stepped backward. As h
did so his foot struck something. II
looked down and saw the knife. Thel
he was calm. "Tick, tick" went tn
clock, but the sound troubled him NJ
longer. In moment he would see tn
white dial, the black hands movin,
slowly and that other hand that twirle,
away the seconds. Once again he woul,
be master Of time, not its slave.
He stopped and picked up the knife
Its edge was ragged where he hat
forced it into the walls. He moved tn
fingers OF his right hand carefully alon.
his side, until he felt that they restet
directly above the clock.
"Tick, tick"
The point OF the knife met the sount
and silenced it.-Chicago Times Her
aid.