Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-08-16
AS Death Drew Near.

Well, DOCTOR" said the man on the
couch, what is the verdict"
''FrankIy?"
cranky. I've strong nerves, Dale,
IS you know of old; 1 can bear it,
whatever it is. Is 1.-THE Beyond?"
Why, no, Inderwick, trust not;
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 a 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 ease to him, and though I don't
doubt that he honestly thinks he be-
lieves what he says, I've still less
doubt that the opportunity of perform
ing such an operation gives an I'M
conscious bias to his Judgment
II see" said Captain Inderwick;
his optimism is bred of the oppor-
tunity of demonstrating his skill. Well,
suppose we abandon the operation,
what then?"
DR.. Dale was silent.
Dale, do you want me to still
further imperil my already threatened
existence by throwing the sofa pillow
ut your
Gilbert, old chap" said Dale, ''the
one circumstance in your case about
which here is no doubt whatever is
that if the tumor is not removed
nothing on earth can possibly save
your reason"
and If it is removed l have about
one chance in thousand of surviv-
ing it?'
Yes. l may be wrong and Mac
may be right, but you asked me for
my frank and honest opinion, and l
have given it."
Thanks, old man. That's what I
wanted. It's rather hard lines per-
haps, but'-and he held out his hand,
which the other man grasped affec-
tionately, and they both lapsed into
silence.
Hard lines? Yes How old was h?
Thirtythree-34? Well, say between
the two.
Invalided home from the war be-
fore it had we'll begun, by reason of
this c0nfounded tumor or whatever it
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 if
all went vel 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 we're Your reason or your
lifesa
And there was one chance in a
thousand hat he would recover; none
whatever that he would retain his
sanity unless he took that greater
risk.
He had lost his reason once already,
and although the sea voyage had
again he knew we'll 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- a haunting nightmare to
her, q constant, CHASTITY grief.
Better. much better dead. Perhaps
in the Beyond-who could tell?-he
might see her, watch over her, wait for
her. An, well!
When can it be done, Dale?" he
said suddenly.
You have decided, then, Gilbert?'
"Oh, yes, there's nothing else for it
OF course
1T could be done on Friday, but
you would have to come up to the
hospital for tt
Well, old chap, arrange it for me
viii you IN the meantime. I'll put
my affairs ID order in case that one
small chance of mine does not come
OF.
Captain Inderwick had not said
more than the truth when he remind
ed his old 1riend, Dr. Dale, that he
rad strong nerves.
When be arrived at the hospital he
looked - sound and healthy, and t.
the ksan aH eheerful a subject as any
surgeon 81 student in the building.
He SHOCK hands with Dale just be
fore The cAlnroform was administered
and D8la wNs moved to say, Good, OLE
chap ok tremor, upon my wordt'
Well in good hands," said n