El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-19
By FREDERICK IDLER.

" AvING passed my medical exam
nation and being qualified to
practice, wanted TO see some
thing Of the world. and for several
years I was connected with a French
hospital IN Genoa.
One night while walking home from
q concert was forced by sudden
shower to seek shelter in the doorway
Of q small restaurant 1t was probably
the same reason that caused two 9TH
ers to enter the place a few moments
later, and though I could not see them
because Of the darkness, I could not
help oTerhearing their conversation In
the italian language.
is he stin getting WorseT' asked
the voice Of an old woman.
Yes, grandmother, he is dying very
slowly Today he wanted to send for
doctor, but ii was not difficult to
make him give it up, for you know he
has more faith in his own medicines
than In doctors. How long viii Il be-
grandmother, before he dies2"
1t was evidently child talking, and
there was something in the tone OF
her voice which made me listen against
"A couple of months, at the utmost"
the old woman said In the mean
time you must follow my Instructions
carefully. 1 thank the Lord" she
raised her voice and 1 could feel that
she raised her hand over her head
thank fate for having given this
heartless scoundrel into my power"
somebody opened 8 door and i went
out anxious not to be caught caves
dropping, and the next day / thought
no more OF the incident
few weeks later, while I was hay
ing my luncheon, my hOusekeeper en-
tered and announced a visitor. 1t was
a young Frenchman, and though he
wore no livery, 1 Immediately saw that
he was a valet When he had been
shown into my room, he said.
7 c n
Hotel de LOndres to see my master,
n Roland Latraine. He has been grow
ing worse during the last four months,
but. to save my life, I cannot tel what
is the matter with him"
Naturally 1 asked him to tell me
something about II. Latraine, and he
replied that he was a countrymen OF
mine of excellent family and very rich.
Some time ago he had come to Italy
for pleasure and recreation, but short
" after his arrival he had been taken
i'll with a strange malady, or rather a
rapidly increasing loss Of strength. He
also told me that his master had little
faith in doctors and preferred his own
medicines, so that he had been with
out medical attendance. Now, how
ever. the servant was afraid that he
was seriously i'll and had called to see
me on his own responsibility.
/ went with the man Immediately
and found NJ. Latraine at Hotel d Lon
dres. He must have been a strong.
Thin, his color WaXy and his whole
body emaciared. Ny visit was quite
unexpected, but he willingly gave him
self into my care, and I examined him
carefully.
1t puzzled me greatly, that I was
not able to discover any symptoms OF
any particular disease. I examined
the medicine he had been taking and
found it to be an absolutely harmless
connection Of herbs, so I began to ask
about those who attended him.
Have you no friends IN Genoa, N
LatraineF' I asked him.
None at all" he replied. L came
here with my valet about six months
ago, because I had some personal az
fairs TO arrange, and If I had not been
taken sick they would surely have
Drought me in touch with some Eco
pie My first idea was that the change
OF air nad affected me and / took
some herbal tonics."
Then you have nobody to attend
you but your valet?'
Yes small Italian girl whom
met in very romantic manner. I had
been here only s. week when she came
and asked me II I could not make use
Of her services She is only II years
old, but / engaged her. She is real
treasure to have in the house %
There was nothing suspicious about
all this, so all I could do was to ure-
scribe some tonic and promise to can
again.
The next morning. however. vas
surprised by visit from Jean, the
valet
Something strange happened last
night, Doctor" he said. 1T is the Iit-
tie Maria who nurses my master and