Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-10-15

"Girl!" exclaimed Mr.. Branson. with
a frown. "She is my daughter"
II beg thousand pardonsp humblv
reioined the doctor, seeming quite fur
ried. "This is remarkable Very re-
markable!" and he stared into the glass.
"What is remarkable?" asked Mr..
Branson with gasp.
There are needles swimming in the
water!" announced the doctor, the non
plused look still on his face. Hundreds
of them, sir! How did they get in :?
Why did she bring me such stuff as
this?"
"NeedIesp exclaimed Mr.. Branson.
becoming very much excited. "There.
Kate!" he added, with an air of triumph.
What have I always told you?"
Miss Branson stared into the tumbler.
her face comically demure.
81 see no needless" she said.
"Oh, you don't, eh?" sarcastically re.
joined the doctor. "What do you saw.
Mr.. Branson?" and he handed the old
gentleman the glass.
you are right, sir" declared he; ct
see them with the naked eye; and nv
sight is none Of the best, for I am al
most seventy. But you cannot con-
vince her"
MAY be L can, {" objected the doctor.
He took out his knife, thrust into the
glass the magnetized blade, and when
he withdrew it a number of needles
were adhering to it, for he had adroitly
dropped them into the water.
what have you to say now?" he
| asked, his eyes upon Kate.
81 am convinced" she said. "Why,
it is just horriblel"
The doctor turned to Mr. Branson,
and said:
"You do not seem greatly surprised ?"
SWELL, no. replied the old gentleman,
with a grin, sit is no new experience to
me. For months | have found needles
In the water, milk, tea, coffee-in every
thing served up to me to drink L can
not begin to tell you what / have suf-
fered. l called in several physicians,
but they laughed at me, and treated it
as the fancy of a disordered mind. You
are the only person who ever detected
the needles, and I know you had no
hint of the matter from me or anybody
else. I shall ever hold you in grateful
remembrance, if for no other reason
than because you have convinced my
daughter. She will believe, with me,
that dIabolical and systematic attempt
has been made upon my life"
"On mine, sir in this instance" grim
~ reioined the doctor. at is an out
rageous affair, and must be looked into.
Who filed this CLASP"
Richard" replied Miss Rranson.
who is Richard" asked the DOCTOR
"a domestic"
Send him here at once" peremptori-
~ ordered the doctor.
Mr.. Branson stared with admiration
at his visitor; he was 81 man of nerve, of
purpose and of promptness; he would
certainly unravel the mystery.
This man Richard" the doctor asked,
"is he colored man?"
"a mulatto."
"Compos-mentis?
"a tritie simple minded, I suspect"
Chow long has he been with you?"
"Three years"
"Ah!" calculated the doctor. "He
must be sent away at once"
The servant came into the room, pre-
ceded by Miss Branson.
Did you fill this glass with water ?"
the doctor sharply asked
Yes, sab, answered the mulatto,
harmless looking fellow, with high
cheek bones and watery eyes.
Did you drop any needles into r"
asked the doctor.
"Golly, mol" exclaimed the man.
Oars DO needles in it. It's an old
cranky notion of Mr.. Branson's. He
keeps us all on an edge about it,"
ooh, he does, eh?" frowned the doc
tor. "Well, it is no fancy"
Oars no needles in the water" de-
clared the man.
"Weu see," said the doctor, as he
thrust the magnetized knife-blade into
the glass. "What are these, pray?" in
dicating number of dangling needles
There was something comical in the
way the mans eyes dilated.
"Dey is needles. sab, sure as you
live!" he exclaimed "Dey must iist
been in the cooler. I didn't put 'em in !;
I swear I didn't sah!"
"Your services here end with to-day !"
the doctor sternly said. eff there is
any money due you Mr.. Branson will
pay it."
A dumb founded look settled upon
the servants face, and he was about to
protest with vehemence, when Mr.
Branson sternly seconded the doctors
order
Il owe you weeks wages, which
Kate will pay you at once" he said.
Nov go and be thankful I didn't have
you up before magistrate"
The man bestowed a fierce, angry
glance upon the doctor, and then slow.
~ and sullenly left the room.
Mr.. Branson and the doctor conversed
for an hour upon various topics. The
old gentleman was wonderfully pleased
with him, and cordial in his invitation
to him to call again.
Miss Branson accompanied the doc
tor to the door.
"Your father is cured" he said.
"Do you think SOP" she asked, her
handsome eyes on his face. @We will
wait week. That was an admirable
rise. Take this. please: 1t is simnIv a