The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-31
THE MUSICIAN AND
 THE MADMAN
BY ROBERT FINDLAY.


 (Copyright, 1906, by Joseph E. Bowies.l }
 Fifteen years practice as the only English-speaking physician in Mexican town had made me familiar with the private lives of most of It's denIzens.
 It was one day in June. during the siesta, when from 12 to 2:30 o'clock all shops close. that there came a knock on the door. In response to my looking woman of middle-age entered. holding by the hand a young man of perhaps 25 years.
 My call" said the lady, when she had introduced herself and taken the chair I 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 Is unfor- tunate mentally. and 1t 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 1t annoys him greatly" she continued.
 "Abominable! Abominable! Abom- inable?' broke in the boy"
 T feel that I am somewhat imperti- nent in making the request" resumed
  make any old bachelor doctor of 50 break his fiddle, but know that you as a physician. will understand"
 'I appreciate the situation" l re- piled. with considerable dignity. "and will see to 1t that there Is no further annoyance of the kind"
 Thank you." she said, with another angelic smile. The second and main purpose of my call is poor Alfred. Will lyFA Ira nralfnsfnaTV K- animation of him and take charge of his case if you think treatment will benefit himT
 It was an ugly as well as a silly stare l had from Alfred at this. To make a short story of it. learned that among Alfreds youthful vices were inordinate cigarette smoking and over application to study. the latter as much 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 a cigarette always in his mouth, had ruined him. He was now a paranoiac. l saw there was little I could do for him. How ever, as there seemed to be a streak Of ugIiness in his case, something ra- ther unusual in paranola, l said to his mother: "Senora, I can hold out no hope of a cure. and in maladies of this sort there is sometimes developed a dangerous tendency. While we may not cure. we may be able to stop"
 A gunshot, followed by a woman'S screams, broke the monday quiet ot Calle de Tampico and we rushed to the door
 On the cement floor of the sitting room at the left of the entrance halp lay old Herman Henkel while beside him knelt his daughter Amelia rub bing hls 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 1 nmy little patio, he performing upon his flute, and do- ing my best with my violin; I think that nothing in this life creates strong CT love of man for man that such mu- sical association.
 As took a place in the crowd that pressed behind the policeman, my eye happened to rest on Alfred Ustedin0, He was rubbing his hands together and muttering: Fine caiculationl A bulTs'-eye! bu1l's-eyel A bulls- eye!" while his face wore a queer mix ture of joy, cunning and deviltry.
 Ills mother took him by the hand and led him from the room just as Q tall, swarthy fierce-eyed Mexican sprang through the doorway, threw the crowd this way and that, and bounced upon the corpse of my leal 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 raw edged bullet hole in the old mans left side. You people clear out, The off, ficer and l will attend to matter here"
 But as I was going. his eye fell on me and he exclaimed. Stop Senor Doctor! You will completely examine the body and make the scientific report to the Mayor tomorrow" and then, as I took off my coat to make what su perficial examination I could, Juarez darted from the house Into the street.
 Promptly at eight o'clock the next morning Captain JuareZ Loisa entered my office. He seated himself quietly.
 1T have the murderers. and merely call for your report on the autopsy" he began. yawning and stretching him self.
 they?
 "George Rote and his half-breed Yaqui. lean. across the way
 why man." I cried. Its impossi- blei Old Henkle was shot from above. Rote, living on the ground floor oppo- site him could not have shot him as he was shot without going on the house-top and no one would have heen fool enough to do that"
 Listen senor Doctor. Rote as