The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-01-06
An Effective
Dose
BY ELSIE MATTEsoN

or London parts of which IL may b.
dangerous for one to go about withou
protection, but the city Of Naples is al
bad.
Edward Pierce, young American
who had graduated In medicine, during
bis term of hospital service caught Q
disease which left his health impaired
He went abroad to re-establish II and
found the Italian climate beneficial. but
IN abnormal condition. He determined
therefore to remain there permanently
and practice his profession. Finding an
opening In Naples. he chose 1t for his
Geld of labor. He acquired the Italian
language readily.
The duties Of n physician called him
out at all times Of day and night. DIR.
Pierce knew of the dangers from the
lower classes. or. rather. the criminal
classes, but he also knew that he was
taking his life In his hands whenever
he entered the room of n patient suf-
fering from a contagious disease and
felt that the physician. like the soldier
or the clergyman, must not hesitate
to go where he can be of service no
matter how great the risk Friends ad-
vised him to go armed when he en-
tered some of the most degraded parts
of the city, especially at night. But he
said that If an Italian was bent on
killing him no time would be given him
to defend himself He preferred to
take his chances unarmed. for he was
obliged to carry the pnraphernalia of
his profession and dsliked adding n
revolver, which he might lug about
with him for years without the neces-
sity for using 1t.
One night DR.. Pierce was called up
by telephone to so to the house of one
who was a stranger to him. He orde~-
ed his vehicle, took up a large case Of
instruments and another of medicines
and sailed forth. His destination was
on the heights back of that part of
the city that lies on the bay. and after
following winding streets he stopped
at the home to which he had been call
ed. 1t was fairly good stone villa,
not among other houses, the nearest
being several hundred yards distant.
Pierce was admitted by man who
as soon as he had entered shut the |
door behind him and told the doctor
TO follow him. He did so, but realized |
Immediately that he had been called |
to the house for some evil purpose. |
He was taken into chamber where |
young girl was in a frightful state
of nervous agitation. She was evident |
ly of much higher class than the
man who admitted the doctor and an
other man whom he found with the
girl.
Give her something to put her to
sleep and stop her internal bowling"
said one Of the men,
1t was all plain now. The young
lady was held prisoner. possibly for
and. being In Mysteries, the
men dared not permit her to continue
In that state and had called doctor
But, having felt obliged to call him.
would they let him go out to inform
the police of what they were doing?
Pierce knew they would not. Some
lhiAS ihhSt bC oOuC W CIitCL LIS tAiC
and II possible to release the girl. He
gave her something to quiet her and
while doing so formed n plan.
The doctor did not regret not being .
armed, for there were two men to OPP
pose who were doubtless far more
adept at handling ordinary weapons
But he had another idea. He fumbled
n his medicine bag and looked. over !
IFS medicines, finally selecting bottle ,,
containing a powerful acid. Taking !,
mother containing one having much .
he same effect as red pepper. he made ,
dose of the two. Then from his case d
f instruments he drew forth silver
yringe and loaded it with the dose 5
e had concocted.
what are you going to do?" asked !
ne of the men. :
Inject morphine" replied the doc =
or 1T will put her to Sleep and she n
will give you no further trouble. One II
[ you get over on the other side of 81
he bed and the other stand at the foot,
D be ready to hold her IL she strug- al
les"
They did as he directed, and the doc y
IT. having the syringe in his hands,
uick as fash squirted the fiery dose 9.
rst into the eyes of the man opposite, .,
hen into the eyes of the one at the
,ot of the bed Both gave a yell, and OF
9th put their hands to their eyes. But
lis was of no advantage to them or
lie doctor, for 1t was not likely that
ley would ever see again. X
In an instant Pierce had taken up the
ri in his arms and hurried toward the
Dor. He had little fear that the men. al
hose eyes he had burned out. would "
'llow him. Both the agony they suf
red and their blindness would deter III
lem. Nevertheless he lost no time CT
Id. reaching the door. with one hand
rev It open, while with the other he fiC
the girl. But by this time az
lie realized what he was doing and, so
anding on her feet. walked. or. rath- ~
!, ran with him TO his vehicle. ~
The young lady. II turned out, had n
'en that afternoon walking on the sea
all, when she was seized by two men.
1t in cab that stood near and hur-
I'd to the house where the doctor had
und her and where she was to be
Id for ransom.
Pierce did not take the trouble TO in
rm the police OF his rescue What