rested
upon me. They were almost the last things I saw before I left the
room. Once, as I sat sideways to her, I watched her, and saw that her
gaze was following some one else. It was Sadler, who was dancing at
the time with the second Miss Thurston. To judge by her expression, it
is well for him that he is not in her grip as I am. He does not know
the escape he has had. I think I hear his step in the street now, and
I will go down and let him in. If he will----

May 4. Why did I break off in this way last night? I never went down
stairs, after all--at least, I have no recollection of doing so. But,
on the other hand, I cannot remember going to bed. One of my hands is
greatly swollen this morning, and yet I have no remembrance of injuring
it yesterday. Otherwise, I am feeling all the better for last night's
festivity. But I cannot understand how it is that I did not meet
Charles Sadler when I so fully intended to do so. Is it possible----
My God, it is only too probable! Has she been leading me some devil's
dance again? I will go down to Sadler and ask him.

Mid-day. The thing has come to a crisis. My life is not worth living.
But, if I am to die, then she shall come also. I will not leave her
behind, to drive some other man mad as she has me. No, I have come to
the limit of my endurance. She has made me as desperate and dangerous
a man as walks the earth. God knows I have never had the heart to hurt
a fly, and yet, if I had my hands now upon that woman, she should never
leave this room alive. I shall see her this very day, and she shall
learn what she has to expect from me.

I went to Sadler and found him, to my surprise, in bed. As I entered
he sat up and turned a face toward me which sickened me as I looked at
it.

"Why, Sadler, what has happened?" I cried, but my heart turned cold as
I said it.

"Gilroy," he answered, mumbling with his swollen lips, "I have for some
weeks been under the impression that you are a madman. Now I know it,
and that you are a dangerous one as well. If it were not that I am
unwilling to make a scandal in the college, you would now be in the
hands of the police."

"Do you mean----" I cried.

"I mean that as I opened the door last night you rushed out upon me,
struck me with both your fists in the face, knocked me down, kicked me
furiously in the side, and left me lying almost unconscious in the
street. Look at your own hand bearing witness against you."