Smyrna times., 1910-07-27
The Shot ~
~ That Missed

the extensive gardens which sur
rounded his private asylum for the
insane; we were returning to his
residence, and he was on the point of
relating to me the peculiar circum-
stances connected with the case of
one of his patients, whom we had
met, and who had greeted US with an
air of great condescension.
At that moment the sharp report
of pistol rang out in the still morn
ing air. l grasped the arm of my
host and exclaimed:
"What is that? Surely one of
your patients is doing mischief!'
DR.. Noirot smiled.
mo-" said he, "be composed; it
is merely another singular case,
which l will show you.
Diverging to the left, he drew me
toward a small pavilion hidden be-
hind cluster of trees. He opened
door, and after proceeding along a
narrow vesribule, we reached a sort
of long court, surrounded by high
brick walls. A man was there. tall
of stature, and clothed in the cos
tune of hunter, resembling in GER
tain details, the habit of the Mexi-
can cattle herder.
He was reclining against one of
the walls of the pavilion, and at the
Of i
the right hand, in which was firmly
grasped a pistol. Our arrival dis
turbed him not. l followed the di-
rectiOn of the weapon, and l saw at
about fifteen PAGES white head with
black hole in the centre of The
forehead. 1t was, as far as [ was
able to judge at that distance, a
mask Of plaster of paris, skilfully
executed, and in which l seemed to
be able TO distinguish a resemblance
of Diana the huntress.
The shot was discharged. The
head remained intact.
"See," said the doctor. "It is
most remarkable; he never misses a
a shot. -
els it possible?" said l, half
incredulously.
yes, all the balls are lodged in
the same place-in that dark spot
not larger than an inch and a half
in diameter. See -
The man had drawn another pistol
from his belt. He fired. The head
moved not. The weapon was a hand
some revolver, charged with several
shots. The marksman discharged
successively five other shots, none
of which damaged the figure.
The doctor placed his hand upon
the shoulder of the marksman, who,
turning toward him, revealed a face
adorned by heary black beard, and
upon which reposed an air of determ-
ination and melancholy.
"Stop moment, "said the doctor.
The man bowed assentingly, and
the doctor then conducted me to the
end of the court and behind the
mask, and showed me a kind of
blackened iron plate which protected
the wall from being damaged by the
bullets. In the centre of the plate
l observed a round spot which
glistened brightly from the effects of
the lead which had been battered in
striking.
"You see, said the doctor, IN
showing me the exact correspondence
of the brilliant spot and the hole
which pa sed through the plaster
head, call balls have entered here.
You will find this to be true in every
instance. "
"It ia indeed marvellous, 3" replied
|. but what of his strange his
tory?" Let us go. l will relate
it to you without
We traversed the court and the
vestibuIe, and this is the strange re-
cital of DR.. NOirot, interrupted at
regular intervals by the detonations
of the mad marksman's revolver:
Inv pOOA uulOL LluudlG Is called
Guido Ventura. Whether Italian,
Spanish or American, is not certain.
ly known. American l should say.
for it is from the United States
these masters of the rifle and revolv.
er come. 1t was from there he came
to France. You could have seer
him last season at the Alcazal
d'Automne, where he had given foul
or five exhibitions of dexterity anC
woul1 have performed elsewhere haC
not imperative reasons terminated
abruptly his representations.
Guido Ventura, when he arrived a
Paris, was accompanied by a young
lady. known professionally as Mad
emoiselle Arabelle. She was mag
nificent creature, with the form O.
statue and the head of "a goddess
She lacked not adorers. and in les,