The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-20


liungerford did the trick for me,
and Jack was always handy with his
Bowie. Had not the lamp in the cara
vanscry where our little dispute took
place become overturned, resulting in
the destruction of the building, there
might have been chance of rescuing
my ear and having it restored to its
proper resting place, but unfortunately
it was lost in the conhagration. SO l
found myself cast upon a mocking world
with but one ear, and with faint prospect
of growing fresh one for the journey
through life. | was rich, foOlishly so,
but what good was all my money without
an ear to enjoy it with. The earmarks
even of the jailbird are as nothing COM
pared to the absence of earmarks such
as appertained to my state. A man
may have his eye put out, and he can
get glass eye; but when you have had
your ear put out, no glass ear will take
its place.
But l was not to be thus easily dis
why not an ear?
dYou'll have to get chld's ear, Pm
afraid" said the surgeon who had under
taken to make the transfer of ears when
the victim should have been found.
Fortunately, believe know where to
put my hand on just the ear you are
looking for"
DR.. Tomlinson was as good as his
word, and week later all arrangements
had been completed for the transfer of
little Willie Fahnestock's right ear to the
corresponding spot on my own head.
"Willie is not beauty, Ill admit
Al et,t al,
in discussing the matter with me; "but
irving to rob bank, and his mother was
shop-lifter, but that doesn't affect you,
that | can see. All you want is Willie's
ear, not his pedigree; and, goodness
Knows, you're paying enough for it.
Your money will give the boy good
education and make a gentleman out
of him"
DIR. Tomlinson's arguments stilled my
conscience, and at the time and place
appointed Willie's ear was transferred
to the spot once occupied by my own
incinerated member. The operation was
emnentlv successful, and it made the
operator famous at the same time that
it made me whole.
was like one risen from the dead,
restored to life and happiness, for l am
a sensitive man, and the consciousness
of being an object of pity and curiosity
had embittered my days for me. Now,
however, | was able to go about my
business without dread of ridicule
Wille's ear fitted me perfectly, and after
short period Of nervousness lest some
morning ! should wake up and find it
detached, | gradually came to regard it
as really and truly mine and per-
manencv.
Then set about enjoying myself. For
three years there was no flaw in my
happiness. At the end of that time. |
awoke one morning to the horrible
suspicion that W Hes ear was growing!
At first | refused to believe the evidence
of my senses. but the fact was too patent
long to admit of doubt Wllie's ear
was already pcrceptiblv larger than my
own, ard it was rapidly increasing its
lead. His ear, l estimated, was now
eight years old, and there remained,
therefore, some sixteen or seventeen
years of growth ahead of it. To Judge by
appearances, at the end of that period.
it would be at least twice the size of
my native ear. This was worse than
having no ear ut all. fastened to con-
suit DIR. Tomlinson, to whom l left the
matter.
At the end of six months I got a note
from him saying that at last he had found