Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1889-08-29


"While sauntering through the
crowd on board Immediately recog-
nized the figure OF my patient, oc-
cupying as secluded a position as was
possible, evidently with the purpose Of
avoiding recognition. / was positive
as to her identity, but something in
her shrinking manner caused me to
proceed again on deck without ap-
preaching her. Here was something
which related to the continued
wretched condition Of her health if /
could only unravel 1t, but il she pre-
ferred concealment should certainly
make no endeavor to probe the mys-
terry.
business detained me for several
hours and | then called at the cottage
for the last time, more, will admit.
to crafty my curiosity than because l
deemed it necessary.
"Great was my surprise to find my
patient in worse condition than that
in which l had left her upon tho day
before and unable to arise from her
couch.
IA troubled, half-irightened look as
| talked to her caused me to take a
sudden resolution. l turned quickly to
her, saying: 1T must have been a
grave matter that caused you to cross
the ferry this morning in your present
state.
''She made no answer, but looked
helplessly at me, her pale face flush
ing, then changing to al ashen hue. l
had spoken in a rather louder tone
than was necessary, not noticing that
the door leading into an adjoining
apartment was ajar until l perceived
the figure OF man standing in the
doorway.
elbow long has this thing been going
on" l asked, paying no attention to
the newcomer.
Direct your question to me, ifyou
please he said, coming forward, when
l at once recognized the grace and
courtliness OF a gentleman bred and
born.
This young lady is my patient
and as such l am responsible to GER
tain extent for her recovery or re-
lapse, and consequently ! have right
to know what causes her protracted
illness, which | begin to believe is the
result of other such journeys as that tc
which l was accidentally witness to-
day.
"Seeing that it was useless to con
ceal the fact OF her trip, he gave me-
after q consultation with the young
lady, sketch Of the facts surround
ing them which had so aroused my
curiosity.
HE stated that he had been engaged
in smuggling for some time, and tn,
fear of detection had been the caus,
OF his sisters anxiety and consequen
illness. He could not prevail upor
me to believe in his identity until h,
donned the hunchback outfit and re
appeared as the companion OF my
trips across the ferry. Again ant
again he declared that he had only es
capped detection through being asso
ciated with me, and that not tril
had been made in my society but tina
the supposed physical deformity hat
in reality been composed of jewel
and laces amounting in the aggregate
to hundreds of thousands OF dollars il
value; that this day was to be the last
, and his sister had been so agitate,
with fear that at her earnest entreat,
he had sent carriage and she ha'
been driven to the landing, where sh
had gone on board to be near him il
case OF disaster. She had never gon
before, and now that he had left tn
dangerous business she would doubt
J less rapidly recover.
1.-The young man explained the in
genious pack which he had worn s.
, long as personal deformity, whicl
| vas hOtCo W ~ OiOoOiy hbbtuS CuL
: trivance that is worn by real sufferer
: from spinal disease While endeavorin
to produce a cure, the straps and deli
cate springs and steols of which it wa
fashioned enabling him to carry
: weight scarcely guessed from its size
/ He also said that Immediately upo
| her recovery he and his sister woul
: return at once to France, where b
5 means of the money he had earned S
dearly they would be enabled to liv
; in comfort. As letter reached me
few weeks later telling me Of their sal
arrival / am released from my prom
Q Use OF secrecy, but in my future NOV,
r ments shall be careful to not agai
: be an innocent accessory to as giganti
fraud as delivering goods on bot
Y sides OF watched, well-know
: smuggling point. Chicago Times.