Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-08-28
grr1 Miss Bostal had known and 1oyed.

"Oh, that is all over she answered
quickly. II don't suppose l shall ever
see Mr.. King again
Miss TheodGra seemed rather dis
tressed to hear this. Now that her
protegee, Jem Stlcklcs was dead. she
could afford to withdraw her objec-
ton to his rival
"Rut why not, but why not, my
dear?' she urged earnestly. "A
thought you were so fond of him.
And the little woman, vino had got
out of the carriage to go in search OF
her nc2lectful friend, drew round her
more closely the woQlen shawl which
was hardly sufficient protection against
the falling snow.
You had better get into the car
riage, Miss Theodora." suggested Nell
coldly. ignoring the lady's question.
but l want an answer first, my
dear. Never mind the snow. | only
shivcr because ] am not USED to the
night air. You know | never go out
after sundown, and not often before
But Nell would give hcr no answer.
And Miss Theodore, when she was at
last constrained TO get into the car
riage then, regretted TO Mrs. LanS-
downc that London had spoiled her
dear little girl.
1t was now past closing time al the
inn. and George Claris, with great dii.
ficulty, was clearing his house of It's
4 of
the sailors who had suffered most
from cold and exposure were to spend
the night under his roof. while the
rest were taken to StrOan by new.
found friends who offered them hosp"
tality. George Claris locked up his
house, having already sent his niece
and Meg to bed; and, thoroughly tried
out. went up to his own room.
He had had very hard day, and he
had finished UP with an extra glass OF
rum and water. The consequence was
that he fell off TO sleep as soon as he
sat down on the edge of his bed to
take his boots off, and did not wake
up until some hours later, when he sat
up suddenly, and remembered, at the
moment OF waking. that he had for
gotten to take the money, both his
own takings, and the collection for
the sailors, out of the till in the bar.
Opening the door of his room softly.
in order not to disturb the slCepcrs, h0
went down stairs.
1t was half past five on the follow.
ing morning when the nearest neigh.
bors Were startled by loud knocking
at their door, followed by the abrupt
inrush of Meg, the inn servant, in
state Of frantic excitement.
"Oh. come, some of We; do come.
There's been awful doings in our
house" She cried, scarcely articulate
between her fright and want Of
breath. There's somebody hiding in
the bar, and | cant get him out; and
Mr.. Claris is nowhere to be found;
and Miss Nel's tainted when l told
her: and, oh, dear, do come"
The woman whom she was address
ing was at first too much alarmed 10
come; but two men, who We're not far
oil, hearing the commorion, offered to
go back with Meg. and in few min,
utes the whole party were at the inn.
There was somebody behind the bar,
certainly-sOmobody down on the
floor, The men stood hesitating at the
door. The sounds which came to their
ears from behind the bar were more
like the gruntlngs and growlings Of
beast than the voice of a man.
It's not a man you've got there.
It's an animal" said one of the men.
And shouldering the pitchfork he
was carrying, he made Il dash into the
building.
But as he entered, r wild figure
sprang up from behind the bar and
faced the intruder glaring and rag
ing. 1t seized one of the carthenwale
the wall, and brandishing it above
his head, gave forth an unearthly
howl.
"Who is it? What is it," screamed
Meg.
"Stand back! stand back" roared the
creature, stamping and whirling it4
arms about. Stand back! | won't be
robbed! III serve you as I've served
it-as I've served the devil! the devil!
the deviln'
And with moro stamping, moro
shouting, the creature hurled the jug,
aiming at the head of the intruder.
1t was dashed into q thousand pieces
against the door, which shook and rat
tied under the blow.
"Why, it's-it's George Clari5 him.
selfr' faltered the second man, who
kept outside, too much alarmed to
go beyond the door.
Master" cried Meg, Indignantly.
why, he don't drink! He's as sober
man as there is in the place!'
She was sobbing, and trembling, and
clinging to the man.
He amt drunk" replied the man
shortly. Hes gone mad, my girl.
Look at his eyes"
And as the girl looked fearfully
through the window at her unhappy
master, she could not doubt the truth
Vt the mans words.
At eleven o'clock on the previous
aight George Claris had been as sane
as any in the country. At six o'clock
N the morning he was a raving mad
man.