Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-08-13
Darby Mca And The LunatiC.

[ went to the south of Ireland for my
last holiday OF a short visit to a near
relative, the resident medical supcrin-
tendent of tho x asylum
The train dropped me at small coun-
try station. two miles or so from my
destination, and about four from the
nearest town. There were several post
cars waiting / entered into satisfactory
negotiations with a man named Darby
Mae and took my seat
where to, SURF" inquired Darby.
''The asvlum"
(Which wan, SUR? Is it the ovid
Minis OF tie deaf and dumb"
tie asylum"
'NVisha now. an is it thcle you're
goin'?"
GLORY be TO God" he calculated
thoughtfuliv, and quite to himself Pes
sibly he might be recovered patient
| surmised. The idea awakened spe-
cial interest in him.
You know the place." l remarked
tentatively
Bedad. do-know it well-and good
raison | have to know it. 'Tis quare
experience some people gets when they'd
sooner be without it, if they had any
cnoice; an that's the way it was with
me, your honor. I'd as soon see the
devil as 90 near it; but sure a poor man
has to live whatever happens"
There's time to turn back if Won
have any objection. | can easily get an
other car"
The response was "Wha-up, Polly! :"
and three or four fiicks of the whip
which set the willing animal off at
brisk trot
with the help o God We'll Keep the
Job this time, anyhow" said Darby.
Were yen put into the place against
Your will?" | inquired.
NO. SUR; | druv up of my own free
will"
Strange, | Thought.
And did they treat you badly when
they got you inside the wallis"
Il never was behind the doors. vcur
honor, thank heaven! 1t was bad
enough without that"
Clearly there was something wrouy
with him--Or had been 1t would be
better for me not to rouse him, or
awaken old memories. 1t would mani
testify be most inccnvenient if he went
out of his mind before / got to the end
OF my journey. l beat about for some
thing comforting to say to him.
OF course, all | want You to do is to
drop me at the door," l said.
That's how | got let into it all once
before. surr."
But nobody expects you this time ."
They didn't expect me the time be-
fore. neither"
But you say You weren't locked up"
Il wasn't; but | have no taste for
madmin. There's always a lot OF EN-
walking about"
l laughed
You foolish man. | said. Don't you
know very we'll that DR.. NJ wouldn't
let them out and about if they were dan
erous %
That's right enough. SUR. but wait
till tell You what happened to me. and
maybe you won't wonder why I'd be ner.
vous. This very day, three years ago.
heaven between us and harm, [ druv an
other iintleman-it might be yourself
up to see the doctor.
Wait for me- says he, jumpin' Oft
the safe before we got to the door an
runnin' up the steps, L won't be more
than half an hour
Il pulled up, an settled the nose la"
On the mare, the way she'd be attn a
bit; and then | sot up fair and aisy on
the safe. There was some madnl;u
scratchin' the walks wild rakes, an weed
in flower beds, an diggin' here an there:
but | never took much notice of tm till
all Of Il sudden they began to getler up
into one clump, an to chatter, an they
threw down the spades an rakes an
shovels an had a regular set-to wild
tists-one man strikin' another that was
the nearest to him-an' so they kept
pegIin' away,
"BegCr all at once, after divil OF a
big scrmmage between EN-, they scat
tered just while you'd be sayin' Jack
Robinson, LAWN one hairy ovid fellow
that forgot himself an seemed bothered
Il bit after gettin' struck on the side Of
his head. Well, your honor. I'm telling
no lie when | say | could see his eyes
shinin' in the distance. ike you'd see the
Windeye on lonesome house about sun
set.
But, faith, he wasn't long coming
round; and when he did, he let a shout
out of him and made straight for me at
top speed. With that. spinnin' myself
round on the safe, took jump right
off the car. and got landed on the other
side safe and sound.
"Ihinkin to see what he'd be at
looked round cautiously. but faith. he
gev me no time for contemplation.
promise YOU The heart ~ up in ne
mouth when I see him full tilt skirt
round after me | gev myself up ton
lost
Away with me then. round and round
the mare. and the car. at top speed aud
he after me, putin and BLOWN and
shoutin Lord save us-like gram
pu,, and me short-winded after the in
luenza
well. sur, to make a long story short.
he was gainin' on me every mipnit. III,
big fist was just within a foot of me.
when made last dive for short cut.
under the mares belly, thinkin I'd make
straight for the han door The right
foot went elaine from under me, and down