The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-23
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70 be oyer-sensitive in those days.
"Not at ALL" he replied, kindly.( III
have been requested to undertake. this
task under circumstances that Admit
of no honorable refusal. Otherwise. !
very much doubt"
"And l." i interrupted, shave been
placed in precisely the same position"
"Well, WELL" he said, 1--WE will not
quarrel In the dark. 1t is only fair that
/ should explain the situation. The
fact is, have been asked by the minis
try to go to Arteuil and investigate
this new Epidemic"
"And you dream for moment that
would hesitate TO accompany you!'
i exclaimed,
"No," he said, and then, after n short
pause, "but l am not sure whether l
want you"
THAT is altogether n secondary con-
sideration," cried, gayly. Permit me
to announce that am going. When do
we set out?"
Tomorrow morning" he replied,
absently, but at the same time grasp
ing my hand.
A few moments later he left the
room, and / sat down TO ponder over
the situation and to consider what /
should need TO take with me.
The town of Arteuil was one of those
places which had shot up within the
last decade. Situated in the midst of
a large manufacturing district, it
,t. s.. h..l Il nj
hideous factories and toil-sodden hui
manity. The country round about was
fiat and uninteresting, but Arteuil it.
self lay among little nest of hills
which afforded fresh cool air and
a prospect at once attractive and salu-
brious. 1t had been selected, therefore,
by several of the large mill owners for
their summer homes. These had been
followed by others, until the place now
contained large number OF magnih-
cent residences surrounded by well
laid out parks.
Such population,of course attracted
the usual quota of tradesmen, mechan-
ics, and SO forth, and an active and
fiourishing town had resulted from the
desire of few manufacturing mag
mates to have their pleasures some
where near their business interests.
1t was scarcely a month since this
charming spot had given birth to an
epidemic which bade fair TO more than
decimate it's population, and which had
utterly baffed local and extra-local
professional skill. No one seemed to
know how it had originated, and, worse
vet, no one had found any method OF
fighting it that promised, much iess ac-
complished, the most modest success.
This was the situation when, on the
morning following our conversation,
Prof. Fournier and myself took our
seats in the compartment which had
been especially reserved for our use.
and saw Paris drop behind us, as the
train ratified out into the country.
For a while we sat in silence, which
he was first to break.
"Have you followed especially the
accounts of this Arteuil epidemic?' te
asked.
Closely" said, bowling.
"Have you noticed the curious fea-
lures connected with it?"
IL hardly know what you refer to-"
j replied, impressed by the seriousness
of his manner. 1T is, of course, most
remarkable in this epoch that disease
unknown to the faculty should sudden
ly break out and rage within such cir,
cumscribed limits"
"Ah! you are approaching the point
I wish TO Make" he said, eagerly.
'Have you not observed something
very remarkable about those limits?'
stopped and thought for a moment.
Then seemed TO catch his idea.
"Why, yes,' said, ''now that you
speak of it, it is remarkable that the
disease has seized upon and confined
itself to what should be the most
healthy town in the entire province.
It must come from something IN the
water supply" added, with sudden
conviction.
"You follow me in part" he contin-
ued, "but if you had considered the re-
ports "a little more closely you would
not have drawn your last conclusion.
You would have noticed that not only
was the disease confined to the health
lest town,bu that it was practically
confined TO what ought to be the
healthiest portion of the town. Look
at the list of deaths. 1t is not B,
the draper, J., the butcher, and
c., the plumber. 1t is NJ. de l..
owner of the chemical works at c..
Ii is Mile. C., only daughter of NJ.
c., general manager of the p
print mills, or Mime. D. and NJ. Jules
D., wife and youngest son of the
junior partner of v e. D., the
great six manufacturers. Will you give
me any rational explanation Of this
phenomenon"
shook my head, deeply puzzled by
the proposition.
Furthermore" he continued, 'are
you positive that the disease is new ."
Certainly not" hastened TO say.
Il cannot for a moment presume il
10 be. 1 merely said that it had no,
barotofore bepn dinOuoead by fba .f,,o