The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-07-27


! cantal who had Joined N during tAs
last speech, clapped me. ON the shout
der. "Have you lost your wits9" he
asked.
HE has come into big property,
and is only continuing to practice while
waiting for successor" murmured.
enervated by the fumes Of the punch.
"Bah!" exclaimed Cantal; do you
actually suppose him to he attached to
the ceremony in question:"
$50 you caught the drist Of our short
talk. old fellow, did you? Short. but
Instructive. The man is mere execu-
tioner! A Belgian; probably. He is the
foreigner Antonio referred to few mo-
ments ago. Save for his presence Of
mind l would have made break that
would have alarmed the ladies"
"Come, comet" cried Cantal. "An ex-
ecutioner in 10000 franc carriage.
who gives diamonds to his dinner neigh
Dor, who sups at the Mnson Doree the
day before he devotes himself to pa
tient! Since your cafe de cho!seul, you
see h;.ngmen everywhere. Drink some
punch. Your NJ. Saturn Is poor jester.
do you know?"
At these words II seemed to me that
cold reason was on Cantal's side. Great
ly annoyed, hastily picked up my hot
and gloves and turned toward the door.
This stupid hoax has lasted far too
long," | added, opening the door. "If
| find that funereal mysttler, l swear
that"
Don't sweur!" cried gny, we'll
known voice from behind the portiere.
"Step back, my dear friend" and our
famous little doctor, Les Eglisottes. en-
tered spr;ngily. his great coat sprinkled
with snow.
MY dear DOCTOR" said, ~ win come
back shortly, but" He took my arm.
"When l have told you the history Of
the man who was going away us ar
rived, warrant you that you'll not
care to ask him IN account Of his sal
lies. Besides, it's too late; his carriage
has carried him half Z mile by this
time"
These words were pronounced In 80
strange tone that paused on the
threshold. "Give us the story, doctor"
l said, sitting down. "But remember,
you'll have to answer for my inaction!"
The prince Of science set his gold
headed cane in corner, pressed his lips
on the finger tips Of our three graces.
poured out o glass Of Madeira, and IN
the fantastic silence due TO the incident
and TO his own entrancc-commsnced
In these terms:
II thoroughly understand this even
ing's adventure, as we'll as II had been
among you. What has happened 70
you, without being precisely alarming.
might have become %. The gentleman
IL, rightly enough. Baron Won H, Of
an aristocratic German family; his for.
tune Is in the millions; but"-the doc.
tor looked at us-"his insanity having
been diagnosed by the medical faculties
Of Munich and Berlin presents the most
extraordinary and incurable Of mono
manias cited up to to-day"
"A mailman! What are we 10 under
stand, Florian?" asked Cantsl, pushing
the slim bolt Of the door. At this reve-
lation, the ladies' smiles had changed.
I began to think was dreaming.
II thought I had informed you that
our gentleman was . millionaire half
. dozen times over" Florian replied.
gravely. "He Is more likely to put
others under lock and key than TO be 90
treated"
"And what Is his mania?" asked
Susannah. II give you warning that
dnd him fascinating"
"Perhaps you'll change your views OF
him In moment or two," continued
the doctor, lighting n cigarette. ut
seems that the tacitvrn youth en-
barked In his teens for the Enst Indies;
he travelled for several years in Asia.
Here begins the dense mystery that con-
ceals the origin Of his malady. During
certain revolts In the far east he wit
hSoocu-utIdCtsu, iio uDuDt, w uTst ny
mere travellers curiosity-the cruel
tortures that oriental laws inflict upon
rebels and criminals. But It seems that
soon the instincts of O cruelty that goes
beyond belief awoke in him. troubled
his brain. poisoned his blood. and finally
made him the singular being that he has
become.
"By one Of the clauses of his fathers
will, the family is forced to avoid the
baron's civil death, unless they wish to
suffer serious pecuniary losses. So he
is at large. He is on the best Of terms
with the gentlemen Of capital justice.
The first visit he pays in every town ir
to them. He has often offered them
large sums for the privilege Of oporat-
ing In their stead, and between our
selves, I should not wonder IL even in
Europe he has bribed one or two. One
can say that his madness Is inofYensive.
since It wreaks itself only on persons
condemned by the low. So this Is the
gentleman with whom you have had the
honor Of spending the night Let me
add that when out Of his dementia he
Is an irreproachable man Of the world
q fascinating. playful conversation