Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-01-28

lOT
Five thousand dollars" the doctor
answered.
"Theobald," said Haynes, lowering
the pistol because he saw that the
man was incapable Of further resist
ance, you are one Of the least OF the
scoundrels who railroaded an inno-
cent man to prison to get his millions.
How much you knew, do not want to
know. You will do two things, and in
the consideration for these your life
and reputation shall be spared. First,
you will operate on me-"
Eyes, yes" urged Theobald eagerly.
"Turn around and will go straight to
your house with you"
Second" continued Haynes, when
l summon you, you will be at my dis
posal. Later l shall have need Of
you"
II agree" cried the doctor, wiring
ing his hands in fear. But for heav-
ems sake, let US turn back and begin
the operation"
mo, no, DR.. Theobald," answered
the other. You will operate here"
"Here?" gasped the doctor.
Here. This seat on which you are
seated is also of glass. The two to-
gether make very practicable oper-
ating table. 1t is a little short for the
legs-but, as you see, my legs are
without sensation. Under this seat
are bottles containing alcohol and BIZ
chloride of mercury for sterilizing
purposes. Under the other are basins,
physicians sponges, and two gallons
of distilled water, which can be boiled
on an electric heater. You can wash
your hands here, sterilize your instru'
ments, operate and administer ether
which you have brought, l presume,
in that bag Of yours" Then, ever
come by his smoldering resentment,
he grasped the doctor with his strong
right hand. You dog" he shouted in
his ear, do you suppose | will give
you a second chance to betray me;
that will place myself in your hands,
to lie helpless at your mercy?
mo, Doctor, this time you will
work as you never worked before, for
the sake of your life and mine. This
car is mounted on gyroscope wheel
and Is travelling now at seventy-three
miles an hour. 1t is going SO fast that
track-walkers along this line will be
unable to distinguish it from one Of
those little machines on which line
chi int a 70 vi from
station to station. If they can so dis
tinguish it, it will not matter in the
least, for | am now going to increase
the speed to just double the amount
one hundred and forty-six, nominally
one hundred and fifty"
He looked at his watch. at Is now
nine fifteen" he said, The track will
be clear until ten-thirty, when We
shall encounter the transcontinental
express at Buffalo Ford. My compu,
tation is exact. No one but l knows
the mechanism by which this car can
be stopped You will, therefore, pro-
ceed with your operation and bring
me out Of the ether in time for me
to stop the car before the train bears
down on US If you succeed you shall
be dropped near Buffalo Ford, from
which point you can, no doubt, find
your way homeward. II you fail we
three will be ground to death under
the wheels Of the trans continental
Do you agree to operate?"
Theobald looked despairingly into
the resolute face of the man whom he
had betrayed. He looked at the nurse,
seated quietly at his head and seeing
that she remained impassive, nodded
in token Of acquiescence.
For the first time Eleanor spoke.
II am no nurse she said 81 am
his daughter. You must instruct me
in the application of the ether"
Theobald nodded again. And now,
to the credit of the man, be 1t said,
the professional sense awoke In him
and his fears vanished. The novelty
of the situation, the difficulties to be
overcome and perhaps sense of
shame and regret co-operated in his
resolution to make the operation sue
cessful Seated in that cage of glass,
as though in an mistaken room, while
trees flew past at intervals and the
brown walls of the railroad embank-
ment appeared as walls blurred, In
distinguishabe walls, creating the H.
lusion of an actual room-he deftly
prepared his patient He boiled the
water, scrubbed his hands and donned
his sterilized rubber gloves. When
his instruments were boiling, he gave
Eleanor the ether cone and mask and
quickly instructed her In the use OF
them. And as John Haynes quietly
composed himself upon the glass ta-
BILE, his daughter leaned over him sa.
turating the mask until her fathers
breathing became stertorous and he
sank into sleep, watching him and
pouring on the fluid from time to time,
at the first quiver of his limbs, with
calm faith in the success of the out
come.
She did not faint or even turn her
eyes away when the doctor set to
his task. 1t was only afterward that
the revulsion came.
Presently it was ended and the
wound bound and the clothing ad-
justed once again over the antiseptic
bandages. Then, for the first time,
Theobald remembered the danger OF
his predicament During that long
hour he had worked swiftly, as a sur
geon must, and deftly as BELTS one
trained; but he had not fastened nor
imperiled his patients life because,
miles distant, but ever bearing down
toward them with dreadful speed, the
transcontinental express was rushing
from coast to coast upon those lines
of steel But now, when all was end
ed, Theobald tore his watch from
hi, pooEot ond 1ookpd at If Ten