The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-03-07
APHYsICIAN'S STORY.

r. f H y
1t is not SO far back but that can re-
member very well how and when l com
meneed the practice Of medicine. By
way of necessary introduction to my
story, I must say few words Of that
time:
When NJ. D. was tackled to my name l
bowed to two shriBes, my profession ard
my Angelina. Her name was hot An
gelina, but my wife being modest little
lady, desires she shall not be dragged be-
fore an inquisitive public. Let, then,
che abstract Angelina represent the real
eworian. I conceal my own name for
similar reasons.
| OF course I had rival Name, Rich
ard Somcrs; age, twenty-six; general ap-
pearance, striking and handsome; char
acter, very bad
Neither my affection for this gentle
men nor his affection for me would have
started a confagration on any river of
which know. We disliked each other
heartily from the first Being a much
handsoner man shan myself, he might
have been dangerous rival. However,
he saved me all trouble. He committed
a forgery which was discovered sooner
than he expected. He was arrested for
the ofiense, tried, and convicted. | was
one of the principal witnesses against
him. When the sentence was passed
upon him he requested moments con-
versatiop with ME. | shall never forget
the look of hatred on his face as he
hissed out
"You have ruined my love and my
life. Remember that and fear me-"
| / am not timid man, and attached
but little importance to his threat. l
thought it simply the buster of self
defeated and disgraced rival.
| Soon after Angeline and l were mar
ried, and as the story-books say, ''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 nothing
of SomeIs. His sentence had been a
comparatively light one-a year and six
months. After his discharge from prison
I neither saw nor heard Of him.
Il For 80 young man had been very
) successful as physician. Perhaps my
success was due TO my strict attention to
practice. No matter how late or dark
and stormy might be the night.
promptly attended to every summons to
tile bedside of suffering.
i One night little before the hour OF
retiring, the door bell rang, and shortly
after man entered the room where we
were sitting. He was not prepessessing
His hair was short and thick, and the
general cast of his features villainous.
He evidently belonged to that variety
of fowl known as the Jail bird. Never.
theless, without hesitation, put on my
coat and hat, and prepared to go with
him.
"a gentleman" he said, ''has broken
hisieg."
/ thought it pity that, if he were ii
any way like his messenger, he hadn,t
: broken his neck. | did not tell my wife
where / was going, for it was distan
part of the town, and in anything but :
respectable neighboThood. 1ddnot wisl
to make the little woman nervous.
: On our way my friend, the iail-bird
t was very uncommunicative, answerin;
: my inquiries about the injured man il
= surly monosyllables. He was apparentl,
in no haste, for he walked very slowly
more slowly, / thought, than was consist
e ent with the welfare Of my patient.
f At last we arrived at our destination
1t was very dark-looking house, in
: very dark little street.
e My guide led me up two flights O
stairs, that creaked objections to ou
e weight upon them. In the third story
t we stopped before door, which, to m
e surprise, my companion opened with
$ key, which he took from his poke
d Was he afraid that man with broke
II leg would escapeG was still more SUI
e ptised when, on entering the room,
y found it empty! He nhotioned me to
e chair, and, remarking he would soon r
|e turn, left the room.
le For the first time was somewhat he
lie vous and suspicious. The empty roor
rs the last action Of my guide, his 0areles
E. ness on our way as to the health Of Il
K supposed injured man, the lon ely hou
,e and neighborhood, all combined to NAL
me suspect foul play.
Of stepped to the door, only to find
rt locked from the outside to the windC
as only to find escape impossible there.
re was many feet from the, ground.
of My suspicious were now certainti
ne was trapped More of my friends, Il
ne even my wife, knew where | was | mig
IL be murdered in this den and my dea
m remain a mystery.
n | suppose | waited an hour before
re heard the Key turn in the door. The
to to my dis,hay, half dozen men (
ed tered.
rs When nature made the jaiI-bird W
be he'd LED me into this trap, she did I
in ,1reaS the mold These gentlemen w
is. Of the same pattern. All wore the sa
;he hang-dog, murderous look One of tn
81 raised the light in the room, which i
been burning low. With hardly a glal
the at me, they took seats upon the floor
de, began to play cards.
asst Soon the door again opened, and
ire, other man entered. l hardly had
in hope as I looked at him, for | ;
18th the exulting face Of my enemy-D
be- Somers! -,......-.-
re- AT glance he saw 7 recognized h
ton With a malicious leer he stepped
rta- ward, and, quoting his own words Of
in wears before, lie said:
ind "You have ruined my love and my
he Remember that, and fear me!''
the "Somersp' said-for my life l co
!, ,ot bovp raHpd him Mr., SOmers-