Weekly Trinity journal., 1875-01-02
A RAILROAD ADVENTURE.

The doors were banged, the engine
whisted, the train began to move. 1t
would not stop again until We got to Pc
terborough, so that l was safe to be un-
disturbed so fur. There were ever so
many seats, and l could occupy as many
of them as limited number of members
permitted-for apparently | was alone.
almost wished myself at Octopus to take
full advantage of the situation. Calming
down, hung up my hat, put on gaudy
piece of needle-wcrk won in bazar raf
fe, lit my pipe, cut my papers, and be
gan to enjoy myself.
| sat in the left hand corner, with my
back to the engine, absorbed in a big law
suit. 1t is great fun to read a cross-eXam-
nation, and to watch how a clever lawyer
will make clever man perure himself.
at reads almost like a crime," l re-
marked aloud; "but then tits Il lawful and
beneficial crime. Soldiers kill peoples
bodies; lawyers kill peoples regulations
all for the good Of society in the long
rum"
While l was utterirg the word "run,"
my ankles were grasped suddenly and
firmly; then before could recover from
the shock, they were jerked backward
under the seat with such force that | was
thrown forward sprawling
tried to rise, but my right wrist was
seized and my arm twisted till l was
helpless; and presently | found myself on
the floor of the carriage, face downward,
with a sharp knee being scientifically
pressed into the small of my back, and
both arms fixed behind me. My elbows
were tied together, and then the knee
was removed ard my ankles were secured
During this latter operation kicked and
struggled.
"Hum !" said deliberate voice, "that
will be awkward! Let's see! All! these
will dow
"These" were my stick and umbrella,
which some one proceed to apply as
sphnts to the back of my legs, using the
straps which had kept them in bundle to
fix them at the ankle and above the knee,
When he had done, l was as helpless as
a dressed turkey.
Then 1 was turned over carefully and
tenderly, and for the first time saw my
assailant. He was Il gentlemanly looking
man, dressed in black coat and waist
coat, gray trowsers and neck cloth. His
hair and whskers were just turning gray,
his chin and upper lip were clean shaven.
His forehead was high, his eyes promi-
nent and fixed in their expression, his
nose aquiline, his mouth slit. He was
Of middle height, spare but wiry; indeed,
his muscles must have been exceptionally
feline-lor you would have never thought,
to look at him, that he could stow himself
away under the seat of a railroad carriage
SO completely.
lie contemplated me. With his chin
in his right hand, and his right elbow on
his left hand, he said, thoughtfuly
"Just so! And for the good Of society
in the long run-an admirable sentiment!
My dear sir, lot it be a consolation TO you
if | should cause you little annoyance.' u
He took u shagreen spectacle case from
his pocket, wiped the glasses carefully
with n silk handkerchief, and adjusted
them on his nose. Then he produced al
oblong box, which he unlocked and place.
on one of the seats. After which he sa
down quietly in the p'ac | had occupied
five minutes before--a position wheel
brought him close over my head an(
chest as | lay supine and helpless at hi,
feet.
"Do you know anything of anatomy?'
he asked. | was as completely in hi
power as a witness in the ecross-examininl
counsel's, and prudence dictated that
should be equally ready to answer tn
most frivolous and impertinent question
with politeness. | said that did not.
"Ah !" he said. "Well, perhaps yol
may have heard Of the spleen? Exactly
Now, Science has u, yer been able to fin,
out the use Of that organ; and the maj
who bequeaths that knowledge to posterit,
will rank with the discoverer of the circu
lation of the blood, and will confer an in
estimable benefit on humanity for the re
mainder of the worlds lease | propos
to dissect you ~
"You will not get much glory for that,
said | forcing myself to seem to take thi,
outrageous practical joke in good part
San ungrateful generation may or may
not profit by your discovery; but it will
infalibly hang yoW"
" Not so," he blandly replied. :" am
a surgeon, who once hada very consider
able practice; but / had to stand my trial
for an experiment which proved fatal to
one of my patients. The jury, unable to
understand the sacrifices which an earnest
inquirer is ready to offer at the shrine OF
Science, declared me mad, and | was
placed in confinement. SO you see that
can act with impunity."
And he opened the box. | broke out
in cold sweat. Was ii all real Could
the man be in earnest? But" said /,
'surely you can get dead bodies to dis
sect, without having recourse to crime ?
And again, if generations of anatomists
have failed in twenty thousand investiga-
tions to discover the use of the spleen-if
you yourself have always failed hitherto
why should you suppose that this one
attempt should be more successful than
the Others ?"
Because, my dear SIR" said the man,
with the smile Of one who had caught a
bright idea, "all former Investigations,