Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-04-17

was just about dropping off, when
l heard some one hurrying along the
private hall leading from the back.
Jenkins himself popped into the room.
Did you ring, sir?" he inquired,
and advanced quickly.
And then, before l could think about
it to reply, he halted suddenly, almost
pitching forward Then, with kind
of wheezy howl, he sprang to the wall.
Next instant, was blinking under the
dazzling electrolier
Here, l say! Shut off that light"
1 demonstrated, half blinded.
heard a swift rush across the
rugs, and the next thing 1 knew l was
roughly jerked from out my chair;
| strong fingers clutched my throat, and
found myself glazing into fright
ened but resolute face
''Jen-Jenkins!" l tried to gasp, but
| only gurgle came.
l was so taken unawares, knew it
must be some dashed dream. Per
| haps another minute, and / would
wake up. But he gripped me tighter
and shook me like a rag.
Say, who are you?" he Kissed.
How did you get in here?"
And then, of course, knew that he
was crazy. Whether he was crazy
in dream or crazy with me awake.
couldn't guess. 1t made very little
| difference, anyhow, for l knew that in
| another minute l should be either
| dream dead or real dead; and dash
me if l could see any odds worth toss
! ing for in either, you know.
But l don't belong to the athletic
club quite for nothing, and have man
| aged to pick up a few tricks, you
| know So with the decision to chuck
the dream theory, 1 shot my leg for
| ward with a mix-up and twist that
made Jenkins loosen his clutch and
stagger backward
| Whats the matter with your"
! gasped, advancing toward him. Are
| you trying to murder me?" But l
was so hoarse, the only word that
came out plainly was murder"
Jenkins uttered a howl. Help, Mr..
Lightnut Murder!"
| You old fool" l cried, exasperated.
Come here!"
He was coming. He seized light
chair and swung it behind his head.
| Then he rushed me with a shout.
''Oh, Mr. Lightnut!"
Gone clear off his mutt" was my
thought AS he swung the chair, 1
| ducked low, and man and chair went
crashing to the floor But he was up
again in a jiffy and dancing at me.
Mr. Lightnut, sir, why don't you
help me?"
Help you-you jolly idiot?" l NUT
! tered Indignantly. Then my voice
raised: I've mind to kill you'll"
With yell, he made a kangaroo
| Jump and swung at me again.
HE says he's going to kill me, Mr..
Lightnut!" he painted as | lodged
again Help me-wake up, sir"
Wake up? Wake up, indeed, when
l had never been so devilish wide
awake in all my life! l was sure
now about that. l moved toward him
cautiously.
stop your row." / cried angrily;
you'll have somebody in. Think 1
want the police up here?"
With a glare at me, Jenkins darted
| past me to the bedroom l had just
left. It's light switch clicked, and
then back through the frightened
doorway he sprang and dashed for a
wall cabinet at the side. He began
Juggling at it's little drawer And sud
| denly remembered the revolver
there, an old forty-fve from a friend
in Denver-and loaded!
My spring to intercept him was
quick, but not quick enough! Half
way to him l pulled up under the
| compelling argument of the long blue
barrel pointed at my head.
Here! Look out, you fool-it's
loaded" l warned, backing away to
the window.
Jenkins advanced. What have you
done with him?" he painted hoarseIy.
Where is hep"
Where's who?" I asked savagely,
for I was getting devilish tired of it
all. But for the publicity, 1 should
have yelled from the window.
where's Mr.. Lightnut?" he de-
manded
"Oh, he's all right" l decided to
adopt that soothing tone that 1 had
read somewhere was the proper caper
with lunatics
''Where?" Jenkins insisted, pushing
nearer.
And dashed if l knew what to an
swer: for. if l made mistake, it
might be serious, by Jove. Perhaps
some jocular reply would be safest
might divert his attention, you know.
The open window gave me an idea.
why, do you know" said pleas
antIy, 4 just chucked him down into
the street.
II sounded like cannon cracker,
that gun! The shower of splintered
glass from the picture between the
windows barely missed me. But l
never waited a second-for this last
/ dav3Ijsb straw was too much don't