Norwich bulletin., 1914-07-07
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business here tonight perceive he added, glancfng at my negligee robe. that you were expecting me. You have remarkably fine physique. eyes of the most skilled and practiced physician Do you suffer much paaE Unable to speak, I shook my head
 Ah,e he continued reflectiveiy, your husband may have mistaken tunor for cancer Allow me to feel your pulse" he said. rising and bending
 He took out his watch. shook his head gravely, laid my hand down gent ly, then went toward the study, where on the table was an open case or sur gieal Instruments
 DO not be alarmed, madam" he said to me, as was about to rise and flee, and in another instant he was by my side. with the case in his posses sion.
 cried: Spare me, Oh spare me. I
 Madam" he said sternly, clasping my wrist with his long, sinewy fingers with a grip of steel. you behave like child. I have no time to barley, for l have received a letter from the em peror of the French stating that he IS desirous of my attendance. must start for Europe immediately after per- forming the operation on your breast, and before 1 could make the slightest resistance he had me in his arms and was carrying me into the study, where there was a surgical table covered with green baize. On this he laid me, and holding me down with one hand With the strength of a maniac, he brought forth several long leather straps which bore evidence of having. recently been cut and with which he secured me to the table with the skill of an expert It was but the work of a moment to unloose my robe and bare my bosom. Then after carefully examining my Iert breast, he said:
 Madam. your husband has made mistake find no necessity for my intended operation
 At this I gave a long drawn sigh Of relief, and prepared to rise.
 But" he continued, T have made the discovery that your heart is as large as that of an oxi I will remove it so that you can see for yourself; reduce it to it's natural size by ourf- ous process of my own, unknown to medical science, and or which am sole discoverer, then replace it again
 He began to examine tne eoee ol the cruel knife, on which closed my eyes, while every nerve was in perceptible tremor.
 He now bent over me, his long white beard brushing my face. opened my eyes beseechingly, trying to think or some way to save myself; Oh. sir. give me an anaesthetic, that may not reel the pain,' pleaded.
 Indeed, indeed. madam, I would comply with your wish were you not the wife of a physician-of skilled surgeon. I wish you to note with what ease I perform this difficult operation, so that you may tell your husband of the great servant whose services he secured, fortunately in season.
 As he said this he made the final test of the knife on his thumb. How precious were the moments nowi They were fieeting all too fast, and yet an eternity seemed compressed in every one. I never fainted in my life. and I never felt less like swooning than now, as I summoned all my presence of mind to delay the fearful moment, fervently praying in the meantime for my husbands return.
 Doctor" said I, with assumed com posture. T have the utmost confidence in your skill: I would not trust my life to another; but. doctor. you have for gotten to bring a napkin to stanch the blood. If you will have the goodness to ascend to my sleeping chamber. at the right of the hall, you will find everything you need for that purpose in the bureau
 "Ah madam" he said, shaking his head sagaciously. T never draw blood during a surgical operation; that is an- other one of my secrets unknown to the faculty
 Then. placing his hand on my bosom, he added. with horrible espieglerie:
 "Tll scarcely mark that skin winter than snow, and smooth as monumental alabaster."
 70 GodI" I cried. as felt the cold steel touch my breast: but with the same breath came deliverance.
 Quick as thought, a heavy woolen piano-cover was thrown over the head and person of the madman and bound tightly around him. As quickly was released. and the thongs that bound me soon held the maniac My husband held me in his arms He had noise lessly approached, and, taking in the horror of my situation at a glance, had by the only means at hand, secured the madman, who was the very patient he had been summoned to attend, but who had escaped the vigilance of his keeper soon after the departure of the messenger, who had now returned with the doctor in pursuit of him As the poor wretch was being hurried away he turned to me and said: Madam, this is a plot to rob me of my reputa- tion. Your husband Is envious of my great skill as a surgeon Adieui" afterward learned that the man was once an eminent surgeon in Europe, but much learning had made him made When he bound me to the table my hair was black as raven; when l left it it was as you see it now-white as full-blown cotton.-Argonaut-