Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-06-09

a Key III tHe LOCK.
'You may remove the handker-
chief now, Doctor he said, in ex-
cecdlngly pleasant tones.
l obeyed at once. At first the
light, albeit only that of kerosene
lamp, dazzled me too much to al
low me 10 sec anything but in a
moment1 was aware that L stood
in bare, white-washed room, the
doors and window Of which were
barred like those Of prison. 1t
contained table and few chairs
on one of these sat a man in his
shirt-sleevcs, whose head was rest
ing on his right hand in an atti-
tude which indicated great suffer
lng-the left hand was wrapped
in cloth and thrust into his bo-
som.
This is your patient said the
spokesman OF the party and the
man lifted his head, and l saw that
he also had kerchief fastened
about the lower part of his face,
while a cap was pulled down to
his eyebrows. In effect all three
men were masked.
'The injury is very serious" !"
continued the speaker. 1t has
been neglected during a journey.
Kindly examine it at once
Then the wounded man without
a word, held out his arm, from
which the other removed the band
age, and | saw hand from which
the little finger had been recently
torn away. 1t was horribly swol-
len, and straight from the finger
up the arm ran a straight red line.
1 gazed at it IN horror /; nothing
but an amputation could save the
mans life without it he must die
in few hours.
Il must have assistance l SAID.
6 Call in some we'll known snrgion.
This is case [ cannot undertake
alone
sYou must replied the only
man of fthe three who had yet spo-
ken. You are skiIlful we know
all about you. You are better than
some older men for any case. This
gentleman knows already what
You fear to tell him. lie must lose
his hand or die =
l bowed.
To-day his hand--to-morrow
his arm,' | said.
We are ready TO assist you,' re-
piled the man.
But, good heavens [ am
not ready to perform SO delicate
an operation to risk litc,' ]
said.
your nerves are steady. You
are a good surgeon. You are act
ing under orders. Divest your
self of all responsibility, and 90 to
work. said the speaker. We
have chlorcform on hand. You
viii! find us all brave men,
As he spoke the injured man
quietly laid lis arm upon the ta-
bic.
The deed was done. The patient
with his arm bound against his
breast, arose. The two other men
at once enveloped him in large
cloak of richest material. AS they
removed their outer garments, |
saw that all three we're splendi9ly
dressed ; and the one whom l must
call the spokesman, for l have no
other name for him, now handed
me roll of coin.
'Count it., he said.
[ obeyed. The money was IN
gold pieces--the sum five hundred
dollars.
sAre you satisfied 2 inquired the
spokesman.
l bowed. He drew the hand
kerchicf~ from his pocket, once
more bandaged my eyes, and led
me to the carriage. This time on
ly one man rode with me. A lit
tie way from my own door he set
my eyes at liberty, and inquired II
[ had any objection to alighting
then and there. To this l replied
by instantly jumping down.
'Good~night,' he said.
'Good-night,' | replied.
And away he drove at rapic
rate. ] returned to my Office, al
most. fancying myself the victim Of
a dream and not likely to sleep tha
night. | counted my money, hie
it safely away, made plans for is
expenditure. and asked myself
over and over again, IN what nm
lawful deed the men | served hat
been engaged and how the suffere
had been injured. The wound wa'
unlike anything l had. ever seen
the effect produced by it unusual
lit my lamp, rekindled my fir
and sat down before it. As | di
go my eyes fell uron the morning
r. - "a