Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1881-06-09
THE MIDNIGHT VISIT.
THE STORY OF YOUNG PHYSICIAN.

: THE STORY OF YOUNG PHYSICIAN
Rap-rap-rap. 1 was fas
| asleep and dreaming when l frs
heard it, and it was little duskJ
, gnome down in a gold mine who
was chipping bits of gold off of the
great masses of ore to put in my
waste paper basket, which joyous
ly held for him. Rap-rap-rap-
rap -rap-rap-again. Now ]
knew that l W as dreaming and tried
my best not to wake mp, but there
was no help for it. l felt my gol-
den dream slipping away l knew
/ was IN bed in my Office. l saw
the head board of the patent hum
bug that was "a chest of drawers
by day. the little night lamp on
the mantle-piece, my clothes about
the room on chairs, the book
shelves all ghostly and shadowy in
the faint light, but I felt no re-
sponsibility about getting up. 1t
was warm and snug under the
counterpane, and cold outside, l
knew.
Rap-rap-rap. Oh, let them
knock. Wait-it wouldn't do. l
began to realize that l was young
physician and that this rapping
might be performed by messen-
ger from a patient. Patients were
not numerous, nor were they like
ly to be, l feared. Accordingly l
jumped out of bed and rushed to
the window, and lifting the sash,
saw a buggy, in which was seated a
man, while another man, who had
evidently al!ghted from it, stood at
the door.
He stepped backward as he
heard the noise l made in raising
the window, and said in deep tones
one naturally expects of a large
man:
sThe doctor
yes l said.
sThere has been an accident, he
continued. Bring your surgical
instruments with you and come
with us as soon as possible, if you
please
In one momcnt,' [ replied, and
turning from the window, dressed
myself, caught up my case
of instruments and hurried down
stairs.
The man who still stood in the
road motioned to me to step into
the buggy, and followed me- We
were wedged SO closely together.
that it was quite impossible tor me
to move, but 1 could see that my
wore caps drawn down
over their eyes, and ha ndkerchiefs
tied about them and over their
mouths.
The weather was scarcely cold
enough for such muffiing, and l
had already begun to feel that ali
was not quite we'll, when the man
who had before spoken addressed
me.
Doctor he said, in the most
conciliatory tones, 'we are about
to do something rather unusual, but
[ assure you no harm is intended by
it or will follow it. desire to bands
age your eyes with this handker-
chief for awhile As he spoke he
produced from his pocket large
square Of yellow silk 1t is soft
and will not be injurious. 1t will
be removed when you arrive at
your destination. l advise you to
make no resistance, and assure you
that your fee will be an immense
one, and that you will be brought
back to your Office as well as you
left it. Moreover, we can do it by
force what We desire to do with
your permission, as We are both
well armed
For moment / hesitated /; then
| sad to my self: The man means
what he says; certainly it is not
worth their while to rob me j; my
life cannot be desired 10y any one.
| will see the adventure to the end.
Aloud l replied: Il rely on your
assurance. DO as you please
LII another moment the handker-
chief was over my eyes and we sped
on in darkness.
! Our journey lasted fer half al
hour, as nearly as could jnd ge
When we stopped, the wheels had
ratified for some time upon the
stones OF badly paved street.
The man who drove had no
spoken a word all this while !; the
other nov once more addressed
me.
Trust entirely to me- be said
You shall have the use of you
eyes again il. moment
Then he guided me mp two steps
and along what seemed to be al
entry, which had an odor will
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