The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-02-17
As Death Drew Near

Phil Mays Winter Annual.
We'll, DOCTOR" said the man on the
couch what is the verdict7"
Frankly"
Frankly, I've strong nerves, Dale, as
you know of old; can bear it, whatever
il is. Is 1.-THE Beyond2'
trust not. But Sir James agrees with me
that only an operation on the brain can
save your reason, perhaps your life.''
And you doubt If it will do either?
Come, Dale, old fellow, be honest with
me. We've known each other since we
were boys, and you never knew me to
funk the risk. whatever it was"
My dear Gilbert, the fact is I don't
think there is more than about one
chance in thousand that you'll pull
through. MACPHERSON says the odds are
great deal more in your favor; but you
know what Sir James is. You are a
case to him. and though 1 don't doubt
that he honestly thinks he believes what
he says I've stin less doubt that the op-
portunity Of performing such an opera
ton gives an unconscious bias to his
Judgment
81 see," said Capt. Inderwick; "his
optimism Is bred of the opportunity OF
demonstrating his SKILL Well, suppose
DR.. Dale was silent
Dale, do you want me to still further
tmperil my already threatened existence
by throwing the sofa pillow at you?"
Gilbert. old chap" said Dale, the
one circumstance in your case about
which there is no doubt whatever. is that
II the tumor is not removed nothing on
earth can possibly save your reason
And If it is removed 1 have about one
in a hn1I ~ yix-fv1 a.
Yes. I may be wrong and Mao may
be right; but you asked me for my frank
and honest opinion. and I've given IT.
Thanks, old man. That's what I
wanted. It's rather hard lines, perhaps,
but'--and he held out his hand. which
the other man grasped a:fectionately,
ard they both lapsed into silence.
Hard lines? Yes. How old was he
thirty-three- thirty-four? Well, say be-
tween the two.
Invalided home from the war before 1t
had well begun, by reason of this con-
founded tumor, or whatever 1t was,
which had suddenly manifested itself in
his brain; cheated out Of the glory he
might have won during the campaign,
and cheated, too, perhaps, out Of the
great-joy of his life, his union with Mar
garet Orme, which if all went well was
to have taken place in the early summer,
or at any rate, as soon as possible after
the trouble in South Africa was over
And now? What highWaymen these
doctors were: Your reason or your
life?'
And there was one chance in a thou
sand that he would recover; none what
ever that he would retain his sanity I'M
less he took that greater risk
He had lost his reason once already
and although the sea voyage had helped
him back to mental health again he
knew well enough that this respite would
not last.
Better be dead than mad-what? Much
better: much better Margaret would
sorrow over him dead; mad, he would be
haunting nightmare to her, constant
CHASTITY grief
Better, much better dead. Perhaps, in
the Beyond-who could tell? He might
see her, watch over her, wait for her.
All, we'll!
when can It be done, DaIe7" he said
suddenly.
'.You have decided, then, Gilbert?"
ooh, yes; there's nothing else for It,
of course
"It could be done on Friday, but you
would have to come up to the hospital
for it."
'sWeI, old chap. arrange IT for me, Will
you? In the meantime I'll put my af-
fairs in order in case that one small
change of mine does not come of. !"
Capt. Inderwick had not said more than
the truth when he reminded his old
friend DR.. Dale that he had strong
nerves.
When he arrived at the hospital he