THE BATTALION.
5
tered seine thing about having lost the key, and abrupt!}'
changed the subject. *
Borne days afterwards these two friends got into a dispute
which resulted in some very sharp words, and finally, his
temper getting the best of his judgment, Sheffield slapped
Ramsey in the face with his glove. As soon as he realized
what he had done he impulsively grasped Ramsey’s hand,
saying: “I do beg your pardon, old fellow, for striking you.
I am very sorry, but my temper got the best of me.”
Ramsey vouchsafed no reply, snatched his hand from the
other’s grasp and strode away without a word, but with a
dark, revengeful expression on his face and muttering some
thing about ‘‘getting even.”
Sheffield was considerably worried over the affair since he
considered himself to blame, and would have apologized again,
but after the manner in which Ramsey had treated his first
overture, his pride forbade him to suffer the humiliation of
being repelled a second time. They passed several times
afterwards but neither spoke, and it seemed as though their
previous relations were practically at an end.
One night some two weeks after the above scene took place
Sheffield was walking along a street in the edge of the city,
returning from visiting a sick friend. In passing a strip of
woods on the side of the road he heard swift footfalls ap
proaching from behind, and turning, perceived a long, gaunt
figure approaching at a run. It seemed to be a skeleton ex
cept that it was not white, and with its arms outstretched
and lea,n appearance, made a picture calculated to frighten
the strongest heart.
Sheffield was not superstitious, but it must be confessed
that he felt a cold chill creeping over him as he saw this
strange and uncouth figure bearing down upon him. His
first idea was to run, but on second thought he remained
standing.