Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-11-05

placed piece OF cloth saturated with
ether, and this he directed me to hold
over Brigham's nose and mouth. When
that unfortunate had fallen into a deem
sleep, the doctor seized his scalpel and
went to work with the air of man who
knows thoroughly what is to be done,
and has abundant confidence in his own
ability to do it / watched his keen
knife as it moved here and there, bal
anced by hand which knew no tremor.
The thick skin from which the hair
had been shaved by a few dextrous
strokes was cut in wide V shape and
laid back, showing small ragged open
ing in the hone which nature had sought
to protect by an added growth of the
epidermis. Exposed before US was the
brain of this man who had said he had
no past. Over this opening the small
silver shield was fitted with wonderful
nicely and fixed in place; then the skin
was drawn back and few stitches COM
pleted the work. It was an hour from
the time first held the ether to Brig
hams nostrils to the time when the doc
tor rose to his feet, and wiping his blood
stained fingers upon the wet handker-
chief looked down upon his work
"We shall soon know what we have
DONE" he said IF the operation is sue
cessful, the probabilities are that this
man will take up the thread of his life
where he left of when that wound was
inflicted"
Ibid we whip hem?' 1t was Brigham
who spoke. He raised up on his elbow
and smile broke over his face. 81 wa
hit then, was p Well, you don't think
its very bad, Ell, doctor? It can't be very
serious or would feel worse-in the
head, cha piece of shell, ! suppose, or
a minnie ball"
Eyes, spent ball. said the doctor
softly.
But ! say, you don't belong to the
Fifteenth. By George, l haven't fallen
into the hands of the Johnnies, have r.
and the patients eyes opened wide in
quizzical inquiry. THAT would be a
joke on me, wouldn't it, and | guess /
never would hear the last of it in our
mess"
"What the deuce ishe talking about?
asked Jones in a stage whisper "Of
his nut, isn't he, Doc2"
mot a bit of it," replied that dis
tinguished gentleman, who had been
watching his patient with great intent
ness. He is fighting over the battle or
skirmish in which he was wounded
But say" broke in Jones. that
couldn't be; it's close to six years since
the war closed
There have been no years since then
for him." replied the doctor. 81 told you
he would take up his life where he laid
it down when that wound was inflicted.
He is fulfilling my prediction.
by George, didn't we make great
work of that supply train | wonder
what Old Hood will say when he hears
how we made bonfres of his cherished
pontoon bridges.
"What was your regiment asked the
doctor quietly.
"Why, the Fifteenth Pennsylvania cav
airy, of course. Why do you ask me
thatg"
"And where was this fight you were
hit in?'
"Oh, come now. what are you asking
me that forY'
because want to know"
"And you don't?"
Don't WHAT"
Don't know"
"Of course not, or would not have
asked"
"Well, where have you been the last
few weeks, anyhow
"Why, at ThOrnhill; and guess if you
look it up on the map you'll find it's in
Alabama But say, if am a prisoner
and you are one of those Johnny rebs
we've been after, you'll have to 'fess up
that you've got mighty near the end Of
your tether.
The doctor WINGED little bit and
said: III 'fess up that | was one of
rebs, but that's a long time ago
now; you've whipped US, and what we
want to know is something about you"
well, this is great sport, Anyhow
I'm glad fell into your hands, for you
don't appear like such bad kind of
fellow; but what makes you say it was
a long time agoy"
Because it was, let me see-what was
the exact date of that fight at ThornhillY'
"Oh, pshaw, you're joking now. Why
january third, eighteen hundred and
of course"
$50 it was, so it was; just five years
and two months ago."
"Well, if you amt the queerest fellow
I ever did run across. Say, knew you
got dreadfully mixed up on things
in general, but, by Jove, you didn't try
to doctor up the calendar any, did you:"
"You think am joking" replied the
doctor seriously, "but am in very great /
earnest 1t is more than five years ago
since that skirmish took place at Thorn |
hill, when Hoods train was destroyed |
You were struck n the head and have /
been unconscious ever since"
Unconscious for five years.
II call it that because 1 suppose you
lave no consciousness of what has taken
,lace in the interval, though to all in .
ents and purposes you we're, so far as
Tour associates knew, in possession OF i
Tour faculties"
"But the war;"
at closed long ago."
"And my regiment, the Fifteenth Penn
ylvania cavalry"
"Disbanded long since"
"And me?"
Enrolled, perhaps, among the miss
n.y." ]
''But the folks at home in the old
homestead on the WissahickonY'
Watching yet for your return; and