St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-11-22
The Mysterious Man.

DR.. Wis not a timid man, rs his
friends well know. A doctor has many
strange experiences. Some of his ex-
periences are quite amusing, and were
made especially SO to others when re-
lated by himself.
On one occasion when we were
riding over the Brook road, a romantic
and lonely path threading the banks of
a babbling stream, the doctor pointed
to decayed stump out among the
woods. and said
You notice that old pine stump out
there?'
"Yes."
"Well, that gave rise to one of the
most perfect illusions ever met with.
/ had very rich patient in the village
beyond, whom l visited twice in the
twenty-four hours, and of course the
last time had to be when / had gone
the rounds of my other patients, and it
was generally very late at night; for
country doctors have something to do
besides write out prescriptions. One
night. as | was driving along pell-
NELL through these woods. [ no.
ticed a man with lighted ci gar in
his mouth, standing where the stump
is. and supposing it was workman on
his way home, | said Good evening,
and rode along An hour after | came
back, and to my surprise the man was
still there. with the cigar in his mouth,
and to all appearances the same as
had left him. As there had been ROB-
berries and one or two fires in the neigh
borhooi about that time, which had not
been accounted for, we were all on the
alert to discover the transgressor. This
was what especially directed my at
tention to the circumstance of man
remaining in that lonesome place that
length of time, and so late at night.
When made the trip in the morning,
there was no one upon the road, and
had quite forgotten the circumstance
when approached the spot again in
the evening, until my attention was at
tracted, as it had been the night before,
by man with lighted cigar in his
mouth. 1t was the same man evidently,
and to all appearances the same cigar;
so reined in. and to CRAFTY my curl
oSitv. asked the stranger to ride. AS
there was no answer, L rode on, a
little more briskly, | am free to con-
fess, and when | came back | kept my
eve upon the man pretty sharply until
Vas beyond his reach. BY this time,
had made up my mind it was not wise
to be riding alone through these woods
at midnight, with such mute people
abroad. so the next night took the
brecaution to take one of my students
with me. and also pistol. Sure enough
the man was there before us, his cigal
blazing more brightly than ever.
Now for it, cried the student
Just cock your pistol, and | will hal
him.
".Halloo there. nv friend. A nice
little shower we've had! Amy more rair
to-night?'
"The stranger apparently smoked
but made no sign.
81 say, who are you?'
"No answer.
..By this time my own patience was
full exhausted, and not relishing the
young students civilty. cried out
".Look here, stranger. you have peer
prowling about here two or three nights
and as have business this way, have
a right to inquire into yours. You may
advance and explain; l have pistol II
my hand
"The mysterious smoker took no no
tice of the insult. He was as silent ane
steadfast as before. l then leaped from
nv wagon. determined to solve the mys
terry if 1 grappled the evil one myself.
"Well, and what them" asked i'm
patiently.
What / had taken for man wa:
that pine stump, and nothing more"
"But the lighted cigar? what wa
that?"
ut was bit of what boys call punk
that is. decaved wood which, in damn
places. or after a rain, glows with :
blush light, owing to the phosphorus
contains. Every boy that is familiar
with swamps is accustomed to the myS
teries of punk wood
"During long practice OF man.
years, during which l have rode owe
the widest regions at all times of night
! have never seen anything that coul'
not account for-but if | had not ex
amined that stump with my own hand
and eyes, | should to this day have be
lieved met a man smoking a cigar. "