The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-11-28
JAMES INCH'S DOWNFALL.

and he was nightly afraid that some
thing would go wrong. Only a month
before he had received his appointment
to the asylum, and escape or revolt due
to lack Of proper precautions would, he
knew, mean the loss Of his place. He
was relieved when the train rolled in
and keeper jumped from the steps OF
a car, touched his hat, and announced
that all was well.
"A hundred altogether, l believe"
the doctor remarked.
Yes, sir; fifty in each car" said the
keeper.
well, march them out as soon as
you cam" said Dr. Blank, and he
hauled out notebook and prepared to
check off the men as they were hand
ed over to his keepers.
They took the last car first, and Dr.
Blank drew a deep breath Of relief
when the fiftieth man stepped to the
platform.
Now for the other car" he said,
cheerily, and the keepers commenced
to hustle the unfOrtunates out.
Mr.. Inch crouched low in his seat and
was passed by. Mr.. Blank, notebook in
hand, sang out, "Forty-nine," just as
the keeper escorted a man to the plat
form and called: That's ALL"
There must be another" said the
doctor, nerVOusly.
"YOu counted wrong" said the keep
er.
mo, I'm sure I'm right, but I'll count
them again." said DR.. Blank, and he
did so. with the result that his first fig
uring was correct.
One man was missing. There could
be no doubt about that. The car had
only yielded fOrty-nine men.
Search the car" called out the doc
tor, and the keeper proceeded to do so.
The first man he encountered was Mr..
Inch, who, having made up his mind
that sufficient time had elapsed to rem
der it safe for him to leave the car, had
risen and was making for the door.
Hello" exclaimed the keeper, "how
did you get here?"
81 just walked in from the other
Ndly lCplLCN NIL AhGliy Win MY
Didn't see a man hide himself
around this car anywhere, did your
Now it happened that some minutes
before the train reached Parlor City
the red-headed man who sat next to
Mr.. Inch had slid to the floor and Cud-
died himself up under the seat. Mr..
Inch had seen him do it, and had mar
veled at the mans ability to stay in one
position so long. To tell of this Incl
dent, however, was to admit that he had
been in the car for some time, which
! would scarcely do, so he simply said in
tone Of mild astOnSihment:
"See man hide himself? How ridic-
ulOus," and the keeper, impressed by
his tone, passed by and started search
ing at the upper end Of the car.
Mr. Inch continued toward the door.
reached the platform, and stepped
slowly down. Mr.. Inch's personal ap-
pearance was not what it usually was.
A night in a country hotel, with neither
| hair brush nor comb in the morning,
showed on him. Contact with the
elbow of a lunatic behind him had put
most disreputable looking dent in his
derby. His appearance was altogether
bad enough to Justify DR.. Blanks ex-
clamatiOn of:
| "Ah, here he Is. This way, my
! friend" which he made when he saw
Mr., Inch descending to the platform.
Mr.. Inch heard the remark, but paid
- - -
he uuickened his pace toward the other
end of the platform, but before he had
gone a dozen yards DR.. Blank was
alongside.
This way, my friend" said DR..
Blank, swinging Mr.. Inch around by
the arm.
what do you mean, sir?" said Mr.
Inch.
keep quiet, now, keep very quiet"
said the doctor, sOOthingly. It'll be
all right If you keep quiet"
why should keep quiet when
loafer grabs me by the arm and swings
me around as though l were a log Of
wood?" cried Mr.. Inch, Indignantly.
Get back into line" said DR.. Blank.
"Get back into line, and let's end this
nonsense" and he grabbed Mr.. Inch
by the collar and proceeded to drag
him down the platform.
Mr.. Inch lost his temper then, and
swung his right around toward his
captor's jaw with vicious violence.
The blow landed. and so did a second
and third, sent in with equal precision.
DIR. Blank hung on, though slightly
dazed. He couldn't hit the man back.
There is a State rule fOrbidding keep
ers or doctors to strike an insane per-
son. no matter what the pro7ocation-
The doctors have but one mode OF de-
tense. 1t is the hypodermic infection,
and each doctor carries a syringe load
ed with a special preparation which
win take all the life out Of a man in
ave minutes. cause him to sleep for