Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-02-06

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THE SEVERED HAND.
About the end Of January, more than
twenty years since, Doctor Lisfranc, a
celebrated surgeon OF Paris, was return
in 10 his house 1T eleven o'clock at
night. He had reached his door, and
had raised the knocker, about to give
warning to the maid in attendance of
!:!> arrival, when a vigorous arm stopped
his own half way, and 1T the same time
.nree masked figures surrounded the
A>ton:sle>i doctor. The street WAS de.
serted, the doctor had no arms by him,
and wisely judging resistance would
prove unavalliDg, hi sought to escape
lr NJ the hands Of the banditti by the
S;crince Of his purse, when the men who
held his arm addressed him very rolite-
Is. saying:
Il believe you are Doctor l.isfranc?"
You seem to be acquainted with my
person. replied the doctor. Take,
hen, my pulse and watch-trouble me
IL, longer. but ret you gone to more hon
y work
"@r,' said the man haughtily, " We
are no thieves, but only come to ask
from you favor
You have chosen strange way and
an unusual hour for such purpose"
SAID the doctor, mi=trustfully.
Every hour is good for so clever a
surgeon IS yourself to perform al opera
rion.'
F,a?' said the doctor, who little
treasured, stood examining his three
clients more closely, and perceived that
they were dressed more like gentlemen
going to ball than highway robbers.
" We request, doctor, that you follow
Us immediately
Permit me, at least, to warn my lady
Of my absence
"\o-there is no need for it. You
have your implements with you; that
will do. You must submit, however, to
having your eyes bandaged."
Come, come, by George" said one of
the mem, "if you have so many words
about it, we shall never proceed" He
then sounded shrill whistle, and car
rage coming from a narrow street in
The neighborhood made its appearance.
The three men led the doctor to it,
helped him up, and then got in after
aim. The horses galloped away at a
rapid pace.
Doctor Lisfranc did not even think of
offering resistance, which must prove
Useless, but submitted with good grace
TO the mysterious violence exercised up.
On his person.
For two hours time not a word was
exchanged between him and his travel
ing companions, who spoke among them
selves in language he could not under
stand.
At length the carriage rolled beneath
porLico-the noise of an opening gate
was heard, creaking on its hinges-the
carriage stopped.
The door was opened and the steps let
down.
N-ell?" 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 alight
They then caused him to ascend several
steps.
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 that
they made him cross large hall; he was
then led through suite of apartments
covered with soft carpeting. At last the
doctors guide paused, and said:
We have reached our destination
doctor-remove your bandage."
The doctor whose terror had changed
to an uneasy curiosity and vague ap
prehcnsion, obeyed thu strangers voice
and found himself in a small room, lux
uriously furnished, and but half lit by
an alabaster lamp which hung in the
middle of the room. The window cur
tains we're closely shut, as we'll as those
of the alcove, which occupied the further
end of the apartment. 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 imposing
mien. He was dressed with truly
aristocratic precision; his black eye
glittered through the half mask thai
covered his upper features, whild nerv
ous witch agitated his uncovered lip
and the thick beard that surrounded thu
lower part Of his face.
e Doctor" said the stranger, in dry
and broken voice, "prepare your nipple
ments-you have to perform an amputa
tion.'
" Where is the patient?" inquired
Llsfranc. Saying which he turned to
ward the alcove, and moved step for
ward: The curtains waved gently, ane
stiaed sigh was heard coming from
that direction.
" Prepare for the operation, SIR" re
peated the stranger, convulsively.
"But," said the doctor, cit is impor
tant that 1 should see the patient"
"YOu can see only the hand which
you are required to cut of"
The doctor then crossed his arms, and
looking earnestly at his interlocutor, re
plied
Sir, there has been violence used il
bringing me here; if it be true, however
that some one stands in need of my SCI
wees without looking into your secret
-unmlndful of the way 1 have beer
brought here-l shall willingly do m!
duty as a surgeon. But if you havl
meditated a crime, you may have obliged
me to follow you, but you cannot fore,
me to be your accomplish"
Be easy, sir" replied the stranger
bitterly; "there is no crime in all this
And taking the doctor by the arm, h
walked up to the alcove; then pointin,
to /, hand that came from behind tn
curtains, he said: "That is the hant
you are to cut off,"
The doctor took within his own thu
extended hand; be felt it's delicate fin