The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-25
THE ADVERTISERS :. :. W ,sp .e DAILY SHORT STORY.SI /
Copy right. ise. by Daily story Publish,ns Ca,

convinced that was mad. How could he think otherwise when 1t Is consid, cred what Mir. Ripley's reputation was2 The result of it all was that was de- clared insane and ordered confined in an asylum. Ripley wiping his eyes as in the deepest grief offered to pay my expenses in a private institution where I might be better cared for" cried out against it, raved and begged not to be put in Ripley's power, but this was thought to be a part of my 6elu- sion.
 < * x x,
 Words cannot portray the horrors of that asylum. It was one of those dens run by the most brutal and un- scrupulous of men. On the way I was drugged and when came to my senses I was in irons. My head ached and was nearly maddened at the hopeless. ness of my position. I cried out and beat the bars hopelessly in my inn potent rage. A keeper came in pres ently and I demanded fiercely to be freed. He knocked me down and kicked me with his heavy boots. will not describe the days that fol- lowed. The tale would be too grue- some.
 One day was taken to the office and informed that I was to help carry coal to the celler. had given up all hope and sincerely courted death. Not a stroke of work will do for you." I replied. Not a stroke" "Oh you won't, replied the super- intendent with menace in his voice. 1T guess we'll find a way to make ye | better-natured."
 Do your worst" cried throwing my head back, my eyes blazing with | anger. "You know that am no more insane than you are. You know why | am here. You know what my fate | is to be and it can't come too quick. "
 As I began this speech the door opened and there came into the room the fairest vision of loveliness had ever seen. A young girl in the -'wer
 of womanhood, with eyes like stars, and a perfection of feature, form and
 carriage that was only marred by an ezpression of unutterable sadness. She
 paused and glanced at me and when
 had finished. said:
 "Oh, uncle, don't. Haven't we had
 suffering and misery enough here?"
 "Get out and stay out." replied the superintendent. "I can run this place
 without any advice from a beggar."
 Flushing deeply the girl turned to
 me with a pleading look:
 Please. please do as he says; for
 my sake. I can't stand any more of
 these horrors"
 'T will I responded. flor your sake...'
 With a look of gratitude she turned and left the room. I carried coal all day under the oaths and blows of two brutal keepers.
 That night as I lay exhausted and suffering, but thinking all the time of the fair young girl with the sad face and wondering how it would look If the owner were happy, the door of my cell opened, there was a swish of gar ments and I struggled to my feet to | see the angel Of my vision.
 Not word," she whispered. "It Is worth your life and mine."
 When the clock strikes one," she whispered, "open your door. turn tC the right and you will find the window at the end of the corridor open. You must drop twenty feet and climb tht wall. The keeper is drunk. Uncle i! going away at half past eleven. will unlock the door" She unfastened thu iron on my hands and feet and in al instant she was gone. ss
 The next morning at o'clock stood before the man most wronged bI Ripley in the affair of the doctore( books. My terrible earnestness per suaded him to investigate. Within two weeks the newspapers were filled witl details of the terrible scandal and O the downafall of Lemue1 Ripley. wht now occupied a cell in the county jai awaiting trial on a criminal charge.
 This is the end of my story. I nigh go on and tell of how the people l who received their money made m' most handsome payment for my ser vices and how I secured a fine posi-
 tion; and, I might even tell how
 braved the lion in his den and insisted on carrying away the girl who hat
 saved me from that horrible asylum but my wife says that is matter whicl |. concerns only two.