Beadle's Dime Library, No. 240 — page 16: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

* eo ig 16 oo While they were talking, they were moving forward. A moment later, they reached the large gate, which was wide enough to admit the passage of a wagon. Haunab Hablo deftly unfastened it, closing it again, after they had gone through. ‘Do you know whether they have any dogs?’ * Yes, they bave a big savage one.” | brother-in Jaw, Jake Calkins, who lives in New Jersey. He came down this evening on a vsit, and we were sitting up unusually late talking over old times.” Hannah looked keenly at him, while E’hel | bowed in recognition of the rather effusive | | salute of the visitor. ‘“Tthink l’ve heard of Jake Calkins,” said Hannah; * you used to tell our folks tkat he “Suppose he attacks us?” asked Ethel stop- | was the wonderful falsifier of Monmouth ping in their walk. ‘‘ Who cares? I will run my wire into his eye; I can kill any one with that.” ‘Tt is a dangerous instrument.” ‘¢T intended it should be; that’s what I made it for; if John Burrage doesn’t behave bimself, I will push it into his eye, and if bis wife doesn't do as I want her to, Vil serve her in the same way.” This was not the conversation to cheer tbe lonely minutes, but the speaker indulged in similar observations, as they approached the house. Very naturally Ethel Langdon held the dog in great dread, for he would not be Jikely to permit such an approach at that ghostly hour without challenging the parties. The couple were within a bundred feet of the door, when they were terrified by a growl. Ethel stopped, whispering: ‘*Tt won’t do to go any further.” “T’'m not afraid,’ was the response of her escort, who proved the truth of her boast, by placing herself in advance and walking directly toward the dog, who was at the front door and prepared to dispute their way. CHAPTER XXXITILI. THE HOUSE OF REFUGE. Ir was close upon midnight, and the scene - was indescribably lonesome and impressive. The courageous woman of unsettled mind ad- vanced determinedly toward the mastiff, grasp- ing her peculiar weapon with the purpose of plunging it into the brain of the ani.aal the in- stant he leaped upon ber. Nothing loth, the dog rose to his feet and waiked resolutely forward with the intention of making an attack. The affrighted Ethel recoiled, for she fore- saw a terrible scene. Bat, most fortunately, before the collision could take place the owner of the dog detected the ominous sounds, and drew open the door. ‘*Bowser, come bere!” he called, in such sharp tones that the canine obeyed, trotting back, stiil growliog, and lying down at his mae- ter’s feet. Jobn Burrage had a candle in his hand, which be held over his bead and peered out in the darkness, ‘“ Who's there?” he asked, catching a glimpse of the figure of Hannah, who was in advance. ** Don’t be scared; it is I,” was called back. ** Who in thunder is J?” growled the farmer (in a small way), still trying to penetrate the gloom. ‘If you don’t speak, Pll set Bowser on you, and he’ll chaw you up quicker’n lightning.” ‘‘! am Hannah Hahlo, and this is a friend of mine, Miss Ethel Langdon, and we’vye come to make a call on you.” “Strikes me it’s rather late to make a call,” - gatd Mr. Burrage, who suspected the truth. Hannah Hablo had spoken truly when she said be was an old friend of the family, who knew ber well. J bn had frequently visited the young wo- county, New Jersey.” “That's me,” said Mr, Calkins, rising from his chair, bowing and smiling with pride; ‘‘T’ve worked hard for that reppytation, and now that I’ve got it I mean to hang onto it.” ‘Was it ever disputed?’ asked John Bur- rage, who bad also taken his seat, and was ratber pleased with the eccentric ways of his relative by marriage. “Oh, yes; I’ve had several ambiticus rivals; and my own brother Mart, down near Free- hold, run me purty bard for awhile, but they’ve pulled off and left the track to me.” As a matter of course, both these men looked upon thrir visitors as insane. John Burrage knew Hannah Hablo to be in that unfortuvate mental condition, although, for hours at a time, she gave no evidence of if, Miss Langdon was her companion in flight, and there was no reason to think otherwise concerning her, Jake Calkins did not suspect the truth, until the conversation bad proceeded further, and Hannah gave an account of the ingenious manner by which they had escaped from im- prisonment, Even then it was bard for the man from the Jersey Pines to realize that he was in the com- pany of two lunatics. Ethel Langdon understood the situation, and saw that it was useless to say anything at that time. She sat quiet and demure, listening to the conversation, and looking upon the curious scene. ‘‘We have come to stay with you,” said Hannah, who seemed to be in high spirits. “Thav’s good; I am always glad to have company.” “How long are you going to have that monumental liar over there?’ ‘¢ He is likely to remain several days.” ‘ we can siand him tbat long, I guess,” was the resigned remark of Hannah, accompanied by a sigh, which made the others Jaugh. ‘¢ How long do you intend I shall be honored with your company?’ ‘“‘T did think of staying three or four bhun- dred years, but I won’t muke it that long.” “ How long will it be?’ ‘‘Noc more than a couple of days; you know old Julliard will be scouring through the coun- try for us to-morrow and next day, and if we stick our nose out of doors, he’!l nab us.” ‘¢You want to wait here then until the ex- citement blows over—is that the idea?” ‘‘That’s it, exactly.” ‘Well, would you like to retire?” ‘What time is it?’ “Tvs between twelve and one.” ‘‘J’m agreeable; what do you say, Miss Langdon! “ Tt’s high time.” ‘ 17ll call my wife.” Mrs. Burrage wa3 summoned and she in- vited the ladies up-stairs. Hannah went to the top with a couple of bounds, but Ecbel was more dignified. At the bottom of the stairs, she paused long mun in the asylum and knew that she properly | enough to gain a few words with John Bur- belonged there. But he understood insane persons very well and could humor their fancies. He therefore drew the door wids open and iny ted them to enter. Hannah did so, Ethel stepping after her, and the door was shut, To the surprise of our heroine she saw a second man sitting in a chair, leaning back, with his hands clasped bebiod his head, as though be was very much at bome indeed. He was élim, stoop-shouldered, and had a san ly goatee and very red hair. He looked. inquiringly at the strange vis- _itors, who, on the invitation of Mr, Burrage, ik seats. ‘I expected to find you alone,” said Hannah _ Hablo, iu a voice of disappointment, ~“T; J Lad been, I would bave been asleep png ago.” ** Who is your ugly-looking friend?” | rage. They talked in whispers which no one else heard. ‘‘ Every insane person believes he is of sound mind,” she said, ‘‘but I can prove it in my case, if the opportunity be given.” __ He nodded his head in a weary way, as though he was accustomed to that particular hallucination. ‘¢T was placed in the asylum last night, by a relative who wishes me out of the way. He will spend a great deal of money to keep me here,” ** Who is he?” “* Algol Langdon and he lives near Ardville.” “T don’t know him.” ‘‘T will give more money than he to get away.” “ But that’s mighty hard, Miss Langdon.” “T know that, but it wouldn’t be so hard, if my friends can only know where I am.” ‘‘ Miss Hahlo and Miss Langdon, this is my “Why don’t you send ’em word?” ‘¢ How can I?” ‘* Write ’em a letter?” * But no one— Will you mail one for me?’ ‘‘Certain!y I will; write it in the morning and give it to me; thers’s nothing ag’in’ the law in that.” “T wil pay—” ‘*There, go on with your friend, or she will suspect something.” Murmurivg her thanks, Ethel hastened to her room. Jobn Burrage walked back to bis esteemed brother in-law. ‘Jake, ll be hanged if I don’t believe cne of them women is of sound mind.” ‘*T know it,” replied Jake Calkins. But the trouble with this visitor from New Jersey was that he had fixed upon the wrong lady as the sane one. CHAPTER XXXIV. THE SENTINEL ON THE OUTER WALL. Up to this hour, Ethel Langdon was clearly of tbe opinion that she had committed a great blunder in leaving the lunatic asylum in com- pany with Hannah Hablo. As we have shown, there were many times when she would bave given anything at ber command, could she bave safely returned to the room, where she would be beyond the reach of any violent outbreak on tbe part of the lunatic who was acting as ber escort. But, aiter the few burried words with John Burrage, sbe was glad beyond measure that sue had made tha attempt to escape. ‘“‘He is an honest man,” she thought; “be may think it wrong to assist me in getting away from the institution to which Il bave been committed, but ha will do me tbe favor he promised. ‘“‘ He will mail my letter, which must fall into the hands of Brayton within twenty-four hours. *That point gained,” mused the maiden, a smile stealing over her countenance, at the recolleciion of the loved of her heart, “and he will not require long to rescue me.” All this constituted a most delightful back- ground for ibe oppressive presert, but she ecu d not shake off the horror of the i. mediate company of Hannah Hablo, The two were obliged to share the tame room and tbe same bed. E hel could not conjecture what fearful whim might take possession of that erratic mind at any moment. But, reasoning as best she could concerning the diseased brain of another, it seemed to her that the entire change of thought into which she had been forced would prevent any out- burst. At any rate, there was no way in which our heroins could avoid the 1isk, so far as she was concerned, for, if she should make the request of Mrs. Burrage, it might bring on the very assault she he'd in unspeakable dread, “T will trust my Heavenly Father to take care of me,’’ was the last sentence which trem- bled on ber lips. Then she closed ber eyes and slept. In the morning she was awake before her compavion who sluimbered heavily. Tbe thought of the letter was on ber mind, and, hastily robing berself and desecnding the stairs, she asked Mr, Burrage for the materials needed. These were furnished, and sitting down at the stand, she wrote substantially the same letter she had penned within the asylum the day previous, changing its recital of facts, asa matter of course, This was finished, sealed and handed to John Burrage, with a dollar bill with which to pay the postage. At this time, E'hel was in the sitting room and parlor of the house. Mis. Burrage was busy preparing breakfast while Eannah was heard stirring overheud. Juhu Burrage bad comein just as the missive was fivished, but Jake Calkins was invisible. After Burrage bad placed the precious mis- sive in his coat pcecket (being told by Ethel tbat she would eccept no change for the postage), and assured her that it should be mailed within the next bour, he drew Lis chair beside ber, “They're after you,” be said in a significant tone and with a meaning grin on bis tace, ‘‘T suppose so,” she replied, startled never- theiess. ** You two must have been missed early, for they’ve been looking for you since daylight.” - lage n,n comicbook: