The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-07-16

Dral practitioner. What can I do for
youP"
Nothing, thanks" said the little
man. briskly: ''but you can do yourself
turn, if you are so disposed"
"What do you meanP" inquired DR..
Jones, q trifie taken aback.
s'Balmyre has asked me to go up to
Highbury to give a certificate Of insan-
ity, and a. he suggested that you
might also be willing to take the job I
called to carry you along with me?"
returned MI. Graves, putting his hands
under his coat-tails and warming him
self before the fire.
"Well, I am always glad to oblige DR..
Balmyre, but pom my word it is rather
inconvenient," said DR.. Jones, with i'm
p~ortance, but avoiding his companions
eye. II expect half a dozen
people here. Just the busiest time in
the day, too" he added, glancing at his
watch.
"They haven't come yet, and as the
weather is bad I dare say they'll put it
of till Tomorrow" said little MI.
Graves, with a smile.
Where did you say the place WASP
Highbnry! That is a long way off,"
said DR.. Jones, endeavoring to look
quite unmoved.
s.We shall be back in less than an
hour. My carriage is at the door, re-
turned Mr.. Graves. a little impatiently.
.Well as 1 have said, I should be
sorry to disoblige Balmyre; and as for
my patients, if they won't keep their
time, they must wait" said DR.. Jones,
opening the door to his visitor and
signifying that he would accompany him.
He felt relieved to escape the quiet
and penetrating gaze of little Mr..
Graves, for he was painfully conscious
that his attempted air of superiority had
been a failure. OF course, he was only
too glad of the opportunity of earning
a couple of guineas on a dull morning,
but it was contrary to his creed to al
low anyone to suspect it. Above all,
he considered it essential to his dignity
as a physician to appear a tri1e conde-
scending to a general practitioner and
he honestly felt a tinge of contempt for
little Mr.. Graves. He might be clever
enough-and. indeed, he vas really a
worthy disciple of the healing art. But
what, he said, was to be thought of a
man who, wantonly neglecting opportu-
mites of amassing wealth and obtaining
celebrity, went about in thick shoes
and a shocking hat, visiting all the
lowest and poorest parts of the DISTRICT
Little Mr.. Graves showed he was a
good fellow by not taking umbrage at
the young mans impertinence and self
Importance, and DR.. Jones insensibly
began to adopt a more genial tone and
manner during the drive. Their desti-
nation proved to be a small house in an
unpretentious street nea Highbury
Station, and the formalities of the bust
ness on hand were quickly dispatched.
The patient was a middle-aged man,
whose behavior and conversation
seemed to fully testify to the aberra-
ton of his intellect. DIR. Jones signed
the certificate with a clear conscience,
mentally contrasting the present case
with others he had certified to for DR..
Balmvre when Mr.. Graves had not
been his companion.
When they took their seats in the
carriage again to drive back, DIR. Jones
glanced at the house they yer leaving
and said:
81 wonder who the patient is?"
civilian Roberts" said Mr.. Graves,
in his matter-of-fact way.
Eyes, know his name. But how the
deuce can people in that position afford
to pay Balmyre's terms? His asylum
is one of the most expensive there is
..Ah! That has struck YOU also, has
itp" said MI. Graves, meaningly.
"Well. it's odd. isn't it? However, ]
suppose his relatives will starve them
selves to pay for him."
Ibid anything else strike you?" in
quired Mr.. Graves.
mo. What do you meanp" said DR.
Jones, ~innocently.
Have you any doubt of his being
madp''
Good gracious, no! Have youP" de
manded DR.. Jones, in amazement.
81 signed the certificate. 1 suppose
it is all right. but when l reflect l feel s
little uneasily," said Mr.. Graves, Sc
~riously.
Il never saw a clearer case in my
life-neverr!' cried DIR. Jones, slappins
his knee emphatically. Il would stake
my reputation that he is as mad as {
March hare"
"Ahem!" coughed MI. Graves
dryly.
Look at his manner"
Eyes. his was eccentric
enough"
"And his conversation. The man il
a gibbering lunatic. You heard his an
swer when. on his saying he was tn,
Emperor of Russia. I jokingly reminded
him that a minute previously he hat
claimed to be the Grand Llama o.
Thibet. True he said, but that wa:
by my first wife,"
''Yes," returned Mr.. Graves, pen
sively rubbing his nose; I'm not sur,
I haven't read that joke before"
''Why, really, my dear sir" criet
DR.. Jones, getting quite hot and angry
''what is it you suspect [ have not
shadow of hesitation that it is a clea
case. At all vents we shall hear wha
Balmyre says"
Mr.. Graves smiled at this, but b
only answered: well, there was n,
coercion. If the man is less mad thai
he appears to be he only has himself t,
thank"
With this remark the little man ah
ruptly changed the conversation; bu
he had not succeeded, ever when b,
set his colleague down at his own door
in completely restoring that gentleman
equanimity.
However, DIR. Jones did not long con
tinue to marvel at Mr.. Graves extraol
binary obtuseness, for the disagreeabl
discovery that in his absence a sheriff
officer had been placed in possession q
his apartments efectually drove a.
other thoughts from his mind. AS wa
quite natural he was considerabl
startled and upset, and for a time b
lost his habitual fortitude and self-pos
session. The bailiff seemed a decen
sort of man, and as he was decided
disposed to be sympathetic, DR.. Jone
could not refrain in his bitterness
spirit from inveighing against his evi
fortune.
swell. sir. it do seem ard. don't it
But, arter all, sir, wot is it? If 70
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