Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-08-17

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it was too good an opportunity to be
lost"
ssHe and Carruthers cleared the bot
ties and things off two tables, and
lifted Patsy on one and Andy on the
other.
"sI'm afraid, SIR 'Carruthers began,
as he got out some awful-looking in
strument, but Sir Miles ses:
20. they're strong-they'u stand it
And. anyway, don't care
''They touched Andy with the in
strument in the back. A terrible pain
darted through him, he said; the worst
he had ever suffered, and he couldn't
help screaming. Then they tried it on
Patsy, and he suffered the same.
"'Pooh!' ses Sir Miles; turn on a
stronger current. I'm deeply indebted
to these gentlemen for this oppor-
tunity.'
"'And that fiend,' went on Andy,
gave us another dose worse than the
other. The pain was something awful
"How long it lasted they couldn't
say; but at last the two torturers
whispered together and then went to
the grooming men and examined their
backs.
"'Good heavens, sir-look!' ses Car
r1Bthers. Wed better send for the doc
tor, or
"sNo,' ses Sir Miles; I'll give them
a note to take to one of the hospitals
in town. They're in no danger for an
other six hours, and they can almost
walk it in the time
sHe sat down and wrote it, and then
Patsy and Andy were set loose. They
looked awful, they, said, and Sir Miles
gave them stiff dose of brandy.
"'Now, gentlemen he ses to 'em,
I'm very much obliged to you for COM
ing here. 1 have been enabled to carry
out an experiment that will make me
famous. Hurry off to London as quick
as you can, and give this note to one of
the 'ospital surgeons. The doctor you
give it to will understand from my let
ter how to cure you; but if you don't
want to be paralyzed for life, you'd bet
ter get to London in less than six
hours
''Now, I'd been getting in a funk, sir,
waiting for 'em. 1 expected them back
inside half an hour, and they'd been
gone more than an hour. My nerves
were like jelly, and I was just ready
for bolt whenI heard door slam.
knew then there was something wrong,
and started off; but before could get
into the road my two chums came down
the drive. You never saw anything
like their faces, sir!
"'We're done for!' ses Andy. IF we
can't reach the 'orspital in three hours
we're dead men!'
s'Bit by bit, sir, as we few along I got
the story out of 'em. It made me feel
quite sick, sir, and thankful I was that
I'd hurt my hand and wasn't there.
ST got 'em to town in about two
hours, but that didn't comfort 'em.
The pain was something awful, they
said.
ST told 'em at the 'orspital that my
two mates were in bad way and want
ed attending to. immediate, and I'd
note about them for the head doctor.
There was very little delay, for every
body who saw their faces knew they
must be pretty bad:
"They were taken into the receiving
ward, and the doctor came, and gave
him the note. He read it more than
once, it seemed, and he pulled some OF
the wriest faces I've ever seen.
"Let me see your Backs he ses at
last. SO you fell into Sir Miles Har-
old's clutches, did you? Lucky to be
alive!'
'eHe examined their backs careful.
and it made them breathe free when
he said: We'll, you came in time. I'll
Just put blister on you, and you'll be
all right in a day or two
'sHe put on the blisters, and then put
10 nd
sealed it.
"'It is not necessary to come here
again. he SEES; but tomorrow you can
go to the nearest chemist, give him this
letter, and he'll know what to do for
you
Eve all thanked him, and then went
to Andy's place. When the whisky bot
tie was on the table we felt better. We
relieved our feelings for good half
hour by threatening how we'd be re
venged on Mr.. Miles.
"And then Patsy proposed we should
see what he said in the letter. can't
remember it now word, for word, but it
was something to the effect that the
writer, Sir Miles Harold, had caught
the bearers in the act of stealing his
plate, and had determined to brighten
them.
cit was a great success, for, though
all he did was to prick their backs with
bundle of needles, and then redden
the skin with some carbolic acid, they
believed their life was in jeopardy IN
less they FASTENED to a 'osspital. Would
the doctor who read it carry the joke
little farther and blister them?
II wanted to laugh, but was afraid.
At last Andy jumped up suddenly.
cussing something awful, and pulled