Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-09-20
WORTH FIVE HUNDRED MILLIONS!

WORTH FIVE HUNDRED MILLIONS!
An ugly business. tried not to think
Of ii. but couldn't succeed.
NV friends implored me to submit to the
Operation. They urged me to make up
my mind like a man but | thought of
JObmd his cOunselors, and remained as
Estimate as mule. i considered myself
amartyr-wantonly imposed upOn-a VIC
tim, on whose unfortunate carcass sur
geons believed they might make any ex-
pertinent with impunity. was resolved
that they should find themselves mistaken.
SO, when DIR. Bumpus, in his rough man
ner. would say, "Those toes must come
off," | would call him brute" and
threaten to turn him out; but he only
laughed, and always displayed a callous-
ness to my suffering that nearly drove me
mad.
They'll be the death of you," he said
one day.
"Pshaw! humbug!"
Cant live month unless you have
'em taken off. That's my professional
opinion"
At last after several spasmodic efforts at
heroism. these memorable words escaped
me: . shall have it done tomorrow :"
The perspiratiOn rolled Off my forehead as
spoke.
.Brayo :" cried Dratackes, in ecstacy,
all win soon he right nOw."
could not arrive at any such cOnclu-
sion. During the remainder of that day
and following night suffered agony. All
sorts of fearful weapons used by surgeons
i'm the exercise of their hideous duties
passed in array before my mental vision.
| underwent in imagination the tOrtures of
amputation thousand times. As fast as
one toe was cut off with due formality, the
work would be recommended seriattm on
the others again and again.
cannot remember how | reached the
hOspital where the operation was to be
p9formed. / had afterward confused
ha of being laid out upon table in reg
ular Old-fashioned style, and hearing, in
gruffer tones than ever, the voice of Bum
pus. fancied, too, that he made me take
some sort of a connection with a strange
sulffocating odOr. Fear then entirely mas
tered me. Objects became indistinct, and
had not the power of observing what
was going on.
was reused from this partial stupor by
the sight of a strange face-anOther doctor
lat first supposed him to be. remember
being surprised, even then, at the curious
resemblance he bore to Bumpus. My
medical attendants had left the room for IA
moment to consult upon some point of
practice, and while they were absent he
sided up to me with a smile.
An unpleasant position, sir!'
Rather. Can't be helped though"
" A mistake, sir--a serious mistake.
could have cured you without any of this
work. These surgeons are perfect old
fogies-half dozen centuries behind the
agc.'
/ looked mt him anxiously, willing to
grasp at any straw. In fact, yet had a
lurking suspicion of being humbugged by
Bumpus.
1--we thought as much myself said /.
Without giving any answer he pressed
his hand twice or thrice over my diseased
limb, process that instantly relieved me
from pain.
"Come nOw.- he suggested. ''get up.
Let us move before these wiseacres return.
No need of any butchering here"
"Sr." / exclaimed. in burst of CRATE
full enthusiasm, "you are my guardian
angel!'
We escaped from the house without be-
ing observed, and walked up Broadway
toward my own lodgings. | did not feel
the slightest pain. l thought it proper
then and there to express my inability to
recompense the stranger for his services,
but, before / had half uttered the sentence
he said:
I'm want of money, Ell? Mention the
lumber of millions in word, and in an
eAer your wish is granted"
IN have a hundred" replied, jo-
INDY.
Done. How will you have 1t =
stared at my new friend, and, for the
mt time, examined him attentively. He
Hsaman of most gentlemanly address
oat doubtless, lunatic. He smiled al
ably as if in answer to my thoughts. and
exclaimed:
well, must say good-by here. You
may expect the gold. shall send il over
o,night. Adieu.'
With these words he left me abruptly.
As mad as March hare" said 1 to my
sell, looking after him.
ireached home musing over my strange
adventure. Ii was enough TO make any
man ponder and reflect. Though paid
little heed to the millions spoken of so ex.
uavagantly by my singular friend, still my
oMn sudden and miraculous recovery from
a; a;usease pronounced mortal by the physi
ellhs was proved fact. There could b,
no skepticisin here. I was. nevertheless
PeipieHed, and not little confused, du
d;IS .lie remainder of the day. i really
u'u not know what to think of il at all.
Ailer nightiall. became even more rest
lesy ana uneasy. Icannot saw now wheth
"ished my promised visitor to max