The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-07-23
The D0CTOR'S STORY.
BY ALEC CREAM.

lou must know, tSalC my 1rlenu
Harry, that in the course of my many
wanderings about the world CHANGED
once to meet an Englishman by the
name of Rushton. He was a doctor by
profession, but, like myself, being quite
well off, did not have as much practice
as he might have otherwise command
ed, for he was talented fellow, and
one who had studied medicine with
much zeal. Now, DR.. Rushton, some
two years since, arrived in this city, and
i Immediately called upon him, and
offered him our Inequalities. He was
staying at one of our principel hotels.
TO this place / bent my steps, and
while awaiting in the Office the Doctors
appearance in answer to my card, which
/ had sent up by one of the walters, l
amused myself, as l frequently do un-
der such circumstances, by looking
about and scanning the features of
those around me. There were only a
few persons present, such individuals
as are to be met with loafing in the
halls of our hotels; and / did not find
anything particularly interesting to en-
gage my attention until my eyes
CHANGED to alight upon a man whom /
had not at first perceived. / was i'm
mediately struck by his peculiar APP
pearance He was tall, thin
Frenchm9n, dressed in rather a
shabby cloak, and wearing upon
his head one of those impudent-looking
military fatigue caps which were so
common at that time in this country
But it was not his costume that attract
ed my notice so much as his face, which
was particularly repulsive, and not in
by pair of coal-black eyes, ever rest
lessly turning from one object to an
other. as if suspecting every one they
saw of being secret enemies Under
his chin L observed dark. red scar,
which he had evidently attempted to
hide by allowing all his beard to grow
out. Unfortunately, his stock of that
article was very poor, being thin, strag-
Cling, and of light color, so that a
keen eye like mine readily detected the
curious mark he bore. L was thus OBJ
serving this man and cogitating who no
might be, when hand was placed up
on my shoulder, and turning around /
beheld my friend, DIR. Rushton. After
the usual salutations, the conversation
turned upon old scenes and old friends,
and, as is generally the case, we had
much to say that interested both; so
that forgot, for the time, the presence
of the man who had attracted so much
of my notice, until, turning to leave, 1
perceived the mysterious stranger still
present He had drawn chair close
to the stove, and was now fast asleep. i
was about to call my friends attention
TO him, when heard the Doctor sudden
ly give slight exclamation as of one in
pain, and looking toward him, l became
conscious that he was deadly pale and
was staring fixedly upon the French
man. Before L could speak he whis-
pered hastily, as he clutched my arm
and mctioned me to follow:
"Come; for heavens sake, let us get
out of this placel"
He was SO earnest in what he said
that made no remark. but followed
him mechanically up the stairs to his
room, having entered which he threw
himself into chair, and drawing a
long breath exclaimed, @Lock the
door," / did as he requested, and then
took seat opposite him.
what in the name of all that is SEN
sible does this mean ?" asked.
"My conduct must appear very strange
TO YOU" answered Rushton, smil-
ing, "and as have acted thus. it is due
to you, my friend, that / should give
an explanation.
He ceased speaking for a moment to
collect his senses. and then continued !:
"You noticed that man In the Office
that Frenchman with light beard?"
"Yes, 1 did, Doctor. In fact, thought
his appearance was very singular, and
was devoting my attention to him when
you came down stairs"
II had strange adventure once with
that man. / saved his whether /
did so rightly or not, have never since
made up my mind
II should like to hear an account OF
the adventure, Doctor, for must con-
TESS that my curiosity this evening has
been excited to high pitch"
"You shall hear all about it, and you
will be the first man that / have con-
fded 1t to. So to begin. You are aware
that, like yourself, studied for my pro-
fession in Paris. For two years had
lodgings in the Rue d'Antoine, not far