The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-25

Toedt made u motion as II TO spring
from his chair. but he settled back be-
fore the muzzle of the revolver. smiled,
and said with II nonchalance that fair
ly staggered me.
you have original ideas Of hospital
ity. professor. May presume so far as
to ask an explanation of this perform
ance?'
win you oblige me by tying that
man in that chair" said Fournier to
me. ignoring Toedt's last remark and
still covering him with the pistol. Tie
him as if for an old-time amputation-
50 that he cannot move a muscle"
During all this I had been sitting
spell-bound. From the prelilninaries.
l had. of course. been led to look for
ward to something startling. but the
form i'm which ii came. took me entirely
by surprise. ! thought ] knew Four
nier well enough to be sure that he
would not venture upon such a step
without very strong evidence. but the
assurance of Toedt'S manner was so
perfect that l felt myself questioning
whether my friend might not have
made n serious error In his deduc-
tions. | was even conscious of doubt
as to whether the strain of the last few
days had not unhinged his mind, but
put it aside in view OF the deliberatiOn
and GOODNESS which had marked all his
acts.
Picking up the coil of rope. therefore.
/ approached our visitor and proceeded
to tie him hand, foot and body to the
chair in which he sat
His self possession was simply su-
perb and. as worked. ! fell TO doubt
ing more and more.
II depend upon you he whispered.
ito see that the performance of this
maniac shall have no serious results.
1t is better, though. that we humor him
to a degree. When you have finished.
try to persuade him to give you his ps
| tol. Have you ever had reason to sus-
| pect such tendency" ,
| My job was soon done, and turned TO
| Fournier. half with the idea of follow
ing Toedts suggestion. As did So he
laid the pistol down on the table. and
heaved a sigh of relief. Then he eyed
me closely for moment with a grim
smile.
Now may 7 ask you to search his
pockets-carefully. There may be some
| fragile articles there"
Pardon me, doctor" l said, again
| turning to the prisoner.
by all means" replied Toedt, but
| IMAGINED that his face blanched trifie.
The result of my search was not re-
markable-a pocket-case of instru-
ments. purse. keys. handkerchief and
! a small gern-culture tube filled with
! some gelatinous substance and stop
| pered with a wad of cotton
II thought we would find this" said
Fournier. picking the last article up
| from the table where l had placed it
and holding ii to the light. II hard
ly think that autopsy will be necessary.
DO you, DR.. Toedt?"
Toedt looked at me and smiled slight
! ly.
| Really. professor" he said. address
! ing FOurnier in conciiatory tones.
You are the best judge of that. ! de-
! fer to your opinion
VERY good" replied Fournier. 81
| am glad that you concur to that extent.
| I do not believe another autopsy neces-
sary or desirable. We have this disease
pretty well under control. I think" q
| glanced quickly at him i'm mute amaze
ment and perturbation). There is an
other little experiment, though. which
l do consider highly desirab bic. both
| scientifically and criminally. May ]
ask you gentlemen to assist me?"
l bowed without speaking. Toedt
laughed again. and said:
Il am afraid l can't help you very
| much i'm my present condition.
II only desire your passive assist
! ance." said Fournier. coldly, and he
began to arrange his photograp phic ap-
paratus adjusting there to what seemed
to be an electric appliance. but with
\ the form ana uses OF winch j was un-
| familiar. Then he requested me to aid
| him in moving the stand trifie so as
| to get a. better focus upon our captive
| While all this was transpiring. l had
been thinking very hard. and had about
made uD my mind not to allow the af-
fair to be carried to extremes. 1t was
with an indescribable shock that found
myself inclining more and more to-
wards Toedt's view of my friends acts.
They certainly did not appear to be
! those of a sane man.
| What he was doing now. however.
called for no interference. To take a
mans photograph under such condi-
! tiOns might be considered an indignity,
but Toedt evidently regarded the whole
performance with that indulgence with
which we view the vagaries of lunatic
In fact, he seemed decidedly relieved
| that the professors mania had glided
into such a harmless channel. Let me
| also add that had taken advantage of
Fournier's employment to pick his re-
volver up from the table and place It in
my pocket.
"Will you oblige me by seeing II this