New-York tribune., 1895-09-01

90 many victims to insomnia have appealed to
my sympathies -, . ,tou,rd
II was not successful enough then 10 disresaro
the chance of gaining rich ana eccentric paue.s'
the very class who make the profession worth
practising from pecunary po.n, OF view.
Il made no demur, therefore. oSi a,rsn,nns
for curing his want Of sleep by systematic exei-
else and plain living, and | ligkhted one OF MS
cheroots. which were, indeed, excellent ~.
AT the end Of half an hour | rose 10 go put
my strange patient pleaded with me so earnestly
to accept another fee and stay hat an hour
more that scarcely had the heart 10 ea'e MIN
A fresh idea occurred u me.
~ will stay on one condition. | said; that
you lie down and let me try to get you 70 sleep.
felt that If could succeed in dong so / shoula
have done something TO JUSTIFY my Visit ana
should be able to get back to my own bed WITH
out any danger OF offending possible remuner-
ative patient.
"He agreed instantly, and drew up comfort
able-ooking couch to the fire in place OF his
chair. III,
'''Now. if I will do my level best to sleep will
you promise not to leave me TIL am on! ne
said. and feeling pretty confident OF my powers.
| rather unwisely consented. .
II began by reading aloud to him IN sort.
monotonous tone which have generally found
effective, and at the end Of half an hour was
concentrating myself on my success, when the
old gentleman jumped up wide awake. and. fish,
ing in his pocket. produced another hat soVer.
egn.
iay back again at full length on the couch.
Please go on 1t is very soothing.
Il was getting desperately sleepy myself ana
more than ever anxious to succeed and get away,
when my patient reused himself again suddenly.
This won't do he said quite anxiously. III /!
go to sleep how earth shall know what
owe YOU?
You can trust that to me- said, shortly.
and continued the reading again, with wnat
seemed like complete success, till at o'clock my
patient jumped up as lively as ever 10 present
me with my fourth
THE want Of success made me desperate. and
I was already regretting deeply the promise
bich ptadr mo lea, he
to his fate. and getting home when another
thought suggested itself TO me.
THE sleeping -draught which he had refused
was lying on the table before me- He admitted
having taken large quantities of every known
drug. but this very strong one, and might
affect hin. more than he expected. II could get
him to take it, He had refused 10 pointblank
before that did not ask his consent. but slipped
it quietly into glass while was reading:
Perhaps another glass of whiskey Will help
Off
HE obeyed me without suspicion, and took
the whole dose. which. of course should not
have vantured to give anybody unaccustomed
TO drugs.
1T appeared to me to take effect very quickly.
but did not hatter myself on the point until my
fee became due. when. finding that my pa
tient did not stir. | softly. put on my hat
and coat and, turning down the lamp. felt my
way downstairs in the dark, and let myself OUT
of the house.
"As walked home I told myself that had
secured desirable patient, and already given
Sc
The four haf-sOveregns jngled pleasantly In
my pocket and had still time left TO get a good
sleep before it necessary TO begin the days
work.
But rest was not for me yet awhile. As I
opened my own door with latchkey. a single
glance at the hall was sufficient to put another
complexion on the case, and | strode rapidly
through the house, to find that 1t had been ram
sacked from top TO bottom.
my old friend with the insomnia was simply
the accOmplce Of a gang Of burglars. who had
taken this means Of keeping me out OF the way
while his friends removed the greater part OF
my portable property II seemed to me as II they
must have taken it away in a furniure-van.
Il hurried off at once to the neghboring police
station, and the inspector in charge looked
serious.
we have been hearing Of for some time but that
can't get hold Of. he said
"'Well, / think | take you TO a house
where you will find one of the gang. l said, and
told him briefly Of my patient
The policeman smiled a superior smile.
He Is one OF the gang. without doubt, as
we'll as the lad who brought his message: but
you won't find him at the house now. You Will
find that he has taken the room furnished for
day or two, and vanished the instant you left
the place.
Il have no doubt that was the plan I said:
but happened TO give the gentleman a dose
which. If he isn't as used to drugs he pre-
tended, will keep him asleep for week."
And did you find him." ! asked. when Mac
pherson had reached this point in his story.
and the famous physician nodded.
Yes. exactly | left him. l had some
trouble bringing him round. AS We thought he
was a notorious criminal. and his arrest led to
that OF the whole gang and-what was OF more
Importance to me-the recovery Of my furniture
1t has often made me smile TO think OF my little
sleeping -draught effecting what the whole police
force OF the metropolis had been trying to do for
months. call il a triumph OF medicine.-(Pau
Mall Budget.