Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1907-12-27
MORNING SURGICAL
OPERATION.
[Original.]


There is an adage that two is COM
pany and three is a crowd, and lis
dale wished for another man to be a
companion for one of the girls & gen.
tleman sat at table near by smoking
his cigarette, drinking his absinth and
twirling his mustache. He cast an oc-
casional glance at Tisdale and his par
ty and seemed interested in them.
When the waiter presented the bill
Tisdale was chagrined to find that he
had left his portemannaie at his hotel.
There was nothing remaining in his
vest pocket but five franc piece,
quite insufficient to meet the indebted
ness. He was at loss to know what
to do. The ladies had no money with
them, and the position was embarrass-
ing. All this was evident to the gen.
tleman sitting near. He rose, ap-
preached Tisdale and, lifting his hat,
politely said:
Pardon, m'sieu. If you will permit
me will relieve your embarrassment.
What is the amount of the bill?'
After some discussion Tisdale accept
cd the strangers offer and asked him
to take his place at the table while he
drove to his hotel to get his money.
The stranger consented. Tisdale was
absent less than half an hour and
when he returned found the girls
quite at home with their protector.
He was a man of perhaps forty. His
manners were affable. and he pos
sessed the faculty of being an atten-
tive listener. Tisdale was very CRATE
full for the favor he had done him and.
thanking him, said:
an sieu, we would be happy to have
you join our party for the evening. We
shall visit those places of amusement
with which this delightful city
abounds and when we have exhausted
them will sup at one of the cafes in
the amusement center"
Tisdale took out card and handed
it to the stranger, who looked at it
musingly.
"Msieu will pardon me-" said the lat
ter, ''for not returning my card.
never carry one; My name has dis
agreeable associations. You probably
know that the implement used in the
revolution for getting rid of the no
biIity took its name from a physician,
DR.. Guillotin."
81 see," said Tisdale; you are de-
scendant Of his"
1.-The name is not uncommon" said
one Of the ladies, Mile. de Four.
81 rather like It," said the other,
Louise Micheau There is keen edge
to it."
gathered their wraps, the men put on
their overcoats, all left the cafe and,
getting into a carriage, drove away.
During the evening the party gave
themselves up to pleasure. The stran-
ger once or twice demurred at not be-
ing permitted to pay any bills, but,
seeing that Tisdale was determined on
this point, gave way. He was not
communicative man-rather silent, in
fact-but this did not prevent him from
being companionable He asked to be
excused from drinking, giving as a
reason that he would be obliged to per-
form delicate operation in the morn
ing and would need steady hand.
$50 you are like your celebrated an
cestor, a doctor?" remarked Tisdale.
81 follow his footsteps" replied Gull
lotin.
The doctor seemed to prefer Mile.
Micheau and became her escort for
the evening.
1t was 1 o'clock before the party
brought up in a cafe on one of the
boulevards for supper
Il shall have to leave you very
soon," said the stranger Having ac-
cepted your hospitality thus far, I
grant that you will drink a bottle with
me?"
Certainly. But why leave usP'
'The operation I spoke Of"
"An operation! Sd early in the morn
ingw exclaimed Mile. de Four.
You'll kill the patient" said Mile.
Micheau. Better wait for daylight"
Il do not expect the patient will sur
vive," said the doctor
There was certain chill in his voice
that communicated itself to the others.
There was something uncanny in the
fact of mans leaving gay supper
party to perform an operation on
person the result of which he expected
would be fatal. Tisdale, to Danish the
disagreeable feeling, seized glass Of
wine and, clinking it with the others,
drank success to the doctors operation.
at will be successful" said the sur
geon. 1T is an operation 1 have per
formed often. and 1 never fail"
"But 1 thought you said the patient
would not survive it," said Nile. Mi
cheau.
He will not, but his death has moth
ing to do with my skill in operating.
That is another natter