The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-07-15
He approached me, leaned toweli ne

He approached me, leaned toweid ne
jestingly, 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 Shout
der. Have you lost your wits?" he
asked.
"He has come into a 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 mere eXecu-
TONER! A Belgian, probably. He is the
foreigner Antonio referred to few mo-
ments ago. Save for his presence of
mind would have made break that
would have alarmed the ladies'"
"Come, GOMEZ" cried Cantal. can OK
ecutioner in 10000 franc carriage,
who gives diamonds to his dinner neigh
Dor, who sups at the Maison Doree tie
day before he devotes himself to a pa
tent Since your cafe de choiseul, you
see hangmen everywhere! Drink some
punch. Your M. 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, l 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. III
find that funereal mystifier, | swear
that"
Don't swear!" cried 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 i'll SC
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 corner, pressed his lips
on the finger tips of our three graces
poured out glass of Madeira, and il
the fantastic silence due to the incident
and to his own acknowledgements
in these terms:
81 thoroughly understand this even
ing's adventure, as well as if had beer
among you. What has happened tc
you, without being precisely alarming
might have become so. The gentleman
is, rightly enough, Baron Won H, O.
an aristocratic German family; his for
tune is in the millions; but"-the doe
tor looked at us-"his insanity having
been diagnosed by the medical facultie:
of Munich and Berlin presents the mos
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 l had informed you tina
our gentleman was millionaire hal
dozen times over" Florian replied
gravely. "He is more likely to pu
others under lock and key than to be 81
treated"
"And what is his mania?" asked
Susannah. II give you warning that
find him fascinating.'
Perhaps you'll change your views O
him in moment or two" continued
the doctor, lighting cigarette. 81
seems that the taciturn youth EN-
he travelled for several years in Asia
Here begins the dense mystery that con
ceals the origin of his malady. Durin!
certain revolts in the far east he wit
messed attracted, no doubt, at first b,
mer~ travellers curicsity-the crue
tortures that oriental laws inflict upol
rebels and criminals. But it seems tina
soon the instincts of cruelty that goe
beyond belief awoke in him, troubled
his brain, poisoned his blood, and finall,
made him the singular being that he ha
become.
"By one of the clauses of his father
will, the family is forced to avoid tn
baron's civil death, unless they wish t.
suffer serious pecuniary losses. So h
is at large. He is on the best of term
with the gentlemen of capital justice
The first visit he pays in every town i
to them. He has often offered then
large sums for the privilege of operat
ing in their stead, and between our
selves, / should not wonder if even il
Europe he has bAbed one or two. On
can say that his madness is inoffensive
since it wreaks itself only on person
condemned by the law. So this is tn
gentleman with whom you have had tn
honor of spending the night. Let m
add that when out of his dementia h
is an irreproachable man of the world
fascinating, playful conversation