Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-11-15
The Mystery Of a Hanson Cab
BY FERGUS w. HUME.

"Whatr' he said with forced laugh, "do
you really expect me to play lawn tennis on
such dayi You are mad"
81 am hot, you mean," reborted the i'm.
perturbable Rolleston, blowing a wreath Of
smoke.
''Thats foregone conclusion" said DR..
Chinston, who came up at that moment.
''Such a charming novel, 4" cried Julia, who
had just caught the last remark
"What isf' asked Paterson, rather puzzled.
"Howells' book, "A Foregone Conclusion,
said Julia, also looking puzzled. "Weren7
you talking about it"
'Tm afraid this talk Is getting slightly in
coherent" /" said Felix, with sigh. I'VE all
seem madder than usual today"
'Speak for yourself, !" said Chinston, indig-
nantly; ''rm as sane as any man in the
world.n
Exactly" retorted the other, coolly,
"that's what say, and you, being a doctor,
ought to know that every man and woman
in the world is more OF less mad"
"Where are yoSr factsp asked Chinston,
smiling.
"My facts are all visible ones" said Felix,
BldNol1 Iuo y. lHeJ To
all crooked on some point or another"
There was chorus Of indignant denial at
this, and then every one burst out laughing
at the extraordinary way in which Mr.. Rol-
lesion was arguing.
''If you 60 on like that in the house." said
Frettlby, amused, 'you will, at all events,
have an entertaining parliament"
"AhI they'll never have an entertaining
parliament till they admit ladies'" observed
Paterson, with quizzical glance at Julia
"It will be a parliament of love them" re-
torted the doctor, dryly, land not medieval
either"
While every one was laughing at this re-
mark, Frettlby took the doctors arm and
walked away with him. ~ want you to
come up to my study, DOCTOR" he said, as
they stroiled toward the house, land exam
inc me-"
"Why, don't you feel wellT' said Chinston,
as they entered the house.
"Not lately" replied Frettlby. "rm afraid
I've got heart disease"
The doctor looked sharply at him, and then
shook his head
Nonsense" he said, cheerfully, "it's a
common delusion with people that they have
heart disease, and In nine cases out of ten it's
all imagination unless, indeed" he added,
waggishly, ''the patient happens to be a
young man."
"Ahf u suppose you think Pm safe as far
as that goes" said Frettlby, as they entered
the study; land what did you think of Rol-
leston's argument about people being mads"
1t was amusing" replied Chinston, taking
a seat, Frettlby doing the same That's all
I say can about it, though, mind you, think
there are moro mad people at large than the
world is aware Of"
''IndeedI"
"Yes;'do you remember that horrible story
OF Dickens, in the 'Pickwick Papers, about
the man who was mad, and knew it, yet sue
cessfuliy concealed it for yearsl Well, | be-
lieve there are many people like that in the
world, people whose lives are one long strug-
gle against insanity, and yet who eat, drink,
talk ard walk with the rest of their fellow
men, evidently as gay and light hearted as
they are"
"How extraordinary"
'HaE the murders and suicides are done in
temporary fits of iasanity," went on Chin
ston, "Gnd if person broods over anything,
his ineipient madness is sure to break out
sooner or later; but, Of course, there are cases
where perfectly sane person may commit
murder on the impulse Of the moment, but
regard sQth persons as mad for the time be-
ing; but, again, murder may be planned
and executed in the most cold blooded man.
ner."
"And IN the latter case" said Frettlby,
without decking at the doctor, and playing
with the paper knife, 'do you regard the
murderer as mads"
eyes, DO" answered the doctor, bluntly
"He is as mad as person who kills another
because he supposes he has been told by God
to do so-enly there is method in his mad
ness For instance, believe that hanson
cab murder, in which you were mixed
up"-
Cd it, sirl!I wasn't mixed up in it." in
terrupted Frettlby, pale with anger.
"Beg PARDON" said Chinston, coolly, "a
slip of the tongue; was thinking of Fitzger-
aid. Well, believe that crime to have been
premeditated, and that the man who COM
mitted it was snad. He is no doubt, at large
now, walking about and conducting himself
as sanely rs you or l, yet the germ of in
sanity is there, and sooner or later he will
commit another crime"
allow do you know it was premeditatedr'
asked Frettlby, abruptly
"Any one can see that, answered the other
"Whyte was watched on that night, and
when Fitzgerald went away the other was
ready TO take his place, dressed the same"
''That's nothing, "retorted Frettlby, look
ing at his companion sharply. "There are
dozens of men in Melbourne who wear even
ing dress, light coats and soft hats-in fact,
generally wear them snyself"
"Wc!l tnat mi;sttt have hrpr II t,ninci-
dence, a.Ii,! uoeuy,, rathe. ,iiScoucerted,
''but the use of chloroform puts the question
beyond doubt; peopN don't usually carry
chloroform about with them"
~ suppose not" answered the other, and
then the matter dropped. Chlston made an
examination of Mark Frettlby, and when he
had finished his face was very grave, though
he laughed at the millioniare's fears
'You're all right" he said, gayly. "Ac-
tion of the heart q little weak, that's all
only" impressively, ''avoid excitement
avoid excitement"
just as Frettlby was putting on his coat a
knock came to the door and Madge entered.
"Brian is gone," she began "Oh, beg
your pardon, doctor, but is papa ill!" she
asked with sudden fear
mo, child, no." said Frettlby, hastily, II
am all right; | thought my heart was af-
fected, but it isn't"
"Not bit of it," answered Chnston, re-
"All right, only avoid excite
ment"
But when Frettlby turned to 20 to the
door Madge, who had her eyes fixed on the
ioctor's face, saw how grave it was.
"There is dangerq' she said, touching his
arm as they paused for a moment at the
Ioo,