Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-08-22
DAILY SHORT STORY
The Medic's Story.
IOriginal.l

QSnIS, rOOLnluB on the same HOOr anu
all given to story telling. Waterhouse
excelled in fabulous adventure and al
ways maintained that 1t really hap
pened. The most remarkable of his
stories was this:
Il am going to tell you something to-
night" he said. that happened TO me
several weeks ago. I've had 1t on my
mind since then, but a certain feeling of
delicacy has prevented my saying any
thing about it. One night, or rather
morning, was walking in the upper
part of the city, in a street where the
houses stand back some distance from
the sidewalk, the front space being
given up to gardens. The street was
still as a cemetery. and my footsteps
sounded marvelously loud. l had just
passed a church which stood on the
opposite side of the street when sudden
ly the bell struck 1. l started as
though some one had hit me. l must
have gone thrO,, gh some singular phys
ical process, for when l pulled myself
together at the iron gateway inclOsing
one of the gardens in front of which
had stopped. a girl stood leaning for
ward and beckoning to me.
"'Oh, SIR she said, come with me.
There are men in the house who are
trying to get my aunt to go with them
TO lunatic asylum. She is not insane.
assure you she is not
"She opened the gate as she spoke
and L followed her up q stone walk
to the front door, which stood ajar,
into a dimly lighted hall and upstairs.
Throwing open Il bedroom door, there
sat lady in a wrapper trimmed with
lace, while before her stood a man
who, as l went in, finished a sentence
he was speaking with these words: L
shall have to use force, and that don't
want to do The moment 1 entered he
and the lady both looked at me, the
man surprised, the woman appeallngly
The young lady stood beside me trem-
bling.
"'Have you any authority, SIR l
said, for being in this house at this
hour?'
Whether have or not he replied
I am not accountable to you and de
cline to produce it
show a warrant for the removal of this
parture.'
THE man looked irritated at being
interfered with in carrying out pur-
pose that might or might not be legiti-
mate. If had any doubt that it was
illegitimate the pleading look of both
the women. and especially that of the
younger, removed 1t at once.
"'Come. sir 1 said. I am waiting.
Leave this room
al will see you in the hail. he re-
piled
He came toward me. 1 stepped back
into the hall. The girl went into the
room. and 1 closed the door.
1.-THE lady is an insane patient he
said, and 1 am trying to get her away
without attracting the attention Of her
neighbors.'
az happen to be a medical man.
replied, and know that in such cases
the order of a court or board de lu-
natico inquirendo is needed. Produce
it. and will not interfere with you
HE looked puzzled as to what course
to follow, then, quick as flash, drew
a revolver and leveled it at me. 1 was
unarmed and at a great disadvantage.
but knew the man dreaded to attract
attention, and relying on this sprang
for him, knocking up his revolver as
did so, and, seizing 1t, twisted ii out
of his hand and threw 1t downstairs.
Singularly enough, 1t didn't explode.
Then. taking him by the collar, 1 hus-
tied him after his revolver, put him
out at the front door and closed it
with a bang. Then l called to the
young lady. who came down. followed
by her aunt, and both gave vent to ex-
pressions of gratitude"
The speaker stopped as though his
| story was finished.
"Waterhouse." / remarked, "where
do you get the starters for these
yarnsT
"You don't believe meF'
''I believe you are romancing."
He stepped to his study table. opened
| a drawer and took out a revolver,
which he handed me, telling me to look
at a silver plate on the butt on which
was inscribed, "John Burnes, st. l.
Asylum For the Insane"
| looked up at Warehouse thunder
struck. 1.-THE pistol you threw down
| stairsY
Eyes"
"Rotw said one of the party. Water
house came into possession of the re-
volver in some ordinary way and made
up his yarn about it,
"No,'' said another. when the
clock in the church tower struck the
hour the shock, acting on his heart.
produced a suspension of its action for
fraction of second. During this
time he dreamed it ALL"
"How could he dream a revolverT l
suggested.
| Warehouse made no effort to con-
vince us of the truth Of his story, but,
taking up the growler, went for beer.
| had been graduated and had prac-
ticed some years when received Wa
terhouse's wedding cards. Since he
was one of our own set went hun
dred miles to the wedding.