Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1910-01-27
| How My Iisad
Was Saved
BY WALLACE PUTNAM REED

tell different story But it Is the
simple t'aitn, and | can explain the
seeming mystery in few words
/ About eight years ago | was a young
physician, just starting in the prac.
tice My Office was in B.. small
village in the southwestern part OF
this state. usually slept in my of.
flee. it being both convenient and eco.
nomical to do so
One night in January. / think, !
was sitting before my IRE, bordering
over my future prospects. The hour
was very late, and the weather was
SO cold that did not expect any call
or visit.
Suddenly | felt that some one had
entered the room. had heard no
noise, but an indeflnabe something
| warned me that visitor was present.
| With quick wheel Of my chair,
faced the door Within i've feet of me
stood my visitor He was tall. we'll
nrorortionea. and strikingly handsome
man had barely time to remark
this, and TO note the fact that he was
we'll dressed, when the stranger spoke.
"A physician, / believer"
He said this hesitatingly and with
an air Of respectful Difference
That is my profession, ! replied.
| VIII you take a chair, sir?"
The stranger took the proffered seat,
| and proceeded to engage me in a
general conversation.
Half an hour passed, and still the
object of the visit had not been stated.
At last / limited at it in pretty plain
| terAs
"Oh, yes said the stranger. 81
came near forgetting my purpose In
calling. The fact is, | have made a
| discovery which is destined to work
a revolution in surgical science"
yawned at this What does man
care for surgical science at midnight,
when his fire is going out?
q viii tell you about it," continued
my visitor. Il have discovered a sim
pie process by which a mans head
may be cut off and then replaced, with.
out injury to the person operated
upon What do you think of that?"
| gave the man keen glance He
met my gaze without finching
Il decline to think about it at all, .
replied; at least, not tonight. You
may drop in tomorrow
The stranger leaped from his chair
and stood before me- | noticed then
that he was very much my superior in
physical strength
What could | do?
My Office was on the first floor of
an isolated building No one slept on
my floor except Bob Henry, and he
was out probably for the night. II
the man murdered me, nobody would
hear my cries for help. The situation
began to grow interesting.
Nv hat do you mean?" | asked in as
calm tone as / could assume
| II mean this, was the reply. 81
mean to try my experiment on you to-
night. | will pledge my honor to sever
your head from your body and replace
it within 90 minutes, without caus-
ing the slightest injury"
| The man was a maniac. Of this |
| was certain. But how was | to man
age him?
was lust about to spring from my
| seat, when the mailman drew a large
| and glittering knife, and fiourished it
before my eyes.
Steady, now!" said he. Keep quiet.
old boy, and don't move, or I'll have
to hack your face more than is neces-
sary'
. This significant warning capped the
climax. | felt all my strength leav-
ing me, and as | gazed into the burn
ing eyes looking so earnestly into
mine, felt that no earthly power
could save me.
He placed one hand upon my head,
and | thought my last hour had ar
/ rived
Just then the use OF my faculties
returned to me. My first desire was
to gain time
"One moment!" | cried Tell me
If you could perform this operation
on two persons, and exchange their
heads?"
Hello!" shouted the mailman.
That's brilliant idea Wouldn't it
be rich? A with BIS head, and 3 with
AS head
The fellow seemed tickled with my
suggestion, and talked about 1T at
least ten minutes. But he resumed
the murderous knife again. and pre-
pared to carry out his purpose.
Suddenly my eyes flashed delight,
and | struggled in my chair Iheard
the familiar footsteps of Bob Henry
ascending the stairs.
Rescued at last!
whats the matter?" queried the
maniac.
The steps were heard rapidly APP
preaching my door.
"Spies!" shouted my visitor, throw
ing down his knife. Il must not be
seen here. Au reyoir"
There was a deafening crash of
glass and wood, and Bob Henry en-
! tered the room just in time to see the
mailman disappearing through the
shattered window.
What happened after that | do not
recollect. But when came to myself
l was lying in bed, looking into Bobs
honest face and listening to his part
of the story. had been lying there
three weeks, he told me, but | was
all right again The maniac was
/ killed by his wild leap Who he was
we never ascertained
My restoration to health c.ae at