The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-06-19

He sat in the wagon while l made my
brief calls, among them the one on Fif-
ty-seventh street which 1 had men-
toned to him.
When l rejoined him after this visit
1 said that there was one more which
had just decided to make. l could not
fail to note his anxiety when he asked
me where it was. We had already
started, and l was on the point of turn
ing northward into Fifth avenue.
"Sixty-second street, 1 replied.
He hastily put his hand upon mine
with which l was holding the reins.
81 think l won't go up so far as that"
said he. "If you'll let me out here
l began to be very much interested.
ride up to Fifty-ninth street," said
1, "and take the cross town car"
NO" he replied nervously; Il really
mustn't"
"Why, what possible objection can
there be- l began And the next in
stant he was over the wheels, landing
sQuarely on his feet upon the pavement
and sustaining no injury.
OF course l pulled up hastily and
sprang out also. Mr.. Brown came to-
ward me. dusting his hat, which had
fallen when he made his leap.
81 beg your pardon for this exhibit
tion," said he, "hut really, really, l
can't go above Fifty ninth street 1t
would be very serious matter with
me, assure you"
His eyes were wild and dancing. He
had the look of creature at bay. Up
ON the question of crossing Fifty-ninth
street northward l have no doubt that
he would have fought me to the death.
"What do you think would happen to
you?" l asked.
He shook his head, with a knowing
smile
'Thats immaterial," he replied. ".rhe
point is that it would happen
SIS this what you dreamed about?"
said l.
His face flushed.
"Why, yes, if you must know" said
he. II dream that l am being forced
across that street."
'At any particular spot?"
1T is usually at Madison avenue" he
replied. "But that is not important.
would not cross it anywhere from riv-
er to river"
did anything remarkable ever hap
pen to you or some person dear to you
upon that street?"
Nothing" he answered calmly. 81
have no especial association with Fif
ty-ninth street, except that 1 will not
cross it,"
"How do you get to BostonW /
asked, remembering that he had spoken
Of going to that city.
''By water" he replied impressively.
"Do you know" said l persuasively,
eff had such a feeling about a place
wild horses couldn't hold me back from
making a practical test of it. 1 have
too much curiosity
Il have none," said he.
"Do you think it would be fatal?"
Permit me to be the judge of that"
said he gravely. "You may be sure of
one thing, which is that shall not risk
my life in the attempt. I still have
work to do in this world. But" he add
ed, with a febrile impatience, "let us
not stand here discussing it."
you are quite right" said, seeing
that his excitement had reached the
limit of safety. "Get into the carriage,
and I'll turn around and take you
home"
After this experience felt that had
something definite to work upon, but
for long time was in doubt what to
do. Meanwhile Mr.. Brown seemed to
be getting worse, and had no difficult
ty in foreseeing the utter wreck of his
mind. AS last resort, therefore, l re-
solved to break down his delusion by
an actual demonstration. l have often
used this method with success.
l prepared for the experiment very
carefully, accustoming Brown to drive
with me and to approach his imagina-
ry dead line. We rode often in the
morning and early afternoon, and in
vented errands on Fifty-seventh and
Fifty-eighth streets, so that he might
learn to trust me; also l used a wider
wagon and had my friend, DR.. EN-
nett, who is little fellow, but strong
as moose, accompany us in cur rides
Brown grew to like Emmett very
much, and l grew to like Brown, SO
that l felt like a rascal for deceiving
him.
We three were out one morning
about half past s o'clock, and l had
called upon an imaginary patient in
Fifty-eighth street. Upon leaving that
house l suddenly turned my horse
northward on Madison avenue, which
happened to be fairly clear in the
stretch alongside the car tracks.
DIR. Emmett knew what was going
to do, and he instantly seized Brown in
a grip of iron. Brown understood. He
protested, he struggled violently, and
yet, upon the whole, he behaved better
than / had expected.
l took all kinds of chances with fly
ing cross town cars, and we went
across Fifty-ninth street like a shot out
of gun. Indeed l considerably over
did it, for the people waiting to trans
fer from car to car upon the corner
yelled at us and scared my horse. He
was powerful beast, and for a second
or two had a most uneasy notion that
| there would be a runaway which