Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-02-28
CHAPTER XII.

Cno discovery OF the crime. LampK1D,
however, had watched the papers and
knew that nothing of vital interest con-
corning the mystery had been made
public. He believed that his friend was
still cropping in the dark, else he would
have come to him to let off some of his
enthusiasm. Hendricks always came
Just before q climax or when one was
about to be reached.
DR.. Lampkin was a very busy man
on the days of the week that it was pos
sible for patients to consult him. He had
never allowed his profession to encrOach
upon his freedom, and so a sign on his
door read as follows: "Dr. Lampkin
may be consulted Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays. Office hours, 9 a. ID. to 2
p. IN.
His fame for curing nervous and i'm
aginary ailments, drunkenness and the
morphine habit through hypnotic sug
gestion had spread all over America,
and he was often so busy that he had to
have three or four assistants. Today his
anteroom was fui; Of people waiting
their turns, and L2mpkin was admit
ting them, examining, treating and dis
missing them as rapidly as possible.
They sat in a row, those nearest the
Office door coming first. Once or twice
in Iookin. into the waiting room tc an
nounce that it was another's turn the
doctor noticed an old gray headed man
among the others. He sat holding
folded paper in his trembling hand and
took pains to allow those who had come
later than himself to go In before him.
afraid of me-" thought the doctor,
with smile. ''He looks superstitious.
1t was near closing time, SO Lampkln
ordered the Office boy to shut the outer
door and to admit no one else. The old
man was the last patient, and the fact
that he was left alone in the waiting
room seemed to brighten him more than
ever. When the office boy closed and
locked the door, he sprang up, took hold
of the knob and pulled at it eXcitedly.
''The doctor will see you in a min
ute,'' said an assistant, who had taken
his hat to go out "Sit down and wait
for him. !"
ct believe I'll come back tomorrow,
stammered the old man. 81 can wait
I'm in no hurry"
"Wait moment, urged the assist
ant. "You look nervous. DR.. Lampkin
will not hurt you. He does not even
give medicine. You have nothing to be
afraid of. -
The old man seemed only partially
treasured. He resumed his seat, his eyes
bent alternately on the outer door and
the one opening into the Office. The as
sistant sat down to keep him company,
holding his hat and gloves in his hands.
He tried to draw the old man into con-
versation, but the effort was futile.
When DIR. Lampkin opened the door and
motioned for him to enter, he began to
tremble violently.
SIT is your turn now," said the doc
tor, smiling genially. "Come in. I
won't hurt you. What is your trouble?'
The old man made no response. His
eyes were fixed ON the floor. A close OBJ
server and IL suspicious one might have
noticed that the long white beard and
hair were false. Seeing the paper in his
hand, DR.. Lampkin took it.
sis this for me?" he asked
The old man nodded. Eyes, he said
in queer, piping voice. "My son
wrote it and told me to bring it to you. -
The doctor opened it. It ran as fol-
lows:
DR.. Lampkin:
DEAR SIR-Having heard a great deal about
your wonderful skill in curing imaginary dis
cases. have decided to send my father to you.
He has the idea firmly fixed in his mind that
early in life while drinking from q brook
his farm he swallowed a small snake. He be-
lieves that it has grown to be pretty large one
and that IL is eating up his food. Indeed, my
father has enormous appetite. It is hardly
ever satisfied. Do what you can for him. and
the bill shall be paid preSen tation to me. I.
<ppl hat n NOR a he
regular physicians put together. Yours truly,
JAMES FRITZ LINTON.
''Ah, I see!" said DR.. Lam pkin, ad-
dressing the old man and motioning his
assistant to retire. "Your son writes
me that you swallowed small snake
when you were young and that it is
now giving you some trouble. -
The old man looked up suddenly, and
his eyes flashed Indignantly.
''Ah, he told you that, did he? He
admits to you that have the snake. and
yet he has been lying to me about it for
the last ten years. I shall go home and
give him good licking. He knows 1
can't read, or he wouldn't have wrote
it,
The patient rose suddenly, as if to
leave.
'tBe calm" said Lampkin. ''He was
doing it for your good. As for myself,
/ believe in being frank about such
things. OF course you have it, but I can
remove it without any trouble. Come
into my Office. -
81 am a little uneasy about it," said
the old man as he followed the doctor
into the other room. 81 have had it SO
long that am afraid I'd be sort Of
well, I reckon there would be an empty
place eft where it usually stays, which
might feel rather uncomfortable. even
if it does seem to get more good out of