OFFICIAL EXCITEMENT.
I was told to be seated. As I turned to the empty chair I was not
permitted to sit down. I could not do so. I tried as hard as I could, but
I did not move. Again I was spoken to, and told to be seated. This time
the voice that commanded me to be seated was gruff and harsh.
I replied: “I am trying to, sir, but I can not move.”
“You sit down. We are going to find out what is wrong with you. I have
called in all the higher officers, and we intend to have your case
thoroughly investigated this day.”
All this time I did not move—I could not, and presently I heard a voice
say:
“_Do not sit down. We will not allow you to do so._”
Suddenly I was seized by the officer, and was again told to sit down.
I said: “I would obey if I could, but I can not move.”
“Well, I will move you.”
I could see that the officer made an effort to compel me to move, and
I could feel myself grow rigid. Presently I felt myself begin to move
toward the door of the inside prison, and for a moment everything
seemed dark. I felt a sickening feeling come over me. I began to lose
consciousness, and found myself sitting on the chair against the prison
door. All the officers were lying on the floor. I cried out for help.
“Come to my rescue!” I cried. “I have not harmed anyone here.”
At that moment guards came from all directions, and shouted: “Open the
door!” I could not and did not move.
Again they shouted, and I did not move. I did not look like a dead man,
sitting there, but I must frankly say that I felt like one, and if wishes
could have been granted, would have been one, for I was in prison for one
murder, perhaps two, and from the surroundings it might be several, as
these men all looked like corpses to me.
Presently “Bang!” went the door. The guards had gotten great heavy irons
and were trying to force the door open. When they succeeded, I was the
first one to be taken care of. As a matter of fact, the dead men, as
they thought them, could be gotten away in only one way, and that is
carried. I could get away, but did not have a chance. But I got something
else, a good beating from the officers.
Oh, how I did beg and try to explain to them that I had not harmed
anyone! but in vain. I was laid up for some time from the severe
treatment.
I knew not what became of the officials, or how badly, if at all, they
were hurt. Neither did I know how it happened that they were all lying so
helpless on the floor.
It was unfortunate for me, as they did not know of this mysterious power
nor of the “lady ghost”—so called, nor of the unseen power which had put
our friend in the hospital. He had recovered enough to take notice when
the officers were brought into the hospital. He naturally inquired if
there had been a prison raid, and the answer was:
“More serious than that. We would be glad to let some of our prisoners go
if we could do so, as they seem to do much as they please with themselves
and others too. The great mystery is causing much trouble, and we can not
find out what is wrong.”
“How long have I been here and why am I here? I am not hurt. I was not
attacked by my prisoner. The last I remember I was cautioning him to be
careful, as I saw him lifting what no three men could. That is my last
recollection. I have not an ache nor a pain, and why am I here? Bring the
prisoner to me.”
“We can not. He is also in the hospital. He disobeyed so much that he
received such treatment as to be sent to the hospital.”
“He has! Tell me what has he done?”
“To the best of my knowledge, he has murdered five of the officials, all
brought in here just now, as you have seen.”
“Murdered! murdered! I want to get to him.”
“You too have been injured by him, and you must remain quiet until
pronounced out of danger.”
“I am not injured, and he did not harm me. I must be taken to the office,
that I may declare this man innocent of that crime.”
“I shall have to have orders from your physician before I could consider
taking you out of the hospital. I fear that you are not yourself, when
you say that the prisoner did not harm you.”
“I can swear before all, and by God in Heaven, that he did not. I must
be taken to him and tell him that I will say that he did me no harm.”
“You will have plenty of time to prove his innocence, and tell why you
are here and how you did get hurt if he did not do it.”
“I am not hurt. I am as well as I ever was in my life, and I must see the
doctor and say to him that I must be out of here.”
“Very well; I will go to the doctor and send him to you.”