Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1901-03-14
TRAPPING A MADMAN.
lHUCK him in the river Douse
O him goodr
q Down with the young black
a guard, head first i
We'll larn ye to come taking
the work away from honest me

YOU don't want to be too rough with
the kid, mates. Better let him 60 if he
will promise not to come round here no
more
The group of half-dozen big, rough,
burly men were all exclaiming in chorus
The boy who was struggling vsinly
against three or four of them was tall
and rather lank youngster Of not more
!, than fifteen, named Ambrose Melton
He had plenty Of nerve and muscle
But he was only wasting both in such
IN unequal conflict with those coarse
men, who were brawny of shoulders and
powerful Of limb.
The time was sharp morning in ear.
" winter, and the water was full Of
floating ice.
The place was one Of two piers belong
ing to little lakeside village in the
northwestern part of the State.
The men were engaged in the demol'
ition of this pier for the purpose Of
building more substantial one.
One of their number had had some
trouble with the gang boss" and had
been discharged.
Ambrose Melton had applied for the
place and had at once secured it, and by
go doing he had incurred the hostility
of the discharged mans companions.
>Tbe idee of that ar little blatherskite
stealing the work from decent, able
bodied man. said one.
Wed be doing Their right thing ter
tie stone ter ther young villains neck
so he cant come up ag'in, said another.
His assalsnts had dragged him to the
end Of the rotting old pier, and already
his body was half way over the string
piece.
A moment more and they would have
pushed him down into the deep water
and floating ice some ten feet below.
But al that crisis one of the more
humane among the gang interposed.
See here, mates, does yer want ter git
inter ther stone jugT he asked as he
caught the falling boy by the collar.
we Just wanted ter scare him. We
wouldn't ave hurried the kid none. A
ducking wouldn't have been nothing,
one of bis assailants said sheepishly as
he went reluctantly back to his work.
Well, if yer have mind ter be re-
spopsible fer keeping ther young vaga-
bond away, | hain't got no more ter say,
another growled as he, too, walked away
The man who had lnterceded in be-
half of Ambrose hauled him roughly
back upon the wharf.
Now said the man. you git out Of
this, and don't you show yourself around
here again. or you'll git hurt and l
shan't do nothlug 20 hinder it,
Ambrose made no response. But be
did not leave the wharf nor had he any
intention of doing so.
He moved slowly to little distance,
and then stepped quickly behind a pile
of timber which screened him from the
gangs observation.
Wouldn't like to have something
of the kind happen to those fellows, he
said as he shook one clenched fist tow
ard them. Wouldn't | like to have
them ever ask me to help them out Of a
corner? I'd see them shot and wouldn' t
do the first thing to prevent it. I'd
like to see them starving, drowning,
right before my eyes; I'd laugh at them
while they were drawing their last
breath. Oh, IN get even with them
yet-the cowardly ruffians.'
AS the boy stood there almost foam
ing with wrath, and fairly painting with
desire for revenge, there was a sudden
commotlon among the men.
Ambrose heard fierce shout behind
him, and turned to sac curious-look-
ing individual racing down the wharf
toward the gang Of workmen.
This individual, as was presently re-
vealed, was most cunning and dan
gerous maniac who had just escaped
from a private asylum mile or 80 from
the village.
He had managed to get hold of a big
murderous-looking knife and he was
brandshing it furlonsly as hs rushed
toward the startled men.
In his frenzy he was running amuck
he was ready to attack and STAY any
person in his path, and his wild yells
his curdling laughter end his blasphe-
nous threats would haYe caused even q
brave man to feel a thrill of terror.
But these men were not brave. They
had been bold enough to insult and
abuse a boy who was incapable Of de-