The herald., 1913-01-16
An Effective
Dose
By ELSIE MATTESON

uduStleuS lDI oiS ~ ~ h''Hb "''"'"'
protection, but the city Of Naples IS all
bad.
Edward Pierce. a young American
who had graduated in medicine, during
his term Of hospital service caught Il
disease which left his health impaired.
He went abroad TO re-establiSh II and
found the Italian climate beneficial, but
whenever he left 1t he sank again into
an abnormal condition. He determined
therefore 10 remain there permanently
and practice his profession. Finding an
opening ia Naples, he chose it for his
field Of labor. He acquired the Italian
language readily.
The duties Of n physician called him
out at al times Of day and night. Dr.
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 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 TIE risk. Friends al
vised him To 20 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 10 carry the paraphernalia Of
his profession and diSliked adding
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 go to the house of one
who was a stranger to him. He order
ed his vehicle took up 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. Ii was a fairly good stone villa.
not among other houses, the nearest
being several hundred yards distant
Pierce was admitted by a 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 a chamber where
a young girl was in a frightful state
OF nervous agitation. She was evident
ly Of a much higher class than the
man who admitted the doctor and an
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
ransom, 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 |
thing must be done to effect his exit |
and IL possible to release the girl He
gave her something to quiet her and |
while doing so formed a plan.
The doctor did not regret not being |
armed, for there were two men to op- |
pose who were doubtless far more
adept at handling ordinary weapons |
But he had another idea. He fumbled |
in his medicine bag and looked over
his medicines, finally selecting a bottle |
containing powerful acid. Taking
another containing one having much |
the same effect as red pepper, he made
a dose Of the two. Then from his case |
OF Instruments he drew forth a silver
syringe and loaded it with the dose
he had concocted.
What are you going to do?" asked
one of the men.
Inject morphine" replied the doc
tor. ut will put her to sleep, and she
will give you no further trouble. One
or you get over on the other side Of |
the bed and the other stand at the foot,
to be ready to hold her II she strug-
giles"
They did as he directed, and the doc
tor, having the syringe In his hands.
quick as flash squirted the fiery dose
first into the eyes of the man opposite,
then into the eyes of the one at the
foot of the bed. Both gave a yell, and
both put their hands to their eyes. But |
this was OF no advantage to them or
the doctor. for it was not likely that
they would ever see again.
In an instant Pierce had taken I'D the
girl in his arms and hurried toward the
door. He had little fear that the men.
whose eyes he had burned out. would
follow him. Both the agony they suf
fered and their blindness would deter
them. Nevertheless he lost no time
and, reaching the door, with one hand
threw II open, while with the other he
supported the girl. But by this time
she realized what he was doing and
standing on her feet, walked. or. rath-
er. ran with him to his vehicle.
The young lady. it turned out, had
been that afternoon walking on the sea
wall, when she was seized by two mon
put In cab that stood near and hur.
ried to the house where the doctor had
found her and where she was to be
held for ransom
Fierce did not take the trouble TO in.
form the police Of his rescue. What
became or the men he had blinded no
never learned Tho voup,, i,5- -.