The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-09-05
HIS OWN SHADOW

lighted a diminutive candle and es-
corted him to his chamber.
Just as they commenced the ascent
Of the second flight of stairs they were
startled by the most horrid laughter,
apparently from some one in room
on the corridor they were approaching.
The servant fastened to explain that
1t was q gentleman who had been
drinking too much and was suffering
with delirium tremens.
My friend hesItated about proceeding
farther, but on the assurance Of the
servant that this was the first time
that the sick man had made any noise
and that he was In charge of two
friends who had volunteered to sit up
with him Charley concluded TO proceed.
The wind was bowling mournfuliy
around the house, and the rain beat
wildly on the window panes. Hastily
dlsrobing himself and extinguishing
the candle, he enjoyed the luxury Of
the first stretch In forty-eight hours.
He fell asleep almost instantly. How
long he remained so he could not tell,
but some time during the night he was
awakened by a quick, sharp noise at
his bedside resembling the overthrow
of a piece of furniture or the bursting
open Of a door.
Starting up in his bed, he was horri-
fed to see standing near him a figure
IN white, with glaring eyes and di-
sheveled hair, apparently about to
/ spring upon him. He at once realized
the situation. The victim OF mania-a-
potu had escaped from his watchers
and obtained admission to his room.
Almost as suddenly, however, the ap-
| partition vanished.
The disappearance affected him no
less seriously. for he knew not from
what quarter to expect an attack.
Anything was preferable to such un-
certainty, and momentarily expecting
to encounter the maniac he CROPPED his
way in the dark to the table where he
had left his candle.
It seemed an age to him before he
succeeded In obtaining a light When
It's feeble glimmer penetrated the
room, to his aEtonishment 1t was
empty.
Aiming himself with his cane, he
commenced search, but without dis.
covering the intruder. The door was
locked on the inside and the windows
were secured. There was but one closet
In the room, and that was empty.
Could he have been mistaken
Gould II have been n dream?
At all events, there was no more
sleep for him that night. After dress
ing himself he was about to go t
the office of the hotel and apply FOL
another room when It occurred to hin
that 1t would be rather embarrassing
to explain his reason for demanding 1
change, and In the hope that 1t wat
near morning, for no had no watch
he wrapped the bedclothes around hin
and sat in chair awaiting the breal
OF day.
The candle burned TO its socket Ions
before day dawned Its FIRST feebl,
glimmer had hardly made it's appear
, ance when he descended to the oiIlci
and awalted his breakfast, with the de
termination of seeking other quarter
, afterward
He had decided TO say nothing o
his scare, but when the clerk, sur
prised ut his early appearance. In
Quired II he had not rested comfort
ably he determined TO eonfde In hin
with the hope Of obtaining an expla
/ nation of the mystery
, The clerk evidently believed that |
/ was nothing but dream. hut he sen
J 10 inquire II the sick man had left hi
room during the night. He receives
I tho positive assurance OF both tn
. watchers that he had rested YER
I quietly and that such thing was IN
\ possible, as neither OF them had close
1 his eyes.
In the hope of setting his mind a
: rest the clerk suggested that he Shout
|. sit near the door of the breakfast rooI
q and inspect the faces of the guests I
r identify II possible the intruder.
n The arrangement was carried gu
n and after the last guest had hreal
4 tasted my friend was forced to b,
= lieve that none of them could hay
!. been the intruder. but the impresslo
. Jet remained that he could not hav
been deceived.
g Ane cterh dotcrmlneu to SO upStail
= and make an examination Of the room
This was dope In tho presence of m
friend who accompanied him withol
dlscos ting any possible means of exi
NeNcd and annoyed with himself I,
having invited by his confession II
!" Ill concealed amusement of the clerl
he sat upon the edge az the bed. 81
y deavortng TO recall all the circuu
Z stances OF the case
a While In this position he slowI
~ raised his head when his eyes q
u eountered what seemed In he the n,
y partition that had previously prosecute
9. itself, A second glance Redeemed h
y cheeks with shame when no recognize
u himself in mirror.
: With this clew To guide him he "A
~ covered that the noise which ha