Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-09-08
A DOCTORS STORY.

n.enced the practice Of medicine. By
way of necessary introduction to my
story, I must say few words Of that
time.
When M. D. was tackled to my name
bowed at two shrines, my profession and
my Angelina. Her name was not An
gelina, but my wife being a modest little
lady, desires she shall not be dragged be-
fore an inquisitive public. Let, then, the
abstract, Angelina, represent the real
woman l conceal my OWE name fol
similar reasons.
OF course had rival. Name, Rich
ard Somers, age, twenty-six; general ap-
pearance, striking and handsome charac.
ter, very bad.
Neither nv ELECTION for this gentle
man nor his ELECTION for me would have
started conhagration on any river OF
which know. We disliked each other
heartily from the first. Being much
handsomer man than myself, he might
have been a dangerous rival. However,
he saved me all trouble. He committed
forgery which was discovered sooner
than he expected. He was arrested for
the offence, tried and convicted. l was
one Of the principal witnesses against
him. When the sentence was passed up
on him he requested moments CONVEX
sation with me- I shall never forget the
look of hatred on his fact as ne Kissed
out:
''You have ruined my love and my
life. Remember that, and fear me-"
I am not timid man, and attached
but little importance to his implied
threat thought it simply the buster
OF self defeated and disgraccd rival.
Shortly after, Angelina and I were
married, and, as the story book says,
'lived happy ever afterward.'
So much by way of introduction, now
to my story:
We had been married little over two
years. During that time [ heard moth
ing of Somers. His sentence had been
a comparatively light one-a year and
six months. After his discharge from
prison, neither saw nor heard OF him.
For so young man l had been very
successful as physician. Perhaps my
success was principally due to my strict
attention to practice. No matter how
late, or dark and stormy might be the
night, promptly attended to all sum-
mons to the bedside of suffering.
One night, little while before the
hour of retiring, the door-bell rang, and
shortly after man entered the room
where we were sitting. He was not pre-
possessing. His hair was short and thick
and the general cast of his features vii
famous.
He evidentlo belonged to that variety
of fowl known as the jail-bird. Never
theless, without hesitation, I put on my
coat and hat and prepared to 60 with
him.
ga gentleman" he said, "has broken
his. leg"
I thought it pity that, if he were any
thing like his messenger, he hadn't broken
his neck. I did not tell my wife where
1 was gong, for it was distant part of
the town. and in anything but a respect
able neighborhood. l did not wish to
make the little woman nervous.
On our way my friend, the jail-bird,
was very communicative. He answered
nay inquiries about the injured man in
surIy monosyllables. He was apparently
in no haste, for he walked very slowly
more slowly, I thought, than was consist
ent with the welfare of my patient
At last we arrived at our destination.
1t was very dark-looking house, in a
very dark little street.
My guide led me up two flights of stairs,
that creaked objections to our weight
upon them. In the third story, we stopped
before door, which, to my surprise, my
companion opened with key which he
took from his pocket. Was he afraid that
man with a broken leg would escape?
was still more surprised when, on enter
ing the room, I found it empty! He
motioned me to chair, and, remarking
he wsuld soon return. left the room.
For the first time I was somewhat
nervous and suspicious The empty room,
the last action Of my guide, his careless
ness on our way as to the health Of the
supposed injured man, the lonely house
and neighborhood, all combined to make
me suspect foul play.
stepped to the door, only to find it
locked from the outside-to the window
only to find escape impossible there. 1t
was many feet from the ground.
My suspicious were now certainties. I
was trapped. None of my friends, not
even my wife knew where was. I
might be murdered in this den, and my
death remain a mystery.
I suppose waited about an hour be-
fore I heard the key turn in the door.
Then, to my dismay, half dozen men
entered.
When nature made the jail-bird who
had led me into this trap, she did not
break the mould. These gentlemen
were of the same pattern. All wore the
same hang dog, murderous look. One
of them raised the light in the room,
which had been burning low. With
hardly glance at me, they took seats
upon the floor and began to play cards.
Soon the door again opened, and an
other man entered. I hardly had a hope
as looked at him, for saw the exhnlt-
iag face my enemy-Dick Somers!
At glance he saw recognized him.
With malicious leer he stepped forward,
and quoting his own words Of tive years
before, he said:
"You have ruined my love and my life.
Remember that, and fear mep'
''Somers," said-for my life couldn't
have called him Mr.. Somers-"l know
that you have trapped me here for the
purp pose of revenging yourself upon me,
but remember, sir, that I have frienes !!
Remember law and iustlce!"