The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-12
.....MY FRIEND THE MANIAC..,.,

they were in danger of losing their
separate identity. and there was a
strange light in his little eyes. De
cidedly crazy" thought to myself, for
he had taken no notice whatever of
me since the lamp had been lit. Pres
emily he drew a huge red bandanna
handkerchief from his pocket and be-
gan to dust the sleeve of his coat I
drew back in disgust, for the peculiar
look of his hands was due to the fact
of his having no thumbs, not even
stumps.
He glanced up quickly at my motion.
"Ah, you don't like musk? I do. 1t
makes me think of the muskm lions at
my old home-and then he couldn't
bear musk?"
"You are an American" | Nentured.
"Yes, sir it was my fortunate lot to
be born under the shadow of the eagles
wing. l am one of that grand nation
of sixty million-at least they have
souls, but / haven't"
This was becoming more than inter-
esting.
mo soul, you say? That is very sin
gular."
singular" He rose from his chair
in his excitement. "Singular Well,
I should think so. Why, my dear sir,
| there isn't a museum manager in the
states who wouldn't be glad to give me
a hundred dollars a day. Think of it
The Man Without a Soul in huge red
letters on gilt background And what
is more, sir, here is the place it was
taken out"
His voice sank to a confidential whis-
per and he rapidly unbuttoned his shirt.
Glancing around cautiously, he held it
open, and the lamp-light fell upon a
CHASTITY, livid scar right across his
breast. ] was quite sure by this time
that he was mad. How he had strayed
to this out-Of-the-way place in the
mountains, fifteen miles from the near
| est railway station and as far from
the northern coast, was a mystery, but
clearly the wise plan was to humor
him.
Pray, tell me-" l said politely, "how
you happened to lose it."
His eyes sparkled. with pleasure;
bue may I light a cigarette first?"
I offered him a cigar which he aC-
| cepted and / took one myself. The
| storm had arrived and the rain was
| beginning to patter down outside. My
| companion resumed his seat and lit
| his cigar, thus again showing those
| thumbless hands, the sight of which
| made me shudder. Crossing his legs,
he puffed away for a moment and be-
| gan:
| You see. sir. once had a brother
Some people are fond of their brothers
I hated mine. l never had a chance
| beside him. He always used to beat
me at marbles, at baseball-at every
| thing we did. Why, my earliest recol-
lections are of the times when he would
take away my bread and molasses, him
two whole years younger than me, too,
and then he would cry because there
| wasn't any more, and my mother
| would whip me for bullying him."
l could hardly help laughing at the
tragic intensity of the speech, but the
narrator went right on:
| 1T was the same way at college; he
could ride better, row better, swim bet
| ter, sing better, talk better. Every
body liked him. 1 was Billy Norris
| brother and when he finally took a
| first | flunked on my exams. I couldn't
stand it any longer then, so I left col
lege for the old farm. 1t was just hap
| piness to feel that ne wasn't by to
lput me in the shade, and I rubbed along
from in the morning till in the ev-
ening, and enjoyed it far more than
any other part of my lfe."
| Mr.. Norris. for that was apparently
his name, took out red bandanna again
and held it to his eyes for a moment.
| And then-and then, sir, l fell in
love. She was the Drettiest, sauciest
girl in the whole district, and what she
ever found in me I'm sure l don't know
but one day-ah, how well I rememb bel
it--l had gone down to drive our cows
out of her fathers corn. He always
let his fences go to pieces and the cat
tie would stray across. And while
was shouting and yelling at the ami
mails. l heard a rustling back of me-
and l turned-and there she stood. Just
as pert and airy as a Jenny Wren.
Your old cows loose again. eh?
says she.
Yes says I; I'm thinking they'll
always be coming here with the fences
down
AT that she looks up at me impu.
dent-like. Why, you have got some
sense after ALL she says.
" And if they thought like their mas
ter, tits not driven out at all they'd
be, went on. looking her straight in
the eye.
she didn't say anything to that. but
blushed and turned away. don't know
how it happened, sir, but the mex
thing l knew l had my arm around heI
waist. Don't you think if the places
were Joined, Maggie, there'd be less
trouble with the cattle?' And she
gave little nod, and when | finally did
go home that night l was an engaged
man"
He paused a moment and brushed the
ash from his cigar. The rain was beat
ing against the windows in sheets. and
the splashing Of the column Of watel
from the roof-angle into the water
barrel could be heard above the furious
pelting on the shingles.
about a month after that Billy came
down to spend his vacation. He used tC
loaf around at first with his hands il
his pockets, swearing it was the dull
est place he ever saw, but after he'C
D~sGmA~A MM