Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-02
IN THE HANDS OF A MADMAN.

not stop again until we got to Peterborough;
so that was safe to be undisturbed so far.
There were ever so many seats, and [ could
occupy as many of them as limited num-
Der of members permitted apparently l
was alone. l almost wished myself an
Octopus, to take full advantage of the situa-
ton. Calming down, | hung up my hat,
put on gaudy piece of needlework won in
bazaar rattle, lit my pipe, cut my papers,
and began to enjoy myself.
| l sat in the left-hand corner, with my
back to the engine, absorbed in big law
suit. 1t is great fun to read cross-exam-
ination, and to watch how clever lawyer
will make a clever man perjure himself.
| 1T reads almost like crime !" l remarked
aloud "but then it is lawful and benef-
cial crime. Soldiers kill peoples bodies;
lawyers kill peoples reputations-a for the
good of society in the long run 10
While was uttering the word ''run,"
my ankles were grasped suddenly and
firmly; then, before I could recover from
the shock, they were jerked backward under
the seat with such force that l was thrown
forward, sprawling!
l tried to rise, but my right wrist was
seized, and the arm twisted till [ was help
less; and presently l found myself on the
floor of the carriage, face downward, a
sharp knee being scientifically pressed into
the small of my back, and both arms fixed
behind me. My elbows were tied together,
and then the knee was removed and my
ankles were secured. During this latter
operation kicked and struggled.
"Hum!" said a deliberate voice "that
will be awkward Let's see! All these
will do"
"These" were my stick and umbrella.
which some one proceeded to apply as
splints to the back Of my legs, using the
straps which had kept them in bundle to
fix them at the ankle and above the knee.
When he had done, I was as helpless as
dressed turkey.
Then I turned over carefully and tenderly,
and for the first time saw my assailant. He
was gentlemanly- looking man, dressed in
a black coat and waistcoat, gray troH7gs,
and neck-cloth. HIS hair and whiskers
were just turning gray, his chin and upper
lip were clean shaver. His forehead was
high, his eyes prominent and fixed in their
expression, his nose aquiline, his mouth a
slit He was of middle height, spare. but
wiry: indeed, his muscles must have been
exceptionally elastic and feline-for you
would have never thought, to look at him,
that he could stow himself away under the
seat of a railroad carriage so compactly.
He contemplated me. With his chin in
his right hand, and his right elbow on his
left hand, he said, thoughtfullv:
"Just So And for the good of society
in the long run-an admirable sentiment?
My dear sir, let it be consolation to you
if should cause you any little annoyance"
He took a shagreen spectacle case from
his pocket, wiped the glasses carefully with
a silk handkerchief, and adjusted them on
his nose. Then he produced an oblong box,
which he unlocked and placed on one of the
seats: after which he sat down quietly in
the place had occupied five minutes before
"a position which brought him close over
my head and chest as lay supine and help
| less at his feet.
"Do you know anything of anatomy ?"
he asked. was as completely in lis power
as witness in the cross-examining coun-
sells, and prudence dictated that should be
equally ready to answer the most frivolous
and impertinent questions with politeness.
l said that did not
"Ah!" he said. well, perhaps you
may have heard of the spleen? Exactly |!
Now, Science has never as yet been able to
find out the use of that organ; and the man
who bequeaths that knowledge to posterity
will rank with the discoverer of the circula-
ton of the blood, and will confer an ines
Unable benefit on humanity for the re-
mainder of the worlds lease! propose to
dissect you!' ~
"You will not get much glory for that"
said I, forcing myself to seem to take this
outrageous practical joke in good part.
Gan ungrateful generation may or may not
profit by your discovery but it will infalli-
bly, hang you!''
"Not so,'' he blandly replied. II am a
surgeon, who once had very considerable
practice; but had to stand my trial for an
experiment which proved fatal to one of my
patients. The jury, unable to understand
the sacrifices which an earnest inquirer is
ready to offer at the shrine Of Science, de-
clared me mad, and was placed in confne-
ment. So, you see that can act with in
punity."
And he opened the box. broke out in a
cold sweat. Was it all real Could the
man be in earnest. "But,' said |, ''surely
you can get dead bodies to dissect, without
having recourse to crime? And again, If
generations of anatomists have failed in
twenty thousand Investigations to discover
the use Of the spleen-if you yourself have
always failed hitherto-why should you
suppose that this one attempt should be
more successful than the others?"
''Because, my dear sir" said the man,
with smile of one who had caught bright