The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-03

Finally I heard a voice. 1t sounded
miles away, but yet the tones were
deep and clear. The voice said: Don't
be afraid, boy; l won't hurt you. Let
me in out of this rain" / was unable
to move a muscle. The appeal for ad-
mittance was repeated at least half a
dozen times, each time the voice SEEM
ingly came nearer. I could make no
reply. After time I heard footsteps,
as though some one were moving away.
My strength partially returned to me.
but I shook so in every muscle that
when I attempted to rise 1 found It
an impossible task. I knew now that
the Damned Thing was no longer at
the window, but my terror was none
the less great, An hour passed before
1 finally staggered to my feet and
reeed about the room. l heard the
footsteps returning, and this threw me
into another frenzy. Now the door was
shaken. violently and the voice again
pleaded to be let in out of the rain. I
don't know why I did it, but I turned
the key in the lock and the door flew
open.
A fierce blast Of wind came through
the aperture, driving a mass Of rain
furiously before it. This was followed
by my demon visitor. He seemed to
have been literally blown into the
place. One glance at 1t and I fell to
the floor in another faint. When I re-
gained my senses 1t was kneeling be-
cir tn hyr1 hot
ing my face with portion of the
water-soaked mantle. When l at
length dared to open my eyes and look
at 1t, I saw the same face l had seen
at the window. But now, in the clear
light of the office, it was shorn of its
awfulness. The eyes no longer
cleaned, the smile no longer revealed
the horrible fangs. The mantle was
removed from the shoulders and I saw
that the man beside me wore ordinary
clothing, with a white collar and era
vat.
When I had recovered somewhat he
!, assisted me to a chair. He did not
seem to understand what the difficulty
was, and asked me to explain to him
what had happened. I tried to reply
to his questioning. but my tongue re-
fused to obey my will, and 1 handed
him the novel, indicating the pages
where the description occurred. He
read it through. When he had conclud-
ed he arose, walked to a small mirror
Which hung on the wall and surveyed
himself in the glass for a space of two
or three minutes. He turned to me-
with the words: my boy, I don't
blame you for being frightened. But
I never knew 1 looked so much like
devil before"
He explained to me that he was one
of the performers of the circus-he
was a knife thrower and did an act
| with his wife. After the evening per-
| Torrance he had gone to lunch with
| friend and the trains had pulled out
| and left him. He was now walking to
| Pynette, - miles away, where one of
the trains would stop to feed the stock.
The wind had blown his hat off short
| ly after leaving Portage, and for that
| reason he had none on when I saw
| him at the window. The long cape or
mantle which he wore was an old gar
! ment, formerly used for effect upon
entering the ring. and his hair and
beard were cultivated for like pur-
pose
The shock to my nervous system was
great, indeed, and I was on the point
of collapsing every moment. The knife
thrower understood this and tried to
lead my thoughts away from the trial
through which I had passed. He en-
deavored to interest me in his skill: he
showed me how to hold the knife to
accomplish the desired result. I tried
it, but my hand shook and my frame
trembled and the fourth trial l sent
the knife flying through the window.
He remained with me until daylight,
| and then left me to join his show.
That day was taken to the hospital
where I lay for three weeks, and l say
! truth when say that during that time
| I did not sleep 80 consecutive minutes.