Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-03-29
And as he shot inside, I closed Inc

And as he shot INSIDE, clOSeu iA'6
door and locked it. just had to taHH
the chance of his hurting himself
against the walls and furniture;
didn't believe he was so crazy he
would undertake the siX-story leap to
the ground. Listening, l heard some
thing like sob. Then I caught my
name.
Poor Mr.. Lightnut," came choking
": the kindest, gentiest MASTER"
And then more sobs and gulps.
BY Jove, under his insane delusion,
the poor beggar was grieving for me;
not thinking OF himself at all, you
know. | felt my eyes grow a bit
moist, somehow, and all at once my
heart went heavy. Thought how long
poor old Jenkins had been with me-
ever since | was out of college, you
know-five years-aEd remembered
how devilish faithful and attached he
had always been. Poor old jerks! 1t
was awful his going off this way! L
recalled how be had taken to seeing
things, earlier in the evening, and had
made me see them, too, dash 1t! one
thing | determined: whatever had to
be done with him, he Should have the
finest Of attention..
7 knew that | ought to telephone to
somebody or on2ctiiing, but dashed il
I had any idea who or where. Oddly
enough, not a soul seemed to have
been reused by the pistol shot, but |
saw by the little clock that it was
close to three-the hour in a bachelor
apartment house when everybody is
asleep, If they're going to sleep at all.
I decided that the best thing TO do
first was to get into some clothes. And
with this thought l was turning away,
when it occurred to me to make an
effort to see if poor Jenkins seemed
more rational now or had gone to
sleep.
I tapped upon the door. Are you
asleep" / asked softly.
A howl of positive terror came
back.
I'm a-keepirg quiet" he cried, but
don't let me hear your voice again,
or I'll jump right out Of the window
I shook my head sadly and tiptoed
into my room, where | slipped hur-
riedly out of the pajamas and into
some clothes; then back | went to
the telephone. 1t was on my little
writing-desk close to the door contln-
ing Jenkins.
lifted the receiver with sigh.
"Hello, central" l began, respond.
ing to the operator Il say, will you
give me 'infornation?'
A loud shout suddenly sounded from
behind the closed door, and there
came frantic double-pounding OF
fists.
"Mr. Lightnut-Mr. Lightnut."
screamed Jenkins. "Oh, Mr.. Light.
nut, you're hack-you're alive-l can
hear your voice! This is Jenkins, MIR.
Lightnut; yes, sir, Jenkins. They've
got me locked in"
l clapped the receiver on the hooi'
and sprang TO the door, unlocking 1t.
Jenkins almost tumbled into my arms.
By Jove, for a second | hung in the
wind, he acted so crazy still; at least,
it seemed so just at first. The Eel.
low threw his arm about my neck
and laughed-laughed and cried, dash
it-and just wTi2ging my hands and
carrying on Oh, awful! And even
when got him into chair, he just
sat there laughing and crying like a
jelly old silly, patting my hand, you
know, and wiping his eyes, what time
they were not Gevonring me.
Has he gene, sir?" he gasped hus'
kily. Did he jump from the win
dow" But I waved all questions
aside.
after you've had some Sleep" in
sisted. Then I'll tell you the whole
jolly story" And l just got him to
his room myself, despite his distress
and protests over my attention.
Thank you sir, and good night,
he said as l left him. And he MUIR
INJURED placidly, 81 guess we're all
right now"
But I was not so sure as to him,
when I viewed the broken chair and
scattered fragments of glass-ominous
reminders of the scene through which
I had passed And so, though | threw
the pistol on top OF a bookcase, |
spent the rest of the night upon the
soft cushions of my big divan.
ITO Re Continual