Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-06-07
tcOpyrlsht, By Joseph .. Bovlss) J

Fifteen years practice as the only
English'speaking physician In q
Mexican town had made me familiar
with the private lives Of most Of its
dsnizens.
II was one day In June. during the
siesta, when from u TO $3.50 o'clock
all shops close. that there came q
knock on the door. In response to my
Come in." Signora Ustedine. fine
looking woman Of middle-age entered,
holding by the hand young man OF
perhaps Is years.
my CALL" said the lady, when she
had introduced herself and taken the
chair. offered, lis for both social and
professional assistance. My boy"-and
here she turned loving eyes upon the
fat high'shouldered, six feet Of mas
culinity beside her-"my boy IL unfor-
tunate mentally. and It is one Of his
peculiarities that he cannot endure mu'
sic long continued"
you are In the habit of playing
your violin at your window during our
siesta, and It annoys him greatly" she
continued.
"Abominable!/ Abominable! Abom-
inable!" broke In the "boy."
II feel that I am somewhat imperti.
nent in making the request" resumed
Mrs. Ustedine. with smile that would
make any old bachelor doctor Of 30
break his fiddle, but I know that you,
as Q physician. will understand"
81 appreciate the situation" ! re-
piled, with considerable dignity, land
will see to 1t that there is no further
annoyance Of the kind"
THANK you." she said, with another
angelic smile. 1.-THE second and main
purpose Of my call is poor Alfred.
VIII you kindly make some prelim-
mary examination Of him and take
charge Of his case. II you think treat.
ment will benefit him."
II was an ugly as well as silly
stare I had from Alfred at this. To
make O short story Of It. I learned
that among Alfred's youthful vices
were inordinate cigarette smoking and
overapplication to study, the latter as
much q vice as any other excess. Al
fred had been unusually bright, with
an abnormal ambition to know the
mysteries Of mechanics. Late hours at
books and models. with cigarette
always In his mouth, had ruined him.
He was now q paranoiac. ! saw there
was little I could do for him. How.
ever, as there seemed to be q streak
Of ugliness In his case, something
rather unusual in paranoia, said to
his mother: Sonora, can hold out
no hope Of q cure, and In maladies Of
this sort there Is sometimes developed
O dangerous tendency. While we may
not cure, we may be able to STOP"
A gunshot, followed by woman's
screams, broke the MONDAY quiet Of
Gale de Tampico, and we rushed to
the door.
On the cement floor of the sitting
room, at the left of the entrance hall,
lay old Hermann Henkel, while beside
him knelt his daughter, Amelia, rub
bling his body and screaming most
piteously.
Old Hermann, soloist OF the best or
chestra In town, was dear friend Of
mine. Often, in the quiet hours Of
siesta, we had met in my little patio.
he performing upon his flute, and do
ing my best with my violin; I think
that nothing In this life creates
stronger love of man for man than
such musical association.
As I took q place in the crowd that
pressed behind the policeman, my eye
happened to rest on Alfred Ustedine.
He was rubbing his hands together
and muttering: Fine calculation!
A bull's.eye! A bull's-eye! A BULLS
eye!" while his face wore a queer
mixture Of Joy, cunning and deviltry.
His mother took him by the hand
and led him from the room Just as
tail, swarthy. fierce-eyed Mexican
sprang through the doorway. threw
the crowd this way and that, and
pounced upon the corpse Of my dead
friend.
''Pounced" is the only word to use
in describing any act Of Capt. Juarez
Loisa, Of the chihuahua police.
Murder" he said, pointing to a raw
edged bullet hole in the old mans left
side. you people clear out The Of.
ficer and will attend to matters here"
But as I was going. his eye fell on
me and he exclaimed: stop, Senior
Doctor! You will completely examine
the body and make the scientific report
10 the mayor tomorrow; and then.
as took OF my coat to make what
superficial examination could, Juarez
iarted from the house into the street.
Promptly at eight o'clock the next
morning Capt. Juarez Loisa entered
my ONCE. He seated himself quietly.
81 have the murderers, and merely
call for your report on the autopsy"
he began, yawning and stretching him.
self.
an-. A. ,,nurdararot Wha ara