Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1893-08-23
DIR. TRIFULGAS

Whoo-oo-oOl roared the wind. Mi-i-ishl
the rain was pouring in torrents The fury
of the gale bowed the trees on the Volsin-
ian 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 Niegalocride.
Whoo-oo-ool Whi-i-ishl
At the end of the harbor is the little
town of Luktrop A few hundred houses,
four or FIVE steep streets, which look like
ravines, paved with pebble stones and
roughened by the scorie elected by the
neighboring volcano, VanglUr. During the
day it emits sulphurous vapors, at night,
ever and anon, huge tongues of fame. Like
a lighthouse, the Vangalor shows the har7
Dor of Luktrop to the coasters whose keels
cut the waves of the Niegalocride.
On the other side of the town are some
ruins of the Crimmarian period. Then
comes a suburb which recalls Arabian vii
lagos, with white walls, round roofs and
sun scorched terraces, a heap of stones flung
there haphazard, like 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 one side and four on
the other
A steeple dominates the town-the square
belfry of st. Philfilene, with a chime of
bells which are sometimes stirred by the
tempest. 1t is considered bad omen and
| always inspires terror throughout the coun-
| try.
Such is Luktrop. Then outside are scat
tered houses standing amid the broom and
| furze, as in Brittany But it isn't in Brit
tany, Is it in Frances / don't know. In
Europe? l don't know that, either. AT
any rate, don't look for Luktrop on the map
not even on Stieler's atlas.
Tapi A timid knock was heard on the
| narrow door of the Six-Quatre at the left
| angle of the Rue Messagliere 1t was one
of the most comfortable houses, if the word
can be applied to Luktrop.
The knock was answered by savage bark
ing, intermingled with bowling, like the
barking of a wolf. Then window above
the door opened. Deuce take these trou-
blesome people," said an angry voice.
A young girl wrapped in shabby cloak,
I who stood shivering In the rain, asked II
| Dr. Trifulgas was at home.
"He is or isn't-according to circum-
| stances"
| 1--WE come to ask him to go to my dying
father"
Where is he dyingf"
ION the coast of Val Karinon, four miles
from here"
what is his name"
wort Kartif."
wort Kartif?"
Eyes, and if DR.. Trifulgas"-
"Dr. 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 DR.. Trifulgas was hard man. His
old dog Hurzof-a cross 'betwet n bulldog
and a spaniel--would have had more pity
His house, Six-Quatre, inhospitable to th'
Door, opened only to the rich. Besides, h'
had a regular scale of charges for his serv
ices-so much for typhoid fever, so much
for congestion, so much for pericarditii
and other diseases which doctors invent by
the dozen. Now, Wort Kartif was pool
man, a member of an Insignificant family
Why should DIR. Trifulgas disturb himself
and on such night
"Just getting me up was worth lO Ire'
GERS" be muttered as he went back to hi
bed.
Scarcely 20 minutes had passed when thu
iron knocker again struck on the door o.
Six-Quatre.
The doctor in a rage again leaned out O.
the window.
"Who's theref" he shouted.
II am Wort Kartifs wife"
"The man at Val Karinon"
'sYes, and if you don't come he will die
"Well, you'll be widow"
Here are 20 fretzers."
"Twenty fretzers to go to Val Karinon
four miles off No, thank you'll Deuc
take me If will"
And the window banged again. Twent.
fretzersl A fine piece OF business hisk
cold or lumbago for 20 fretzers, especiall.
when, the next morning, he was expecte'
, at Kiltrono by the rich Edzingov, iron
} whose gout he made 80 fretzers a visit
With this agreeable prospect Dr. III
fuIgas slept still more soundly than petore
''Whoo-oo-Ool Mi-iish! And then TAP
tapi tapl This time three blows from th
knocker, piled by a more resolute hano
blended with the noise OF the storm. IN
doctor woke, but in what temperi VINE
! the window was opened, the wind burst
, like bombshel.
! sit is for Wort Kartif."
: '.That miserable fellow again"
II am his mother"
aMay his Eaother, his wife and his daugl
, ter die wish him"
, HE has an attack Of
well, let him defend himself"
? "They have sent you some money" u
old woman added. IAN installment on u
house which was sold TO Dontrup on u
Rue Messaglifre. II you don't come, m
, granddaughter will be fatherless, m
daughter a widow. and shall have no son
? IL was pitiful and terrible 70 hear th
; aged woman's voice. to think that Il
/ wind was chilling the blood in hergein
\ that the rain was dfenching her thin form
! "An attack Of epilepsy Is worth 300 fire
Z zers. replied the heArtless Trifulgas.
1--WE have only 100"
= ''Good evening""
| And the window shut again. But on ?
aection l2O fretzers for a two hours' well
Including the visit. that was % fretzers 4
c hour. a fretzer a minute. The prOnt va
{ smail. vet after ali not 70 be desplsed.
Is Instead Of going back 70 BED, TIE aoc.'
y slIured into his coat, put on his high ooot
h his thick Oyercoat and bis mittens. ths
y leaving bis lamp burning beside his CODE
= oDen al page ig7, be unbelted the door
a six-ouatre and stood upon The threshold.
n The Old woman Was there leAniilE on q
. san, smaelAtsd by her % years Of p0Fsrs'
ssThs 40 frctnsEnH