lum, situated about two miles away. A salary was named which
seemed a fortune to me, poverty-stricken as I then was. (I afterwards
learned that the offer was made to me through the efforts of an
influential friend.)

At first the letter gave me unlimited joy, and I shouted like a
school-boy; but when I began to think what it would actually mean my
heart sank. All my life I had had a nervous horror of insane persons,
and if I should accept this offer I would be obliged to stay with them,
eat with them, and live among them almost as one of themselves. At this
thought I fairly shuddered, and was forced to confess to myself that I
could never endure such a strain on my nerves, doctor though I was.

The next morning, however, when I again read the letter, the offer
seemed so tempting that I said to myself: "Pshaw! I will not be
conquered by an attack of nerves. Come, brace yourself up, man. Why, a
few years at that salary will be enough to set you up for life!"
Nevertheless, I determined to go up the following day, and _look over_
the place before deciding on my final answer.

So early the next morning I presented myself at the asylum, all my
nervousness gone. I was so politely shown about, and everything looked
so orderly and well cared for, and the grounds without seemed so
peaceful and quiet, that I was delighted with it all. My misgivings had
almost vanished, and I had so nearly made up my mind to accept the
lucrative offer, that I said to the smiling and complaisant guard who
was acting as my guide:

"Tell the superintendent that if he will kindly allow me to stroll in
the garden and think the matter over, I will give him my final answer
within the hour." So saying, I began to pace up and down the
flower-bordered walks.

I was by this time in such a well-satisfied frame of mind that I
promptly dispelled the last remnants of my former nervousness.

I was just on the point of re-entering the asylum to say to the
Superintendent that I gratefully accepted his offer when I was startled
by the sound of crackling twigs behind me. Turning quickly, I found
myself face to face with a man whom I supposed at first to be one of the
guards. But as soon as I moved away from him to go toward the house he
sprang forward with hand outstretched to clutch me, uttering an idiotic
chuckle. Cold shivers chased up and down my back as the thought flashed
upon me that it was an escaped patient! With a shriek I ran down the
path at the top