The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-02-20
sSHlsteMang.
THE SEVERED HAND.

About the end OF January, more thar
twenty years since, Doctor Lisfranc, Z
celebrated surgeon of Paris, was return
ing to his house at ii o'clock at night
He had reached his door and had raised
the knocker, about to give warning to
the maid In attendance of his arrival,
when vigorous arm stopped his own
halt way and at the same time three
masked figures surrounded the astonished
doctor. The street was deserted, the doc
tor had no arms by him, and wisely
Judging resistance would prove unavailing
he sought to escape from the hands of the
bandith by the sacrifice of his purse, when
the man who held his arm addressed him
very politely, saying:
believe you are Doctor Lisfranc?''
"You seem to be acquainted with INV
person, replied the doctor. Take, then
my purse and watch-trouble me no
longer: but get you gone to more honest
work"
Sir" said the man, hautily, 1--WE are
no thieves, but only come to ask from you
a favor"
"You have chosen a strange way and
an unusual hour for such a purpose. -
said the doctor, mistrustfully.
Every hour is good for so clever a sur
geon as yourself to perform an operation. ~
"Eh z! said the doctor, who, little re-
assured, stood examining his three clients
more closely, and perceived that they
were dressed more like gentlemen going
to ball than like highway robbers.
I'VE request, doctor, that you follow
us immediately
Permit me, at least, to warn my lady
of my absence.
mo, there is no need of it. You
have your implements with you; that will!
do. You must submit, however, to hsy-
ing your eyes bandaged."
But, sir"
Come, come, by George" SAID one of
the men, ''if you have so many words
about 1T We shall never proceed" he then
sounded shrill whistle, and a carriage
coming from narrow street in the neigh
borhood made its appearance. The three
men led the doctor to it, helped HIM I'M.
and then got in after him. The horse
galloped away at rapid pace.
DIR. Lisfranoe did not even think of Of.
fering a resistance which must prove
useless, but submitted with good grace
to the mysterious violence exercised upon
his person.
For two hours time not a word was ex-
changed between him and his travelling
companions, who spoke among themselves
In language he could not understand.
At length the carriage rolled beneath a
portico-the noise of an opening gate was
heard creaking on its hinges-the Carriage
stopped.
The door was opened and the steps let
down.
We'll" inquired an anxious voice.
He is here replied one of the men in
the carriage, and, taking the doctor by
the hand, assisted him to aiipht. They
then caused him to ascend several stems.
by the cold air that struck upon his
face the doctor perceived that he was on
the steps OF an outer portico. A door was
opened and the doctor fancied thew made
HIM cross q large hall; he was then led
through suite of apartments covered
with soft carpeting. At last the doctors
guide paused and said:
I'VE have reached our destination
doctor; remove your bandage."
The doctor. whose terror had chanoed
to an uneasy curiosity and vague appre-
henslon. obeyed the strangers voice. and
found himself III n small room, luxurions-
ly furnished, and but half lit bv an alabas-
ter lamp which hung in the middle of the
room. The window-curtains were closely
smut as well as those of the alcoye, which
occupied the further end of the psrtn,ent
In this room the doctor found himself
alone with one of the three individuals who
had made him an unwilling captive.
The stranger was tall and of imposino
mlen. He was dressed with a truly aristo,
eratIcal precision: his black ewes glIttered
through the half mask that covered his up- |
per features, while a nervous twitch 40 |
itased his uncovered lips and the thick
bear that surrounded the lower part of
his face. f' VI
Doctor" said the stranger, in a dry
and broken voice, prepare your impIe- |
ton"
Where is the patient?" INQUIRED
Lisiraac. Saying which. he turned To-
ward the alcove and moved a step for
ward. The curtains waved gently. and |
z stuffed sigh was heard coming from that
direction. '"','
PREPARE for the amputation, SIR" re-
peated the stranger convulsiyel;.
but, said the doctor. lit is imporf-
ant that should see the patient"
You can see only the hand YOU ara re-
quired to cut of. "
The doctor then crossed his arms. and
looking earnestly at his interlocutor. re,
piled:
Sir, there has been violence used in
bringing me here. If it be true. however.
that some one stands in need of INV ser,
wees, without looking into YOUR secrets
unmlndtni Of the way have been brought
here shall willingly domy duty as > sur.
eeon. But IT you have meditated crime.
you may have obliged me to follow Won.
BE easy, sir,' replied the stranger. BIT
.eny' there Is no crime in all this" And
taxing the doctor by the arm, he walked
up 70 the alcove; then pointing to hand
mat came from behind the curtains, he
sa.d; That is the hand you are to cut
The doctor took within his own the ex.
Tended hand: he felt Its delicate fingers
snudder at the contact. 1t was a woman's
nand, small and beautifully shaped, on
which ruby ring made It's whiteness an
pear more remarkable.
!. Nothing here, exclaimed the doctor.
no, nothing demands an amnuts.ion."
ana l tell you," cried the stranger,
WIN numbering voice. that If the sur
iesn refuses shall fulfill his Office my
'eii; and. seIzir- an Ak that Law at the
oot OF the bed. D. laid the hand ON the
llRnt-tahie an repaired to sever il.