The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-07-19

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than those who are,
"Are these physicians tooT our late
coInrade asked, moving his hand toward
Jones and /. It was evident he had no
recollection of ever having seen us be-
fore.
They are my assistants, replied the
doctor CURLY, land shall how ask one
of them to go to the hotel and bring nay
operating case to me-"
''Let me go" said Jones, s'T'm glad
to get a chance to breathe the pure air
again.
lie was not gone long, and little was
said while he was absent. DR.. De Costa
made a pretense of examining the wound,
and with great gravity explained to me
that it was merely flesh wound, and
that the operation of sewing it would be
simple one. When his operating case
was handed to him he opened it, and
took from morocco socketbook a thin
sheet of beaten silver This he cut with
a pair Of scissors to the desired shape,
and he exercised great care in fling and
polishing the edges SO that there should
be no ragged protuberances.
Presently, when all was ready, he pre-
pared paper funnel, into which he
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 q deep
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, ball
anced by hand which knew no tremor.
The thick skin from which the hair
had been shaved by few dextrous
strokes was cut in wide v shape and
laid back, showing a small ragged open
ing in the bone which nature had sought
to protect by an added growth of the
epidernis. 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. 1t was az 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 theswet handker-
chief looked down upon his work.
1--WE shall soon know what we have
DONE" he said. "M the operation is snc-
cessful, the probabilities are that this
man win take up the thread of his life
where he left OFF when that wound was
inflicted"
Ibid we whip themT It was Brigham
who spoke. He raised up on his elbow
and smile broke over his face. 81 wa,
hit then, was /? Well, you don't think
its very bad, eh, doctor? 1t can't be very
serious or would feel worse-in the
head, cha piece of shell, suppose, or
minnie ball.
Eyes, spent bali" said the doctor
softly.
"But say, you don't belong to the
Fifteenth. BY George, I haven't fallen
into the hands of the Johnnies, have I?'
and the patients eyes opened wide in
quizzical inquiry. 'aThat would be
joke on me, wouldn't it, and guess
never would hear the last of it in our
mess
'sWhat the deuce ishe talking aboutY
asked Jones in a stage whisper. "Of
his nut, isn't he, Doc?'
'.Not bit of it." replied that dis
tinguished gentleman, who had been
watching his patient with great intent
ness. ssHe is fighting over the battle or
skirnish 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. l wonder
what Old Hood will say when he hears
how we made bonfires 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
that~
"And where was this fight you were
hit imp
"oh, come now, what are you asking
me that forg"
Because l 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 youth 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 tho end of
your tether.
The doctor WINGED a little bit and
said: "Tll 'fess up that I was one Of
those rebs, bat that's long time ago
now; you've whipped rs, and what we
want to know is something about you"
well, this ia great sport. Anyhow
I'm glad l fell into your hands, for you
don't appear like such bad kind of
fellow; bat what makes you say it was
a long time ago?'
Because it was, let me see--what was
the exact date of that fieht ut Thornhill:'