Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-12-25
eIbe INSANE
SURGEON


that you were expecting mo-"
No" I found voice to stammer
the doctor has said nothing to me
about visitor at this hour Of the
night"
"Ah. he wished to spare YOU no
doubt, dlsagreeable apprehension. /"
he returned, advancing and taking
seat on the sofa opposite me, where
TOT Few moments he sat on the sofa
opposite me, where for few moments
he sat and eyed me from head to foot.
with strange glittering light in his
eyes that mysterlously impressed me-.
You have remarkably fne physique,
madam" he observed, quietly, zone
that might deceive the eyes Of the most
skilled and practiced physician. Do
you suffer much pain7"
Unable to speak, shook NV head
A terrible suspicion was creeping over
me. I was alone, miles away from aid
or rescue, with 4 mailman.
No SoAuueu reHectlVely, your
husband may have mistaken a tnmor
for cancer. Allow me to feel your
pulse" he said, rising and bending over
me.
thought 1t best to humor him. re-
membering 1t was unwise for helpless
woman to oppose the as yet harmless
freak of a lunatic. He took out his
watch, shook his head grayely, laid my
hand down gently, then went toward
the study, where on the table was an
open case of surgical instruments.
DO not be alarmed, madam" he
said to me, as was about to rise and
fee, and In another instant he was nv
my side, with the case In his bosses.
sion.
1nvoluntarily raised my head, and
cried: Spare me! Oh, spare me. |
beseech you'll"
Madam" he said, sternly, claspIne
my wrist with his long, slnewy fingers
with grip Of steel, you behave like
child. ! have no time to parley, for
have received letter from the Ger
man emperor, stating that he is desir-
GUS Of my attendance. l must start,
for Europe Immediately after perform
Ing the operation on your breast" and
before I could make the slightest re.
sistance, he had me in his arms and
was carrying me into the study, where
was long surgical table covered with
green baize. On this he laid me. md
holding me down with one hand, with
the strength Of maniac, he brought
forth several long leather straps, which
bore evidence of having been recently
cut, and with which he secured ma to
the table with the skill Of an expert.
1t was but the work Of moment to
unloose my robe. and bare my bosom.
Then, after carefully examining nv
left breast, he said:
"Madam, your husband has made a
mistake. find no necessity for nv in
tended operation"
All this I gave long-drawn sigh of
relief and prepared to rise.
But" he continued, 81 have made
the discovery that your heart is as
large as that of an oxi will remove
1t SO that you can see for yourself; re-
duce it to Its natural size by curious
process of my own, unknown to medi-
cal science, and Of which am sole dis.
coverer, and then replace 1t again."
He began to examine the edge of the
cruel knife. on which closed nv ewes.
while every nerve was in perceptible
tremor.
1.-THE mechanism of the heart is like
watch" he resumed: "if 1t goes too
fast the great blood vessel that SUD-
plies the force must be stopped, like
the lever Of watch, and the works
must be cleaned, and repaired, and reg
ulated. It may interest you to know
that was present at the post-mortem
examination held over the remains of
the beautiful Louisa Of Prussia. Had
l been consulted before her death, 1
would have saved her by taking out
her heart, and removing the polypi,
between which 1t was wedged assin a
wise, but I was called too late. The
king and I had little difference; he
was German, am French. trust that
is sufficient explanation"
He now bent over me, his long white
beard brushing my face. 1 opened my
eyes beseechingly, trying to think of
some way to save myself. "Oh, sir,
give me an anaesthetic; that 1 may not
feel the pain" 1 pleaded.
Indeed, indeed, madam, 1 would
comply with your wish were you not
the wife Of physiclan-of a skillful
surgeon. I wish you to note with what
ease I perform this difficult operation,
30 that you may tell your husband of
the great savant whose services he Sc
cured, fortunately in season."
AS he said this he made the final
test Of the knife on his thumb, How
precious were the moments now! They
we're fleeing all too fast. and yet an
eternity seemed compressed In every
one. l never tainted in my life, and
I never felt less like swoonlng than
now, as summoned ull my presence
OF mind to delay the fearful moment,
fervently praying in the meantime for
my husbands return.
Doctor" said I, with assumed COM
posure, II have the utmost confidence
In your skill; would not trust nv
life to another; but, doctor, you have
forgotten to bring napkin to stanch
the blood. II you will have the good
ness to ascend to my sleeping chamber,
at the right Of the hall, you will find
everything you need for that purpose
In the bureau"
"Ah, madam" he said, shaking his
head, sagaciously. II never draw blood
during surgical operation; that is
another one Of my secrets unknown to
the faculty."
Then. placing his hand on my bosom,
he added, with horrible playfulness:
'I'll scarcely mark that skin, winter
than snow, and smooth as alabaster."
20 God" cried. as / felt the cold