The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1900-08-09

ties and things off two tables, and
lifted Patsy on one and Andy on the
other.
I'm afraid, sir Carruthers began,
as he got out some awful-looking in
strument, but Sir Miles ses:
80, they're strong-they'u stand 1t.
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!' scs Sir Miles; turn on q
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 groaning men and examined their
backs.
"'Good heavens. sir-loolt!' ses Car
ruthers. Wed better send, for the doc
tor or
"'No,' 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
"He 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. have been enabled to carry
out an experiment that will make me
I 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 funk, sir,
waiting for 'em. ! expected them back
inside half an hour, and they'd been
gone more than an hour. My nerves
were like n jelly. and | was just ready
for bolt when heard a 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 fort ses Andy. If we
can't reach the 'orspltal in three hours
we're dead men!'
! I,-h 81 lTpc I
the story out OF 'em. 1t made me feel
quite sick, sir, and thankful was that
| I'd hurt my hand and wasn't there.
II got 'em to town in about two
| hours, but that didn't comfort EN-
The pain was something awful, they
said.
81 told 'em at the 'orspital that my
two mates were in a bad way andwant-
| ed attending to immediate, and I'd n
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, ii 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
alve!'
He examined their backs careful.
and 1t made them breathe free when
he said: Well, you came in time. I'll
just put blister on you, and you'll be
all right in day or two
HE put on the blisters, and then put
Sir Miles note in an envelope and
sealed it. =
"'It IL not necessary to come here
again. he ses; but tomorrow you can
so to the nearest chemist, give him this
letter, and he'll know what to do for
you
1--WE 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 a 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 let ter. | can't
remember II now word for word, butt
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 frighten
them.
at was great success, for, though |
all he did was to prick their backs with |
II bundle of needles, and then redden |
the skin with some carbolic acid, they |
believed their life was in jeopardy un-
less they FASTENED to 'osspital. Would
the doctor who read it carry the joke
little farther and blister them?
II wanted to laugh, but l was afraid.
At last Andy jumped up suddenly,
cussing something awful, and pulled
off that blister; and Patsy did the
same. And then laughed till | nearly
killed myself, and at last they laughed,
too.
'I've never heard anything to equal
it, sir; but know TO this day Andy and
I. -