Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-04-04
THE LEG.
: cClure's Magazine.

In the autumn Of the year 1889 M. Louis
Thevenet, n of the most eminent sur.
geons in Calais, received a written but un-
signed request to come on the next day to
a certain country house not far from the
town on the road to Paris. He was asked
to bring with him the instruments neces.
sary for IN amputation.
Thevenet was known far and wide for
skill in his profession. 1t was indeed no
uncommon thing for him to be called in
consultation to England. He had served
long in the army. There was something
bearish in his manner, yet it was impos.
sible not to love him for his goodness Of
heart.
He wondered a good deal over the letter.
Time, place and hour were designated
with the greatest exactness, but there was
no sort Of signature.
'Some fool is trying to send me on a
wild goose chase, " thought he and did not
go.
Three days later he received the same
request in yet more pressing terms, with
she addition that at 9 O'Clock the next day
a carriage would stop for him at the door.
And in fact at the stroke of 9next morn
ing there appeared at the door a handsome
open carriage.
He made no further objection, but got
into it, saying to the coachman, $40
whom are you taking me?"
The man answered in English, with
things unknown to me I am not con-
cerned."
"You are a rascal, - retorted the surgeon.
The carriage stopped at length before a
country villa.
"Who lives herep Who Is i'll heree"
Thevenet asked again, but he received the
anne answer.
At the house door he was met by a hand.
some young man, perhaps eight and
twenty years of age, who conducted him
up the stairway and into a large apart
ment. His accent ~betraying that he was a
Briton, Thevenet addressed him In Eng
lish.
"It is you who have sent for mep" he
said.
II I'M very grateful for the trouble you
have taken on my account, :" replied the
young fellow. "Pray be seated. Here are
chocolate, coffee and wine in case you de.
sire some refreshment before the opera.
ton"
First show me the invalid, sir. l
must examine the injury to see whether
a%mputation Is necessary"
sit is necessary, M. Thevenet. Be seat
ed. have every confidence in you. Listen
to me. Here is a purse containing 100
guineas. 1t is your payment for the oper-
alton you are about to undertake. If you
accomplish 1t successfully, there is moth
ing more to be said. In the opposite case,
or II you refuse, here is a loaded pistol.
You are in my power, and, d-n me, but
III shoot You down."
"Sir, I am not afraid Of your pistol.
But what do you want? Out with it with
out p~refaoel What am / to do here?"
"You must cut off my right leg"
with all my heart, sir, and your
head, too, II you wish 1t. But If I am not
mistaken the leg seems to be perfectly
sound. You al up the steps like a rope
dancer. What ails your Lego"
"Nothing. But l wish to be rid Of it,
"Sir, you are a fool!'
"That need not trouble you, monsieur"
"How has that handsome leg sinned
against your"
SIN no way. But have you made up
your mind to rid me of itY"
"Sir, l do not know you. At least
bring me witnesses that you are otherwise
Of sound mind"
"Will you fulfill my request, M. The
venetP"
Eyes, sir, as soon as you give me rea-
sonable grounds for thus manning YOU"
II cannot now tell you the truth-per-
haps after a year. But I will wager, sir,
/ will wager that at the end Of that time
you yourself will confess that my reasons
were the noblest."
II will wager nothing unless you tell
me your name, your residence, your occu-
patton
"You shall know all hereafter. / beg
you to believe m a man of honor"
IA nan Of honor does not threaten his
physician with pistols. I have duties to-
ward even you, a stranger. I will not
cripple you unnecessarily. II you wish to
become the assassin of an innocent man,
then shoot"
GOOD, monsieuri" said the Briton,
picking up the pistol. II will not shoot
you, but I will force you nevertheless to
take off my leg. What you will not do
out of kindness for me or from desire of
reward, or from fear Of a bullet, you
must do for me out Of pity"
"How so, sirp"
II will myself shatter 1t with a shot,"
and he seated himself and placed the muz-
Ele of the pistol directly over his knee.
Thevenet sprang toward him to restrain
him.
do not touch me-" cried the young
man, "or I will pull the triggerl Only
answer me N question. Will you need
lessly increase and lengthen my sufferingp"
"Sir, you are a fool But ! will do your
will. will take your ley off,"
EverYthing was made ready for the