The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-02-25
Wrtnsn for TAs ArkaAsaAs Yfaseasr. MY FRIEND CARDIGAN.
BY II. s KELLER.

"What I wish to impress upon your mind more particularly" said Cardi- gan, tossing an oblique glance toward me, ais this: Where Is the linel Now you have studied this subject you have looked at 1t from its different sides; in fact, so to speak, you have circumvented, surrounded, in all, it is your hobby-this idea which exists in your mind concerning the difference between saneness and insanity, Now, answer me ii you pleAse-and at the same time beg you to excuse me for any seeming brutality of bluntness- are you or are you not insane2"
 Cardigan was a strange man; a new and original man to me. l like his sort. Such men as he keep peoples thoughts alive. X man like Cardigan is capable of doing much toward making ideas revolve. had known Cardigan one week, and from the first I was strangely drawn toward him. There was freshness, certain amount of-well, l may say juiciness about him that admired.
 His inquiry struck me as quite orig inal. No man before him had ever questioned my sanity. Really, he had only ventured his inquiry by way of fancy. Of course Cardigan knew l was sane Any man who had ever had any business relations with me knew l was sane. Hang It all! Why did Cardigan put the ques- tion so plainly?
 "Well, really, Cardigan" said as lightly as l could under the trying circumstances, dwell, pass as sane man"
 "Where2" was his sudden interrup- tion as he leaned over the small table standing between us.
 "In the world among the people of the world" replied.
 "Can you swear that l have only one thumb upon my left hand2"
 Now, though am in the habit ot putting questions point blank, yet, am just the least sensitive about hay ing them put to me point blank, es- pecially when a man holds up between me and the lamp left hand bearing two thumbs.
 Once, when I was boy, remem- Der standing upon bridge during freshet in the spring. Below me were the boiling waters chopped to foam by churning whirlpool of floating ice. stood there and gazed In horror upon the monster mouth below me that mouth which greedily swal- lowed whirling stumps and gigantic logs as they came tumbling down the mighty stream. Among the debris was branch. watched 1t whirl and course around the outer edge of the whirlpool, nearer, nearer, nearer, until, finally 1t was drawn out of sight, crushed and ground to particles by the icy teeth of the great monster The thought came to mo then as stood there upon the frail and already tottering fimbers of the bridge, 1 would be only like that branch if l should fall into the depths a man ought not to place himself within reach of the giant death. I hurried to retrace my steps. Great God The bridge timbers had parted, and they were churniDg round and round below. A single plank was between me and sure death; like the poor branch would be sucked under and ground to particles by the cakes of ice, the toss ing logs ano whirling stumps. Every pore oozed drop of sweat my hair felt strangely stiff and my finger nails seemed to sink into the flesh ss stood there upon that one frail plank. Then, roar of thunder came to my ears. The plank, weaved, bent and toppled and-I awoke bathed from head to foot in an icy sweat.
 That is the way felt when Cardi- gan held up his left hand and asked me if I could swear that there was only one thumb thereon.
 looked at his face. IL was mask, a cruel implacable, impenetrable mask of human flesh and blood, which at- tracted me with its two crossed -eyes, grizzly brows and deep line from temple to temple. Before this incl dent, Cardigan had been an agreeable man now, he was fend iDcarnate, a devil, a demon-a man who was reading every thought of my brain, a being who was gazing with cool, de- moniac gaze upon every beat of my throbbing heart.
 "WelI, Is 1t one thumb?"
 What should I answer2 He had just asked me If I was sane or not. Yet, here are two thumbs, plainly, actually, beyond question.
 By heavens! whether ! am sane or not, I'll swear there are two thumbs upon that left hand of yours 1" l cried as spraDg up.
 "And now l know you are a sane man. There are two thumbs now. See-I remove oDe--a wax thumb. Now, there Is one. If you had sworn that there was one, would not have taken your note for a centn