The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-06-22

the current of thoughts, when sudden
ly Antonio turned from the piano and
said, somewhat sadly:
by the way, you know there is an
execution this morning. 1t is poor DR..
de Ia Poise; he attended me once"
what? Is it really to-day ?" asked,
trying to assume an indifferent voice.
"At six o'clock, the fatal hour" said
Antonio. II had forgotten all about
it. 1t seems they have even had for
eigner come to assist NJ. de Paris, in
view of the solemnity of the occasion
and the distinction of the criminal"
Not noticing the absurdity of her last
words, l turned toward NJ. Saturn. He
was standing near the door, wrapped
in a great black cloak, with his hat in
his hand, and bearing in all his person
an official air.
M lie Baron" said to him, smiling,
"after your singular hints we have al
most the right to ask you if it is as the
law, that you are blind and deaf as
often as God permits p"
He approached me, leaned toward me
jcstingly, and answered in low tone:
Hold your tongue, there are ladies
present." He made circular bow and
went out, leaving me dumb, shivering,
and unable to believe my ears.
Cantal, who had joined us during the
last speech, clapped me on the shoul-
der. Have you lost your wits?" he
asked.
He has come into big property,
and is only continuing to practice while
waiting for a successor" | murmured,
enervated by the fumes of the punch.
''Bah!" exclaimed Cantal; ''do you
actually suppose him to be attached to
the ceremony in question:"
$50 you caught the drift of our short
talk, old fellow did you? Short, but
instructive. The man is a mere execu
toner! A Belgian, probably. He is the
foreigner Antonio referred to a 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. IAN ex-
ecutioner in 10000 franc carriage,
who gives diamonds to his dinner neigh
Dor, who sups at the Maison Doree the
day before he devotes himself to a pa
tient! Since your cafe de choiseul you
see hangmen everywhere! Drink some
punch Your Nj. Saturn is poor jester,
do you know?"
At these words it seemed to me that
cold reason was on Cantal's side. Great
ly annoyed, hastily picked up my hat
and gloves and turned toward the door.
This stupid hoax has lasted far too
long," l added, opening the door. "If
find that funereal mystifier, | swear
that"
Don't swear!" cried a gay, we'll
known voice from behind the portiere.
"Step back, my dear friend" and our
famous little doctor, Les Eglisottes, en-
tered springily, his great coat sprinkled
with snow.
MY dear DOCTOR / said, 81 will come
back shortly, but" He took my arm.
when have told you the history of
the man who was going away as | ar
rived, | warrant you that you'll not
care to ask him an account of his sal
lies. Besides, it's too late; his carriage
has carried him half mile by this
time"
These words were pronounced in so
strange a tone that l 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 a corner, pressed his lips
on the finger tips of our three graces,
poured out a glass of Madeira, and in
the fantastic silence due to the incident
and to his own entrance-commenc
in these terms:
81 thoroughly understand this even
ing's adventure, as well as if / had been
among you. What has happened to
you, without being precisely alarming.
might have become so. The gentleman
is, 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 madman! What are we to under
stand, Florian?" asked Cantal, pushing
the slim bolt Of the door. At this reve-
lation, the ladies' smiles had changed.
l began to think | was dreaming.
81 thought had informed you that
our gentleman was millionaire half
a dozen times over" Florian replied,
gravely. "He is more likely to put
Others under lock and key than to be so
treated"
And what is his mania?' asked
Susannah. II give you warning that |
find him fascinating"
Perhaps you'll change your views of
him in a moment or two" continued
the doctor, lighting a cigarette. at
seems that the taciturn youth en-
barked in his teens for the East 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
nessed-attracted, no doubt, at first by