The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-10-18
AIDING A sMUGGLER.
A Physician Helps to Defraud
.-.--- Custom Officials ----..
1t Happened Many Years Ago, and He
Was Drawn Into 1t Wholly without
His Rnowiedge-A Manufact-
red Hunchback-

The life Of The average physician is
made up OF varied experiences some
of them being strange indeed. The
world might oftener hear queer sto-
ries were not doctors. as a class,
studiously reticent regarding their
outgoing and incoming and what hap
pens in the interim. professional
ethics'l require this silence. 0cca-
sionally, however, his tongue is loos-
ened. This was the case recently,
when a party of Chicagoans met by
chance in the smoking apartment OF
sleeping-car on a night run from De-
troit to Chicago. Not 10 be outdone
! in the storytelling line the doctor re-
- lated the foHowing: a7 fGrH-
This visit to Detroit recalls TO my
mind one made several years ago.
and some decidedly peculiar circum-
stances connected herewith. One
day, having occasion to cross the ferry
from Detroit TO Windsor, a young
woman on board was taken suddenly
I'll My professional services were
rendered, and upon arriving at the
Canada side she was sufficiently re-
covered to enter a carriage, which
was driven rapidly away. Her COM
panion was a woman of middle age
who acted seemingly in the capacity
OF maid. ..-."r ..
Upon the departure of the vehicle
turned hastily to enter upon the
transaction OF the business that
had called me to Windsor when
came in rude contact with a man
who seemed to have been watching
me so closely as to have no time
10 step aside to avoid being jostled.
He was OF general height but was
badly deformed, being what is gen
orally termed hunchback.
II arrived at my hotel in Detroit
before dark and the occurrence of the
ferry completely passed from my
mind. Early the following morning,
however, it was recalled when upon
visitor being announced l recog-
nized the hunchback and wondered
what could be his business with me-
He stated at once that his sister was
quite i'll and refused to allow any
physician to attend her other than my
self had little to gain from the
trip and positively refused TO take
charge of the case. but upon his clear
ly explaining her condition l knew
that delay would be dangerous and
finally accompanied my strange visit
or. Once more / crossed the ferry,
and upon arriving at a pleasant look
| ing cottage was Immediately shown
| into the presence of the beautiful
woman who seemed even more attract
i've as she lay utterly unconscious
upon the bed. Again L had the salts
faction of seeing her open her eyes as
the result of the remedies applied
She seemed pleased at my presence.
My mind was so impressed with the
air of mystery that surrounded her
that / determined to continue my vis-
its daily during my stay in Detroit
Nervous prostration, brought on by
some great mental anxiety, 1 had al
ready concluded was the cause of her
helpless condition, and until the cause
of such anxiety was removed there
could be very little progress toward
recovery. Morning and evening /
called upon her.-but aside from a
slight increase in strength matters
were at a standstilL
'One thing caused no small amount
OF conjecture, and that was the fact
that in both crossing and recrossing
the ferry / was invariably accom-
panied by the hunchback. who seemed
TO have gratuitously appointed him
self my escort on all my visits to his
sister. Not that he continued in my
presence during my stay. for he dis
appeared from my side Immediately
upon my leaving the boat, and was in
yariably awaiting my return when ]
again appeared. AS he knew the
! hour of my visits he easily accom-
| plished this. t -
"At first gave this peculiar action
no thought, but it was called to my
mind by his persistency in following
it up.
p ..on the last day Of my stay / de.
termined to cross the river earlier
than usual. complete my business a.
sthe Empress Hotel, and make my
last professional call at the cottage
In consequence OF tho change / had
aTtde the hunchba was not await
ing me, and, for the first time,
crossed alone.
while sauntering through III
crowd on board 1 Immediately recos
nized the figure of my patient, o,
cupying as secluded a position as va
possible. evidently with the purpose
avoiding recognition. / was positiy
as to her identity, but something
her shrinking manner caused me {
! proceed again on deck without a.