The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-06-29
\ Doctors Story,

or necessary Introduction TO my story,
must say Il few words Of that time.
When NJ. D. was tackled to my name, I
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 wo-
man. | conceal my own name for similar
reasons.
OF course had rival. Name, Rich
ard Somers; age, twentysix; general ap-
pearance, striking and handsome; charac-
ter, very bad.
Neither my affection for this gentleman
nor his affection for me would have caused
conaa grafton on any river of which l
know. We disliked each other heartily
from the first. Being much handsomer
man than myself, he might have been
dangerous rival. However, he saved me
all trouble. lie committed forgery which
was discovered sooner than he expected.
lie was arrested for the offense, tried and
convicted. | was one Of the principal
witnesses against him. When the SEN
tence was passed upon him, he requested
a moments conversation with me. | shall
never forget the look of hatred upon his
face and he hissed out:
"You have ruined my love and my life.
Remember that, and fear me-"
ain not timid man, and attached but
little importance to his implied threat.
| thought it simply the bluster of self.
defeated and di~graced rival.
Shortly after, Angelina and | were mar
ried, and, as the storybook says, "liyed
happy ever afterwarGp"
So much by way of introduction, now
to my story:
We mad been married a little over two
years. During that time l had heard
nothing of Somers. His sentence had
been a comparatively light one-a year
and six months. After his discharge from
prison, however, neither saw nor heard
Of him.
For so young a man, 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
monses to the bedside Of suffering.
One night, little while before the
hour of retiring, the door-bell rang, and
shortly afteward q 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
lain0uS.
He evidently belonged to that variety Of
fowl known as the jail-bird. Neverthc-
less without hesitation, | put on my coat
and hat, and prepared to 60 with him.
GA gentleman he said has broken his
Leg
thought it pity that, if he were any
thing ike his messenger, he hadn't broken
his neck. did not tell my wife where
was going, for it was a distant part Of
the town, and in anything but a respecta-
bic neighborhood. Ibid not wish to make
the little woman nervous.
On our way, my friend the jail-bird was
very uncommunicative. lie answered my
inquiries about the injured man in surly
monosyllables. lie was apparently in nc
haste, for he walked very slowIy-mort
slowly, | thought, than was consistent
with the welfare Of my patient.
At last we arrived at our destination
1t was very dark looking house, in {
very dark little street.
My guide led me up two flights of very
dirty and rickety stairs, that creaked OBJ
jections to our weight upon them. In the
sbird story, we stopped before door
which, to my surprise, my companion
opened with key which he took from hi.
pocket Was he afraid that man with
broken leg would escape? | was still
more surprised when, on entering thc
room, found it empty! lie motionet
me to cnair, and, remarking he woul(
retLrn soon, left the room.
For the first time was somewhat ncz
vous and suspicious. The empty room
the last action of my guide-his careless
ness, on our way, as to the health of th
supposed injured mantle lonely hous
and neighborhood-all combined to max
me suspect foul play.
Istepped to the door, only to find i
locked from the outside--to the windoy
only to find escape impossible there.
was many feet from the ground.
My suspicious were now certainties.
was trapped, None of my friends, no
even my wife, knew where was.
might be murdered in this den. and u
death remain mystery.
lsuppose waited about an hour be
fore heard the key turn in the door