The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-06
THE NIGHT BELL.


I was on my way home an hour after
midnight from the office of the Chron-
icle when a tooth that had been growl-
ing away for three or four days began
to jump. l couldn't hope to find
dentist IN his Office at that hour, but
some drug store could furnish a tenn
porary remedy, and after a walk OF
two blocks I pulled the night bell to
arouse the clerk. He was long in an
swering. 7 had sent in three alarms
before the door was carefully opened
few inches and a pale face looked
out.
Sorry to have routed you OUT I
said but I've got a toothache and
want something to relieve it. You must
be sound sleeper"
Come in quick-quick' he gasped
as he clutched my shoulder and pulled
me into the store.
But what's the natter"
Did you see any one skulking
around?''
for a robber or murderer. are you?"
I was afraid-afraid it WaS"-he
stammered, and 1 noticed that he was
shaking as if with chill.
In my surprise I forgot my toothache,
or, rather, the toothache forgot me. 1
scented some sort of mystery. and as
the man had to sit down with his shak
ing knees l stood before him and said:
Something has happened to upset
you. You seem to have expected an
enemy instead of a customer. Don't
you want me to help you out?"
"YOu-you can't he half groaned as
he shook his head in despairing way.
| Yes; L expected an enemy-a dead
man"
Nonsense You never murdered any
one, and even if you had the dead
don't walk about pulling night bells.
You've been sticking too close and got
your nerves out of whack, or perhaps
you use a drug of some kind to bring
sleep II you've got any real trouble
on your mind, let's hear about it."
The footsteps of some belated pedes-
trian approached and died away. After
listening intently and nervously the
clerk motioned me to sit down and then
whisperingly said:
! 'Ill-In tell you about it. One night
at midnight long ago man reused me
up as you have done and bought car
bolic acid. He lied to me as to its
purpose l had scarcely passed the bot
tie over to him when he removed the
cork and swallowed the contents. He
stood right over there, and he cursed
and cursed and fought me off when I
wanted to save him. I ran for help.
ana when I came back he lay writhing
and cursing on the floor. God, but how
he did suffer! But before they took him
away to die he turned on me. He cursed
me for having given him the poison,
ana ne swore he'd have revenge"
But you were not to blamc7' said L
oo lou didn't suspect that he was going to
mo; but how he raved at mel His curses
nave sounded in my ears ever since Don :
you remember that I collapsed while Civ
ing my Testimony before the coroner S
jury God, but expected him to raise up
then and there and curse me anewi
have you told your boss of your fe~-s?''
wen, don't say word to anyone You
are simply off your nerve. The suicide
may have cursed. but he was in agony and
didn't know what he said. If you wait for
dead man to pull your bell youth die a
brace up
He drank a stiff dose and was the bet
ter Tor 1t. but before I went away he made
singular request. Ny trick at the office
was up at II o'clock. The drug store al
ways closed at that hour. He wanted me
10 be with him over the midnight hour.
l tried to laugh him out of his idea, but
When found him earnest and even APP
prenensive l fell in with it.
EVERY night for several weeks 7 reached
the store about y 20 and remained for an
nour; Now and then he had call after
l got there, but it was seldom we were
interrupted. We never talked of the sui
eide after the first night. I realized that
It was disagreeable subject and one to
be avoided In fact we had very little to
say on any subject. My friend was ner-
Vous and preoccupied. and some nights Re
walked the floor and hadn't word to say.
while sat reading a family almanac Il
brushed up on my Latin. It was a Inys-
terry at frst-a mystery and a novelty
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