The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-08
THE STlLETTO.
Ian Francisco Argonaut.l

r
never Gomez
Pull it out, old fellow, begged the suf-
ferer, through white, drawn lips, his gasp
ing voice being hardly less distressing
than the unearthly look in his eyes.
'No, Arnold" said |, as held his hand
and gently stroked his forehead. 1t may
have been instinct, it may have been a
certain knowledge of anatomy that made
me refuse.
"Why not? It hurts" he gasped. 1t
was pitiful to see him suffer, this strong
healthy, hars-brained, daring, reckless,
young fellow.
The resident physician walked iu-a
tall, grave man, with gray hair. He went
10 the bed, and l pointed to the knife
handle, with its great, bold ruby in the
end, and its diamonds and emeralds alter
mating in quaint designs In the sides.
The physician started He felt Arnold's
pulse and looked puzzled.
''When was this done" he asked.
about twenty minutes ago." I an
swered.
The physician started out, reckoning
me to follow.
''Stopr' said Arnold. We obeyed. "Do
you wish to speak of me?' he asked.
Eyes" replied the physician, hesitat-
ing.
Speak in my presence, then, said my
friend, al fear nothing
1t was said in his old imperious way,
although his suffering must have been
great.
eff you insist"
Il DO"
Then" said the physician, eff you
have any-any matters toto adjust. they
should be attended to at once. l can do
nothing for YOU" There was an unstead-
mess in his voice.
"How long can I live p asked Arnold.
The physician thoughtfully stroked his
gray beard. at depends" he finally said;
eff the knife be Withdrawn you may live
three minutes; if it be allowed to remain,
YOU NAV possibly live an hour or two
not longer"
Arnold never flinched. 1t was not the
first time ne had faced death, which had
no terrors for him.
Thank YOU, he said, smiling family
through his pain; my friend will pay
YOU. have some things TO do Let the
knife remain" He turned his eyes to
mine and, pressing my hand, said alice
tionately: And [ thank YOU. too old
fellow. Tor not pulling 1t out.
The phys clan, moved by a sense OF
delicacy. left the room. saying: Ring if
there Is a change. / viii be in the hotel
office"
IL ~ -. conc TO- v,-bav, no +urned
and came back.
"PardOn me-" said he, "but there is a
young surgeon in the hotel who is said to
be very skilliul man. Ny speciality is
not surgery, but medicine. May call
him ?"
YES" said I, eagerly; but Arnold
smiled and shook his head. Il fear there
will not be time" he said. But | refused
70 heed him, and directed that the surgeon
be called Immediately. | was writing at
ArnOld's dictation when the two men en-
tered the room.
There was something OF nerve and
assurance in the young surgeon that
struck my attention. His manner, though
quiet, was bold and straightforward, and
his movements sure and quick. These are
general peculIarities of highly educated
young surgeons. This young man had
already distinguished himself in the per-
Torrance of some difficult hospital
lapaTOtomies, and he was at that sanguine
age when ambition looks through the
spectacles of experiment. And then, zeal
and ambition are often identical. DIR.
RaOul EntrefOrt was the newcomers
name He was a creole, small and dark,
and he had travelled and studied in Europe.
Speak freely" gasped Arnold, after DR..
Entrefort had made an examination.
"W hat think YOU, DOCTOR" asked En-
trefort Of the older man.
Il think" was the reply, chat the
knife-blade has penetrated the ascending
a0rta. about two inches above the heart.
As long as the blade remains in the wound
the escape of blood Is comparatively
small, though certain; were the blade
withdrawn the heart would almost in
stantly empty itself through the aortal
wound"
Meanwhile Entrefort was deity cutting
away the white shirt and the undershirt.
and soon had the breast exposed. He ex-
amined the gem-studded hilt with the
keenest interest.
you are proceeding on the assump-
ton, doctor" he said, that this weapon
Is a knife"
Certainly, answered DR.. Rowell, snil-
ing; what else can it be -
1T is a knife" family interposed
Arnold
''Did you see the blade ." Entreiort
asked him, quickly.
Il did-for a moment"
Entrefort shot quick look at Dr. Row
ell and whispered: Then it is not sui
eide" Dr. Rowell nodded.
Il must disagree with you, gentlemen"
quietly remarked Entrefort; "this is not
knife" He examined the handle very
narrowly. Not only was the blade entire
j. concealed from view within Arnold's
body, but the blow had been so strongly
delivered that the skin was depressed by
the guard. The fact that it is not knife
presents a very curious series of facts and
contingencies" pursued EntrefOrt, with
amazing GOODNESS. 'sOme of which are so
far as / am informed, entirely novel in the
history of surgery"
A quizzical expression, family amused
and manifestly interested, was upon DR..
ROwelFs face.
"What is the weapon, doctor" he asked.
a stiletto."
Arnold started. DR.. Rowell appeared
confused II must confess, he said, my
ignorance of the differences among these
penetrating weapons, whether dirks, dag
gers. stilettos, poiniards or bOwie-knives."
with the exception of the stilettO."
explained EntTefort, 'all the weapons YOU