Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-05-10
THE DOCTORS STORY.
By Charles S. Hathaway.


the place, performed the operation and
was asking the proprietor of the hotel
where I was stopping as to midnight
train might take on my way home,
when was very much astonished to
see my old friend Robson enter the
hotel. He WAS cordial to enthusi-
asm, told me how, hearing of my COM
ing, he had driven into town especially
to get me and take me to his home
for visit, told what fine lad his boy
had grown to be aud all about the
prosperity and happiness of himself
and wife. He would not be put of, so
that finally agreed to so, and we re-
tired for the night.
The following morning I visited my
patient to find him doing nicely and
returned to the hotel just as mr. friend
drove up to the Office door with a fine
dark bay horse hitched to an. open
buggy. AS I put my foot on the step
to climb to my seat l noticed, under
the seat partly covered by robes, two
OF three large stones netted with ropes
like the stone anchors improvised
sometimes by fishermen. These an
chors did not excite especial curiosity
at the time, but, as we drove along, my
friend very exuberant and talkative,
those anchors would fash into my
mind every little while 50 that between
| listening to- My companion and musing
as to the stones I had little else to do.
I was SURPRISED at Robison's volu
bility at first. and then I was puzzled
by the variet." OF topics he discussed
and the unusual energy and excite
ment he showed as he talked. He was
still interested in the tramp question
and said lie was about to solve it by
erecting two large treadmills which
he was going to turn III opposite di-
rections by tramp power. The shafts
of these treadm:ills were joined to-
gether at an angle so that they would
press against each other, the ends of
the shafts when they came together
being protected by plates of iron and
universatioint. The friction result
ing from the opposite movement Of the
two treadmills and the plates of ron
would generate heat sufficient to boil
water andip oduce steam with which
to -Marln his mil, run his electric lights
:sla -
making purposes.
Then Twas certain [ was driving
with madman, and the curiously
covered stones under the seat recurred
to my mind.
At this roint Robson turned his
horse from the main road into little
wood road, remarking as he did SO
that he wanted to'leavc the highway
and take a look at some shingle tim
Der which he had skidded on the bank
of lake nearby, preparatory to float
ing i: over to his mill.
/ was not frightened because physi-
cally 1 felt far superior to my madman.
Reaching a point quite a distance
from the main road, my friend stopped
his horse, and as he jumped from the
buggy observed that while his face
was covered with strange pallor his
eyes were weirdly bright, while ner-
vous twitching kept his lips in rest
less state. Surely the climax was at
hand, but what was it?
Jumping from the buggy saw, over
a slight eminence very pretty little
lake, and on the bank in the foreground
was small boat-a scow made OF
rough pine boards. 1 remarked the
presence of the. boat and asked what it
was for.
''It is for you to ride in if you wish, :"
he answered in quivering, shrill
voice at which I stepped more closely
to him. Then he said, as he stepped
upon log. let's get up OH the logs;
we'll get bette: view." AS he did
this I saw, in the hand farthest. from
me, the handle OF revolver, and with
q powerful spring leaped up at him,
seized the hand holding the pistol and
speaking with all the calmness I could
command said: "My dear Robson,
you do not want to shoot me; it would
be the mistake OF your life to commit
such crime.
Instantly his eyes filled with tears,
he released his hold upon the weapon
and answered: doctor, I did intend
to shoot you; have wanted to do it
for years, but I am very thankful [
have been prevented. AS soon as [
heard you were coming mp this way L
resolved to kill You and end my\suf-
feripSs.
:sSufferinrs?" ] exclaimed in amaze
ment.
EYES. They have been dreadful for
years" he answered. Shortly after
we moved up here and when my boy
became old enough to talk in amature,
reasonable way, he would engage his
mother in conversation about his ILL
ness, about the operation, about your
skill and about my opposition to you
when you desired the. county appoint
ment. It was their chief recreation,
the one topic in which they seemed to
find perfect happiness, and at last it
became almost unbearable, Why, I
have had that boy and his mother tell
me over and over again that they loved
YOU better than they loved me. .
"And You have brooded over this
delusion,' said, until at last you
enticed me to this spot to shoot me, to
fasten the stone anchors i'll your buggy
to MY body. take me out into this lake
and put ME out Of sight forever"
With face instantly lighted by a
sort OF fiendish glee and yet in voice
decidedly normal andcommonplace he
confessed that I had made perfect
forecast of his designs. [ continued
the ordinary demeanor, talked mod
erately and gently and at once realized
T was master of the situation. The
res = was we re-entered the buggy,
,rovesto his home and received most
1 cordial Welcome There was not, so
far as Robson was concerned, the
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