The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-27
7lllllIliII1IIatadaltallsaI1ll1Il
(Continued.j

| in the matter that had brought me there. It struck me that as John AL tenburg did not know that I was out of the asylum, much less that I was | in the house. I had it in my power so l.completely to surprise him. by pre- senting myself suddenly to him, as to throw him off his guard and possibly startle him into revealing the secret of the testimony that would free me. if such existed. I tried to fight off the feeling by telling myself that I was bound to wait until Horace came, but instead of succeeding the feeling grew upon me until it became an un- conquerable impulsion. I even per- | suaded myself that I ought not to drag Horace into the matter. and that his presence would hurt rather than help. inasmuch as it would anger Altenburg and perhaps make him more obstinate. It did not seem to me that there would be any particular danger in making the attempt. as had seen no evidence of any one save Altenburg about the place. and. moreover. the storm had become so bad that. aside from the probability that he did not have many visitors there was no likelihood of any
 
 q unlocked the door of my wife's sitting room. crossed the entryway, pushed open the door of the opposite room and saw-'
 CaIden stopped with a sudden shud- der. for which Grimbleshaw was un- able to find quite sufficient explanation in the words with which. after a sharp effort at self-control. the speaker re- stunned:
 "I saw John Altenburg sitting at his desk writing by the light of single candle. held in a battered tin candle stick. It was the first time had seen him since my arraignment. when by his efforts I was pronounced insane. and the sight naturally moved me. in- deed. moved me much more. than I had anticipated. so that when he look ed up. after I had stood there for full minute, I was still considerably unnerved. He gave a sort of half cry, that sounded more like the exclamation 'Your than anything else. and sprang to his feet. I would have retreated, understanding the mistake had made. but it was too late.
 "He advanced toward me. thought to attack me, but after taking a. couple Of steps he stopped seemed to pull himself together and demanded:
 What are you doing here? Come to rob me tool?
 CT have come said to demand of you the proof. which I believe you have, that I am innocent of the crime of defalcation charged against me-
 sSo,' he sneered. that's your game. If you didn't do it. who did?'
 tI own that I forgot the caution thaS I should have maintained, but 1t must be remembered that this was the first chance I had had since my arrest to tell him the truth.
 You don't need to ask retorted. You're living to-day on the income of the money that I was charged with stealing.
 with that he sprang at me with a growl like a wild beast was taken by surprise and had time only to dodge under his uplifted arm. If could have done so I would have got back to my sitting room either to lock the door or get Bull. but by this sudden move he had placed himself between me and the door, and driven me into
  unprotected and at his mercy.
 Almost without stopping he rushed at me again I was driven back to- ward the desk, my hand fell on heavy ruler that was lying there and seized it. He came at me once more. and I, under the impulse of self-de- fense, struck at him with what I had in my hand. scarcely realizing for the moment just what it was. To my sur prise felt that I had hit him and he fell like log.
 "For the moment I was stunned. Then I threw down the ruler and stopped over him. He was breathing heavily and there was a twitching of the hands. I seized the candle and saw that there was cut on his head that was bleeding badly.
 My first impulse was to get him on to a bed. and as I could not think of taking him to my wife's room. this required me to get him upstairs. AS it was impossible for me to lift him, I had to drag him. He groaned once or twice before completed the task. but showed no other sign of life. When he was once fairly on the bed had the nrSI opportunity lO ISdiiAS llC position in which the affair placed me. Still, no danger to myself would justi- fly me in any neglect to secure him aid. I remembered seeing in the room below. as one sees without immediate ly registering the sight, telephone, and I went down with the purpose of calling a doctor. On the desk was a piece of paper with your name and number on it, and in the belief that you were his physician I called you.
 ''Then began again to think of my self. No one but Horace knew of my being at the house. If I could get away before help came it would ma terially diminish the danger, and after visit to Altenburg. to see if could do anything more for him, came here. feeling that the storm. although an impeachment, was in many ways my best protection"
 Much of this story gave to Grimble- saw, when joined with the manner of telling, the impression of truth. but there were other parts that affected nj hox inc ma for