The Press., 1911-03-22
A Surgeons Story He Saw the First Part of Drama and Was an Actor In the
 Second Part. By BEVERLY WORTHINGTON. Copyright, 1910, by American Press
 Association.

' studied at a college of physicians and surgeons in my native country, Amer ica, but, possessing taste for art, concluded to change my profession. Coming here to Florence, I studied art for awhile, but soon saw that I did not possess the talent necessary to make an artist. Having fallen in love with this delightful city, remained. hanging out my shingle as surgeon.
 One night 1 attended a ball at the Pitti palace. It was my first appear ance among the aristocracy of Flor ence, and 1 was much interested in watching the people there, few of whom I had ever seen. A young girl with a gentleman attendant on each side of her walked by me. The ap- pearance of the three told 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. It 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.
 Everywhere" I remarked to my self, ''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 Iy come to this young girl, to be inter- fered with by one who, judging from her expression. has some claim upon her. How I should like to know the storyv'
 As I thought the last words little dreamed that within few hours a climax would come in the drama be- ing enacted by these three persons and that l would come upon the stage for minor part. When l left the palace went directly to my rooms and to bed. An hour later I was awakened from a sound sleep by a violent knocking l arose, slipped on 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" l 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. I must ask you to per init me to hlindfold you"
 objected to this. but one of the men put his hand to his hip pocket and drew forth small pistol with mother of-pearl mountings. while the other produced a stiletto. I 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 stepped into 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 no need to make turns. for I had no idea where they were taking me. In what I supposed to be ten minutes the carriage stopped. l was helped out and soon by the in- creased warmth of the air felt myself to be in a building. Then 1 mounted steps. and at last the bandage was taken off my eyes. I was standing beside a bed on which lay-mirabile dictu-the young man had seen walk ing on the left of the girl at the Pitt.
 I knew too well the danger of show ing any sign of recognition.
 "SenOre Dottori,'' he said with fec ble voice. ''I have been stabbed on the the heart.'
 It was near the heart, but had for tunately just escaped that organ. After an examination l assured the patient that if he kept perfectly quiet till the wound should heal he would recover. But I thought that. considering it's close proximity to vital organ, a sur geon should remain with him until 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 patients?"
 "All damages to your practice shall be liberally paid for"
 I made virtue of necessity and as- scented.
 Meanwhile had bandaged the cut and when I had finished turned and looked about me. was in one of those old palaces, as they are called in Florence, belonging to some infiu- ential family. The furniture, at least some of 1t, must have been several hundred years old. The bed on which the wounded man lay was canopied. On the walls were paintings. some of which recognized as masterpieces of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. There was no one i'll the room except the two men who brought me and the patient. l directed that a large lounge of antique pattern should be made comfortable for me to sleep on. as jE would be best for me to be very near [nc l@t1ent. Then the men who had brought me left, one of them first say ng to me:
 Senore Dottori, we are very glad to lear you say that the patient has so sood chance for his life. When you cave here be discreet and all will be l yell with you, but if you talk-well, III have to say is you will not talk cry long"
 l remained week at the palace, the anne of which did not know. In- Iced, was not permitted to leave the oom of the patient. my meals all be- ng served there. My mail was | rought me, and it was amusing for l he first day or two to read the mes ages of my patients with reference to " sudden disappearance Then ask q those who had Kidnapped me to cave word at my apartments that I ad been called to Sienna on a very