Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-10-05
CHAPTER I.

bers of my own profession have | under
taken a task necessarily disagreeable, and
do now recall the details of a case which
] take to be without parallel IN the rec
ords Of criminology In the mental state
of the afflicted being there was, indeed,
little that was abnormal. Manias that are
similar to his fill our asylums. But that
laborious studies in the byways of sci
ence, rather than in her more frequented
paths, had placed at the will of his dis
ordered brain weapons of deadly poten-
cy, transformed personal misfortune
into a great and urgent public danger.
l spent four years at Cambride, where,
though my degree was a high one,
found too many distractions to make
such progress as l could have wished in
my profession. Yet my interest in med
icine grew steadily, and on leaving the
university determined, having both the
means and the time at my disposal, TO
seek out a spot where l could throw my
self into my work without the Interrupt
tons of old friends and old associations.
The reputation of Heidelberg attracted
me, and hither l migrated.
Sufficient for myself. The man who
was to be associated with me in my
strange quest | will describe with equal
brevity. My cousin, Sir Henry Graden,
Kt., MD, FRS, FR.SG., was a man
of remarkable personality surgeon OF
brilliant gifts that had made for him a
European reputa ton, yet an eccentric
or so the world held hm-who lacked
the steady application necessary for com
plete success. He would throw himself
into the solution of a problem, or the
prosecution of a new experiment, with
ha tff, an ophinUinU flp
desired result he would shake off the at
mosphere of the hospital and laboratory
and start on some wild-goose chase that
might include the ascent of an unclimb-
able peak, the capture of a rare species
of wild animal. or the study of little
known tribe of savages. In person he
was Of great stature, and heavily, al
most clumsily, built, with rugged,
weather-beaten face, keen yet kindly
grey eyes, and brown hair, somewhat
grizzled about the temples. In age he
was well past the forties. In dress and
department he might pardonably have
been mistaken for a prosperous Yorkshire
grazier Indeed, he was wont to COM
plain that he acted as magnet to all
the trcksters of London; though, from
the shrewd smile with which he accom-
panied his protests, it was easy to see
that he thoroughly enjoyed the diversion
Of turning the tables on his discredit-
able opponents.
1t was towards the end of my second
year at Heidelberg. An autumn sun had
sunk to rest in a golden haze over the
wooded hills, and the night, lum-
nous under the harvest moon, lay upon
the old town. l was sitting at my table
on which a shaded lamp threw its vel
low circle, arranging the notes of the
lectures l had that day attended, when
there came a knock at the door behind
me. l cried a sulky invitation. for
feared the appearance of one of my pre-
posterous student friends, with his jargou
of the duel and the promenade. But the
next moment an enormous hand had
dragged me into the realization Of my
duties as a host by standing me on my
feet amid the clatter Of a falling chair
"Why, Cousin Gradenl' l cried, fol
indeed 1t was he who had thus treated
me. what cyclone has blown you
here?'
"Egadl l believe it's the truth Nv,
heard" said he, throwing himself on tC
sofa that cracked again under his
weight-he was a famed breaker Of
furniture was cousin Harry Graden
''rhey told me that you'd shut yourseli
up for nigh two years--work work, worl
AS if there was no young blood in YOU
veins, and no green world lying around
you. with not a yard of it that ism
worth all the most learned dissertation,
ever written"
l knew his favorite doctrine. 1t would
have been as foolish to argue with hin
as to attempt to uphold the necessit.
for the Union with an Irish Home Ruler
But what are you doing hereY'
repeated.
ITS to Berlin that I'm bound, to reat
a paper before a society that Is gooC
enough to be interested in some notes
took recently on the Kafir witch-doctors
I'd few days in hand, so l thought
would take a peep at my dear Heidelberg
and, incidentally. at my worthy cousin
Robert Harlsnd."
He rose and stalked about the room
cluclSing to himself like contented hen
Same old jugs and china pipes sam,
wainscot, shade darker maybe: sam,
old oak beams, a thought more smoky
same schlagers above the mantelpiece.
He took down one of the student,
duelingswords. aud slipped his hanC
into the heavy hilt. Raising his long arm
into the orthodox attitude, he swept tn,
keen, thin blade in Kissing circles.
do you ever tramp on the sawdust
and drum with the schlager, and bleed il
the tank, Cousin RobertY'
mot 1. Though have heard of you
triumphs in the past, you man of bloodr
"And who has been gossiping?"
Professor Won Stockmar. He asket
me to supper the second day 1 arrived
for the sole purpose. l believe. Of i'm
pressing me with the fame Of a certain
tusilng dsspsrAdo Of a student on,