The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1864-01-28
The Maniac Doctor.

miles away on immed late and importan
business. Yes, it is very provoking thing
, indeed-at least so I found it, both in an
ticipation and very deed; but there was nc
help for it. Snooks, my lawyer, wrote and
told me that if on the 25th 1 was not al
c., sheuld probably lose-never mind
, what-but something which induced me tc
pack my portmantom In all haste, send for a
!; cab, and drive to the x. Y. q. station
When arrived there, I found I was too
, late for the train had wished to catch, and
the next one did not start for three-quarters
of an hour. Inwardly cursing my ill for
tune, / went to the waiting room, and en-
deavored to make myself as comfortable as
I could; but, despite all my attempts,
think l never knew time pass so slowly in
all my life, excepta certain twenty min
utes. about which 1 am going to tell.
Although, as said, the time went very
slowly, nevertheless it did go; and in pro-
cess of time found myself ensconcsd in a
first-class carriage, which had but one occu-
pant besides myself, cheerful looking lit
tie old man, with gray hair and a strange.
restless look about the eyes. Directly
got into the carriage he addressed me in a
! familiar way:
A merry Christmas to you.
The same to you, said 1, rather gruffly,
as 1 was not in the best OF humor and did
not feel INCLINED to be neighborlv.
! Why, bless me! sir. said the little old
man, renewing the attack, you have not
anything wherewith to keep yourself warm
on this cold winters day; allow me to offer
you one of my travelling wrappers. I al
ways take care to be well provided with
such things when 1 go on a journey. And
my companion took from his side rolled
up rug, uurolled it, and taking a small
Z L Il II Al |.
rug to me.
Thank you, said I, feeling in spite of my
sief shade more cheerful.
Oh, no thanks-no thanks: do it for my
own benefit, not yours, / assure you.
How do you make out that?
Why, l like TO have a comfortable face
opposite to me; and. besides, the grand ex-
pertinent you know.
What grand experiment? I said, some
what startled by the mans excited manner
Oh, rOthing-nothing, said he, coloring
violently, oniy-that is to say-exaclly,
are you freemason2
No, sir.
Not freomasonP Why. bless mel you
ought most certainly TO become one.
Why SO?
Because you would then know that tn ey
have got sort of-that is to say-in fact, a
secret.
l know that already.
Really? 1 declare you are the most ex-
traord mary man / ever met. Well, I've
got secret, too, and that's my grand ex-
pertinent
As it's secret. suppose you will not
tell me what it is?
o, yes, will though, but-perhaps 1 had
better not; never mind, I'll tell you; it is
simply this, to discover what are the differ
eut feelings of different persons on differ
ent occasions.
/ should hardly call that an experiment.
Wouldn't you now? Curious, that; yes,
very curious, for to tell you the truth,
don't myself knoy whether l am justified
in calling it an experiment But enough Of
that matter for the present. May l ask
where you are going TO?
Toe.
Have you any friends there?
None, am sorry to say. [ am called
there on some disagreeable though impor-
tant business.
Then may have the pleasure of your
company to dinner when you arrive there?
Thank you; 1 shall have the greatest
pleasure in accepting your kind invitation.
By the way, do you know how many
times we stop before we reach c.?
Only twice, as this is an express train
Once at NJ, at IL O'Clock, and second
at F., at FIVE.
And when are we due at CO
At half-past six, l believe.
Thank you.
Thus for time, our conversation ended,
but we often renewed it again, and began
10 regard nay com panion as a clever, kind
hearted, though rather eccentric old man.
Some time after we had passed M--my
eccentric friend composed himself for a
sleep, and was soon snoring, and it was not
long before l followed his example. My
dreams were troubled. First of all 1 was
being hung; then that l was being hand
cuffed; and, last Of all, that a great weight
was upon me, and that something was
pressing heavily upon my chest. l then
woke with a start, to find myself boun6
hand and foot, with rope passed round my
neck, and fastened. to the um bella rack be-
hind, in such a manner that, If l struggled
in the least, should inevitably choke my
self, and my fellow traveller was standing
over me, with one hand on my chest.
What are you doing? said i; but my SEN
tence was cut short by gag, which my &C.
centric friend thrust into my mouth and
tied behind my head. He then stood away
to look at his handiwork, with eyes giaring
like those Of wild beast, and his whole
frame trembling, with excitement.
Now, he said, with wild laugh, now
shall be able to try my grand experiment!
Now l shall be able to find whether the
heart can be extracted while man is alive
witho ut killing him! Twice have failed,
but the stars have told me that a third time
shall Bot fail. o, fame, glory, immor-
tality, have you in my graspl What,
pitiful fool! do you turn pale and tremble?
If you die, you will die glorious martyr
10 science; and if you live, you and l will
share the glory of this grand discovery!
From this ridiculous rhodomontade. I
perceived that my pleasant eccentric travel
inc compapion was a raving maniac -