The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1893-09-20
DR.. TRIFULCAS'S DOUBLE.
II Strange Story of the Little TO1Cn of
LMHtrOp.

fury OF the gale bowed the trees on the
Volsinian coast and beat upon the cliffs
of the mountains OF Crimma. The lofty
rocks along the shore were gnawed by
the waves OF the vast sea OF Niegalo-
cride.
Whoo-oo-oo Whii-ish!
At the end Of the harbor 10 the little
town of Luktrop. few hundred
houses, four OF FIVE steep streets. which
look like ravines, pavede with pebble
stones and roughened by the scoriae
elected by the neighboring volcano.
vanglor. During the day 1t emts sui
phurous vapors: at night. ever and anon.
huge tongues OF flame. Like a light
house. the Vanglor shows the harbor
Of Luktrop to the coasters whose keels
ept the waves Of the Niegalocride.
on the other side OF the town are
some ruins of the Crimmarian period.
Then comes suburb which recalls
Arabian villages. with white walls,
round roofs and sun-scorched terraces.
a heap of stones flung there haphazard,
Ike pile of dice whose angles were
worn off by the steps of time.
Among other buildings Is the Six
Quatre. a name given to an odd-looking
structure. with six windows on enc side
al d four on the other.
A steeple dominates the town-the
square belfry of st. Philflene. with a
chime of bells which are sometimes
stirred by the tempest. 1t is consid-
cred bad omen and always inspires
terror throughout the country.
Such is Luktrop. Then outside are
scattered houses standing amid the
broom and furze. as in Brittany. But
it isn't in Brittany. Is 1t in France?
l don't know. In Europe? 1 don't
know that, either. At any rate, don't
look for Luktrop on the map-not even
in Stieler's atlas.
Tap A timid knock was heard on
the narrow doot of the Six-Quatre at
the left angle Of the Rue Messagliere
1t was one Of the most comfortable
houses, II the word can be applied to
Luktrop.
The knock was answered by savage
barking, :ntermingled with bowling. like
the barking Of wolf. Then a window
above the door opened. deuce take
these troublesome people," said an angry
| dice.
| :. young girl, wrapped In a shabby
asked If DR.. Trifulgas was at home.
He Is or isnt-ac :ording to circum-
stances"
I've come to ask him to go to my
dying father"
Where is he dying?"
ION the coast Of Val Harmon, four
miles from here
What is his name?"
Wort kartif."
wort kartif?"
Yes, and II DR.. Trifulgas'-
DIR. Trifulgas isn't in"
And the window closed abruptly. while
the roar Of the wind and the rush OF
the rain blended in deafening noise.
This DIR. Trifulgas was a hard man
His old dog Hurzof a crors between 9
bulldog and spaniel-would have had
more pity. His house. Slx-Quatre, in
hospitable to the poor opened only tc
the rich. Besides he had regular
scale of charges for his services-sc
much for typhoid fever. SO much fol
a congestion, so much for pericarditis
and other diseases which doctors in
vent by the dozen. Now, Wort Kartii
was a poor man, a member of an insig
nifcant family. Why should DR.. Tri
fulgas disturb himself. and on such
night?
Just getting me up was worth i
fretzers," he muttered. as he went bacl
to his bed.
Scarcely twenty minutes had passet
when the iron knocker again strucl
, on the door Of the Six-Quatre.
, The doctor, in rage, again leane,
out of the window.
"Who's there" he shouted.
: IT am Wort Kartifs wife"
1.-THE man at Val Karinon?"
"Yes. and II you don't come he will
: die"
well, you'll be a widow"
, Here are 20 fretzers."
: Twenty fretzers to go to Val Kari
non, four miles on No. thank you
Deuce take me II will"
a And the widow banged again. Invent
, fretzers! A fine piece OF business! Rls
a cold or lumbago for 20 fretzers. espe
o cially when, the next morning. he wa
:. expected at Kiltrono by the rich Ed
/, z!ngov. from whose govt he made
o fretzers visit
With this agreeable prospect DR.. TT
= fulgas slept still more soundly than be
{ fore.
= "Whoo- oo-oo! Mi-i-ish! And then tai
= tap tap. This time three blows froi
= the knocker, piled by a more sesolu,
= hand, blended with the noise o. tn
y storm. The doctor woke. but in what
:. temper! When the window was opene
:, the wind burst In like bombshell.
ut is for Wort Kartif."
Il THAT miserable fellow again."
o II am his mother"
e May his mother. his wife and h
ID daughter die with him."
II He has an attack Of
ID well. let him defend himself"
They have sent you some money" II
old woman added. AN instalment {
the house which was sold to Dontrl
on the Rue Messagliere. II you don
l. come my granddaughter will be fathe
is less. my daughter a widow and shs
d have no son"
r 1t was pitiful and terrible to hear tn
'e aged woman's voice, to think that 4
y, wind WAS chilling the blood In h
" veins, that the rain was drenching h
"A thin form!
AN attack OF epilepsy Is worth
fretzers." replied the heartless Trif,
gas.
I'VE have only 100"