San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-09

waist, and he was looking in her face
| His straw hat hid his features, but the
face of the young woman was turned to-
ward the camera that had so perfectly
mirrored them both. She seemed to be a
young and pretty girl in the more lowly
walks of life, aud her lover seemed To he
gentleman. What a pity he hadn't
looked up! Who could he be- And shes
Alma's remark plainly showed that she
at least knew the girl, and for some rea-
son was holly indignant with her.
Thinking he had mede trouble enough
already, Elmer toUk one more good look
at the picture and then prepared to de-
strOy IL. Something about the young
mans hat struck him as familiar. II was
panama hat, and had two ribbons
J wound round it in fanciful manner that
| was not exactly conventional.
He silently opened shutter and the
| picture faded away. lie drew up the cur
tains and looked out on the bridge. The
| young couple had disappeared. Poor in
nocents! They little knew how their pict-
ures had been taken in spite of them
selves, and they little knew the tragic and
terrible consequences that were TO flow
from the stolen photograph so 81 angely
made. Elmer took the little side from
ering il to fragments on the hcartIstone,
when he paused in deep thought. Was it
wise to destroy it? Had he not better pre-
serve IL? Perhaps he could some day solve
the mystery that hung about 1t, and find
out the cause of Almas grief and anger.
| Perhaps he might help her; and there
came softening about his heart that
seemed both new and wonderfully I'M
| scientific.
| Shortly after this the dinner bell
| rang, and he went down to the din
| ing room. Alma sent word that she
| had severe headache and could not
| appear. Mr.. Belford was already
there, and he looked at Mr.. Franklin
with an expression that made the young
man uncomfortable in spite of himself.
| Mr.. Denny was unusually thoughtful and
| silent, and conversation between the
| younger men was not particularly bril-
liant or entertaining. At last the dreary
meal was finished. Mr. Belford rose first
and went out into the hall. Mr.. Frank
lin followed him, and saw something that
| quite took his breath away.
There lay the hat Of the photograph,
| double ribbons and all. Mr.. Bedford quietly
took it up and put it on, and it fitted him
| perfectly. Elmer stopped abruptly and
| looked at the man with the utmost inter-
| est. The confidential, the chimney builder,
paid no attention and quickly passed on
| out of the front door.
'E. Franklin, you have made discov-
cry. The pursuit of pure science never
showed anything half so interesting as
| this. You had better raise a cloud on
the subject. Gadl It's cloudy enough
| alreadyr'
This to himself as he slowly went up
| stairs to his room. Selecting pipe, he
filed it, and finding comfortable seat he
fired up and prepared to examine men
| tally the events of the day.
sit was the confidential, making love
to some village beauty, supposed TO be
Green by name, if not by nature. Alma
loves him. That's bad. Perhaps she's en-
gagged to him. Has she ring? Yes-saw
it the other day. The affair is cloudy
| and-Gad! Blessed if | don't keep that
| lantern slide! 1t may be of use some day.
| Come i'm
This last was in response to a knock at
the door. Mr. Bedford entered, panama
hat with two ribbons in hand
Good afternoon, Mr.. Franklin,
thought l might find you here"
Eyes, I'm al leisure. What can do for
| you? Smoker"
| no; can't today. The fact is. I've q
bad tooth, and smoking troubles it,"
''Indeed. Let me see it. I'm a bit of
| dentist"
care you? That's fortunate, for it
aches sadly and our nearest dentist is five
miles away"
''Sit right here by the window, where
can have a good light"
Mr.. Bedford, a physical coward, could
| not bear pain; and though he was unwill-
| ing to be under obligations to one whom
he considered mere boy, he sat down in
the proffered chair, and opened his mouth
dutifully.
"Ah, yes-dentes sapentia. It's quite
gone. Shall take it out for you?'
''Will it be painful"
mo. I'll give you nitrous oxide.
Without it it might he very painful, for
the tooth is much broken down"
Mr.. Bedford hesitated. Had he better
place himself so utterly at the mercy of
| this young man:
at will pass off in a moment, and leave
no i'll effects behind. You had better take
it."
"Weli, will; but make it very mild,
for am afraid of these new tangled no
| tions''
"YOu need have no fear" said Elmer,
| bringing up his iron box of nitrous oxide,
and selecting pair of fOrceps from the
| mass of instruments in one of his trunks.
| 'It's very odd. It's the merest chance
| that happened to have pair of forceps.
| Are you ready now? Put this tube in
your mouth, and breathe easily and
| naturally"
The patient leaned back in the chair,
| and the amateur stood silently watching
| him.
Its a fearful risk, bur I'm going to
try it. | succeeded with Alma, and
| fancy | can with this fool. He was a fool
to run right into my arms i'll this fashion.
| No wonder his wisdom tooth was rotten.
| I'll have it out in u moment"
| All this to myself. The patient closed
his eyes, and fell into deep sleep.
Take 1t strong. 1t will not hurt you,
and must keep you quiet till the deed is
| done"
His science was to be brought TO bear
upon rascality, and lie must move eau
tiously and quickly. The instant the
| patient was unconscious Elmer bent over
him and turned back his coat and from
the inside pocket he drew forth a folded
| paper. He had caught a glimpse of it
when he looked In the mans mouth, and
ON the spur Of the moment he had con-
ceived and put into practice this bold
| stroke Of applied science. Making the
man comfortable, and giving him a little
air with the gas, he opened the paper and
| spread it wide open before pile of books
i'll the full sunlight. The patient stirred
uneasily. With a GREATNESS motion
Elmer piled him with more gas, and he
| sighed softly and slumbered deeper than