The daily Alaskan., 1905-10-12
The Haunted Man

uOn NOulDS Dg hhA4S o gSNNNiSA thirty-hye, wealthy and taking life easy, had suddenly become possessed of the idea that he was haunted.
 Just what sort of feeling Is this that comes over youY' was asked.
 Ut Is easily described. It Is as If one were waiting for dear friend to dle-a feeling of awe-a state of sus- pense, and now and then I find myself crlnglng, as if some one was aiming blow at me"
 Crash! Zipw
 "That was from an air gun" said the doctor after throwing up the window and looking out, and then turning to the bullet imbedded in the wall.
 And fired at me-" added Combs.
 Undoubtedly, as you were facing the window and I could not be seen. Your enemy is in one of those houses. He fired from roof or window. One of them Is a rooming house, and 1t was likely from that"
 "It-it might have been an accident" ," suggested the patient
 Possibly. but don't think so. Your case has gone beyond me. Put It Into the hands of the police"
 Combs went to the police and report ed the affair as probably an accident, but asked that they find out if any boy or man living In any of the houses had an alrgun. There had been no re- port and no powder smoke. Inside of two days a detective assured him that such thing as an air gun had never been seen about any Of the houses. The bachelor made up his mind that 1t was an accident, but that the shooter had lied about It, and he tried to dismiss it from his mind. He had the feeling of fear yet, but he did not go back to the doctor. He determined to fight against and conquer 1t. Two days later at the club he ordered a drink, which was not brought to him immediately, as the waiter had to serve another order first. When the wine came 1t sat at hls el- bow untasted while he Conversed with an acquaintance who had just come In.
 Hello" said the gentleman, as his eyes lighted on the glass, but the col or of that wine Is way or tonight. Let me see"
 He held 1t up between his eye and the light for a moment and then said:
 T don't like the looks of this at all. Let me take 1t to Peters and have him analyze It."
 For whatY'
 "For knockout drops"
 "Bosh! And ip our own club too"
 Next day the chemist reported that the wine had been poisoned. The waiter explained that he had left It moment unwatched before bringing it to Combs, but neither he nor any of the others had seen Q strange person about. The mat ter was kept q secret between three or four members of the club, and Combs did not go to the police until q fort night later Then he went because a third attempt had been made.
 You have got deadly enemy" said the detective to whom the case was given, "RDd you must set your memory at work and try to give me a pointer. This unknown is doubtless q man, and he wants your life mighty bad. What man have you ever had serious trouble withT"
 "NO man on earth, and I pledge you my honor on that" was the reply.
 Well, then, what woman"
 "None-absolutely none"
 well, here are three dastardly at. tempts and no clew. I don't see what we can do but wait for the fourth and hope that something may turn up"
 Combs waited, He could do nothing but wait Three weeks later, as he went to the stables for hls horse and a gallCp In the park, be accidentally dis covered a strong pin thrust through the flap of his saddle in such a way that it must have sharply pricked his leg had he mounted. No man about the stables knew of the pin, and yet a chemist said that Its point had been steeped in a deadly poison Then the detective suggested that the victim make se- cret departure from the city and go abroad for a few months. This advice was followed. The man was fast be- coming a nervous wreck, and he real ized that he must get from under the shadow or collapse. No one could have made a more secret departure, and yet when the steamer bound for London was three days out he discovered that his box of favorlte cigars had been meddled with and probably poisoned.
 On landing in London Combs em- ployed a private detective to accom- pany him and started for Switzerland. Every precaution was used in getting away and in reaching a place of the travelled route, and for Q month the hunted man had peace. There was no other guest at the chalet where the two found lodgings, and 1t was some miles to the nearest village or hotel. One day the bachelor, who was now re- gaining his lost flesh and spirits, went up the mountain to a peculiarly shaped spot called the basin. It was a quiet retreat, and it had become his habit to read and smoke there when the weath- CT was pleasant On this day the de- tective accompanied him, but had H.