Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-18

! am a surgeon. ard nBy home is in
Florence, Italy. When a young tnan
studied at a college Of physicians and
surgeons in my native country, Amer
lea, but, possessing a taste for art,
concluded to change my profession.
Coming here to Florence. l studied art
for awhile. but soon saw that l did
not possess the talent necessary to
make an artist Having fallen in love
with this delightful city. 1 remained.
hanging out my shingle as surgeon.
One night attended a ball at the
ance among the aristocracy of Flor
ence, and | was much interested in
watching the people there. few of
whom | had ever seen. A young girl
with a gentleman attendant on each
side of her walked by me. The APP
pearance of the three told a story.
The man on her left was young, hand
some, in every way attractive. He on
her right was past middle age and
disagreeable looking as the other was
engaging. AS they passed me he gave
the younger man malignant look.
The girl appeared to be much troubled.
1t was plain that her heart was with
the man on her left. that she was con-
strained to choose the man on her
right and that the two men hated each
other on her account.
"Everyw here" | remarked to ny
self, 1.-The stream of life is troubled.
To be rich. to be prominent, does not
render one immune from that which is
disagreeable. Happy love has evident
ly come to this young girl, to be inter
fered with by one who, judging from
her expression. has some claim upon
her. How | should like to know the
storyv'
AS I thought the last words L little
dreamed that within a few hours
climax would come in the drama be-
ing enacted by these three persons
and that L would come upon the stage
for a minor part. When l left the
palace l went directly TO my rooms
and to bed. An hour later l was
awakened from a sound sleep by
violent knockingH / arose. slipped on
a gown and opened the door. Two
gentlemen in evening dress stepped
into the room.
"YOu are the American surgeon,
believer" said one.
"At your service 1 replied.
"You are wanted to attend a man
dangerously wounded said the other.
You are chosen partly on account of
your standing in your profession. but
principally because you are not one of
our circle. We do not like Our affairs
to be known. must ask you to per-
NIT me to blindfold you
/ objected to this. but one of the
men put his hand to his hip pocket and
drew forth a small pistol with mother
of-pearl mountings. while the other
produced stiletto. | picked up my
bag of instruments and suffered them
to tie handkerchief about my eyes.
They led me out TO the sidewalk. told
me to raise my foot. and l stepped into
a carriage.
"Drive a roundabout way" 1 heard
one of the gentlemen say.
no" interposed the other. He may
bleed to death. We must go as quick
ly as possible"
There was no need TO make turns.
for ! had no idea where they were
taking me. In what supposed TO be
ten minutes the carriage stopped.
was helped out and soon by the in
creased warmth of the air felt myself
to be in a building Then / mounted
steps. and at last the bandage was
taken or my eyes. was standing
beside bed on which lay-mirabile
dictu-the young man had seen walk
ing on the left of the girl at the Pitt.
knew too well the danger of show
Ing anx sign of recognition