The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-05-13
n
Surgeons
Story
He Saw the First Part Of q Drama
and Was an Actor In the
Second Part.
By BEVERLY WoRTHINGTON.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.
l am q surgeon. and my home is In
Florence, Italy. When a young man l
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, l remained.
hanging out my single as a surgeon.
One night l attended Il ball at the
Pitt palace. 1t was my first appear
ance among the aristocracy of Flor
ence, and l was much interested in
watching the people there, few OF
whom l had eve seen. A young girl
with q gentleman attendant on each
side Of her walked by me. The ap-
| pearance of the three told u 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 u malignant look.
The girl appeared to be much troubled.
1t was plain that her heart was with
the man or her left, that she was con-
| strained to choose the man on her
right and that the two men hated each
other OH her account.
"Everywhere." remarked to my
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
story!!"
a., AS thought the last words l little
| 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 ! was
awakened from q sound sleep by a
violent knocking. l arose. slipped on
a gown and opened the door. Two
gentlemen in evening dress stepped
into the room.
"You are the American surgeon. l
believer" said one.
Sat your SERVICE" l replied.
"You are wanted to attend q man
dangerously wounded" said the other.
"You are chosen partly on Of
your standing in your profession. but
| principally because you r not n of
our circle. We do not like u affairs
to be known. l must ask you to per-
NIT me to blindfold you"
1 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 tire other
produced a stiletto. picked up my
bag of instruments and suffered them
to tie q handkerchief about my eyes.
| They led me out to the sidewalk. told
me to raise my foot. and l stepped into
q carriage.
"Drive a. roundabout way" ! 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 nc need to make turns.
for I had no idea where they were
taking me. In what l G supposed to be
ten minutes the carriage stopped. I
was helped out and soon by the in
creased warmth of the air felt myself
to be in a building. Then l mounted
steps,. and at last the bandage was
taken of my eyes. l was standing
beside a bed on which lay-mirabile
dictu-the young man I had eel walk,
ing on the left Of the girl at the Pitti./
knew too we'll the danger Of show
ing any sign of recognition.
"Senore Dott0ri." he said with n fee
BILE voice. II have been stabbed ON the
left side-here." uncovering. "It il near
the heart"
It was near the heart. but had for
tunately just escaped that organ. After
an examination ! assured the patient
that If he kept perfectly quiet till the
wound should heal he would ecove
But thought that. considering its
close proximity TO a vital organ. a sur
geon should remain with him until a
healing should be established.
"Then.'' said one of the men who had
brought me. 'you must remain. We
do not care that two surgeons should
be introduced here just now"
"But my practice-my p%atients?"
"All damages to your practice shall
be literally paid for"
l made Il virtue of necessity and as-
scented.
Meanwhile ! had Dandaged the cut
and when I had finished turned aud
looked about me. was in u Of
those old palaces. as they are called
In Florence. belonging to some in6u-
ential family The furniture. at least
some Of It. must have been severll
hundred years old, The he'd on which
the wounded Inan lay was cunopied.
On the wallis were paintings. some Of
which I recognized ilS masterpieces Of