The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-22

"Frankly?'
Frankly. I've strong nerves. Dale. as
you know OF old; can bear II. whatever
IL IL. Is 1.-THE Beyond?"
why. no. Inderwick. trust not; l
trust not. But Sir James agrees with me
that only an operation on Chs brain can
save your reason. perhaps your lifc."
And YOU doubt &c II win 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 IL was"
my dear Gilbert, the fact Is don't
| think that there is more than about one
| chance In a thousand that you'll pull
through. Macpherson says the odds are
| a great deal more in your favor: but you
| know what Sir James Is. You are a
ease to him. and though ] don't doubt
that he honestly thinks he believes what
| he says I've still less doubt that the op-
| portunity or performing such an opera
tion gives an unconscious bias TO his
| Judgment
! II see" said Captain Inderwick: his
! optimism Is bred of the opportunity OF
| we abandon the operation; what then?'
DIR. Dale was silent.
| "DAie, do you want me to still further
| imperil my already threatened existence
| by throwing the sofa pillow at your"
| Gilbert. old chap" said Dale. "the one
! there Is no doubt whatever In that IL the
tumor is not removed nothing on earth
\ can possibly save your reason"
And IL IL is removed I have about one
| chance in a thousand OF surviving ity'
"Yes. I may he wrong and Mac may
| be right: but you asked me for my frank
and honest opinion. and I've given IT,"
| Thanks, old man. That's what 1
wanted. It's rather hard lines, perhaps.
| but"-and he held out his hand, which
! the other man grasped affectionately. and
| they both lapsed into silence.
Hard lines? Yes. How old was her
| Thirty ty-three--thfrty-four. Well say be-
| tween the two.
| Invalided home from the war before 1t
| had we'll begun, by reason of this con-
| founded tumor or whatever IL 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 Margaret
! Orme which, IL all went well. wac TO
have taken place in the early summer, or.
| trouble In South Africa was over.
And now? what highwaymen these
| doctors were: Your reason or your
1 lifeY'
And there was one chance in a thousand
| that he would recover; none whatever
| that he would retain his sanity unless he
took that greater risk.
lie 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 bs
a haunting nightmare to her. constant
ghastly grief.
Better. much better dead. Perhaps. in
| the Beyond-who could teil?-he might
see her watch over her. wait for her. An.
| welil
when can It be done. Daie?" he said
| suddenly.
"Oh. yes: there's nothing else for IT,
| Of COURSE
'It could be done on Friday. hut you
| would have to come UP to the hospital
for IT,"
We'll old chap. arrange II for me. viii
you? In the mean time I'll put my af-
| fairs I'm order In case that one small
chance OF mine does not come on"
Captain rndsrwick had not said more
I than the truth when he reminded his old
| friend Dr. Dale that he had strong
nerves
When he arrived at the hospital he
| looked as sound and healthy. and 10 the
| full az cheerful q subject, ~ any surgeon
| or student In the building.
He shook hands with Dale just before
the chioroform was administered. and
| Dale was moved 70 say: Good. old
| chap. Not a tremor, upon my word
"Wel. I'm I'm good hands," said Inder-
| wick, ''and hoping for the best; and af-
! ter all a man can only die once, whether
| Ns by a Boer bullet or surgeons
knife, en-? III II II 70 be the Beyond, we'll
| goodby old fellow, and God bless YOU.
| Tell Margaret that her name was the last
| word on my lips"'
| Then Oblivion, and the trepanning saw.
| Sir James Macpherson did not belle his
! great reputation. He had located the sit
| uation Of the tumor with marvellous PEE
| ctsion, and he extracted II with the
| deftness OF a magician,
| Serious thought the operation was, OIL
| bert, somewhat to his surprise. suffered
| no inconvenience from 81. nor was the
| process Of recovery either long or tedious.
| He had hut one thought In his mind.
4 and that was TO get back tn South Africa
before the fighting was over. and this
| idea took such firm possession of him that
| the sense OF time left him. and when
| Dale pronounced him out OF danger II
| seemed TO him that the operation had
taken place no longer ago than tho day
| before.
| He had no difficulty IN persuadins Dale
| to get him certified as M for duty, or In
| obtaining permission from the war office
| to start at once for the Cape In order 10
| rejoin his regiment at the front
| lie found himself in good company on
board the Tantaiiop Castle, for troops
| were stili beirg sent out 20 Africa, and
| among the officers on board were several
| old friends. all OF then, in high spirits at
| the prospect OF active service after q Ions
spell OF idleness at home.
l As IL turned out II was very active SER
| vice indeed, and Gilbert had many op-
portunitlcs Of distinguishing himself
| with the capitulation OF Pretoria. how
| ever the campaign came 10 an end. and
his regiment was one OF the first 10 come
| home again,
n was With q lisht heart, Gilbert told
/ himself, that ne was setting out on the
J voyage home. for he was down for tho
a.. "a.