Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-01-28
@L0M2Mgs00kMRI.s00sgSas2g0
A Chronicle of the Strange Adventures of 10

face" But he had known many faces,
and by the time the door of the house
had closed behind the Englishman
Theobald had ceased to search in the
amber-room of his brain. There were
SO many things that he did not care
to investigate.
On Monday morning the automobile
was waiting outside Theobald's house
promptly at the time appointed. In
side were the patient and trim-look-
ing nurse. The doctor gazed at her
in some wonder. She seemed too
young to be trained nurse. But her
get-up was irreproachabe, and he was
entirely Indifferent to her abilities.
Had she not been certificated he
would not have cared. Since Satur-
day he had altered his prospective fee
from three hundred to seven hundred
and fifty; he could always cut it down
afterward II his patient objected; but
he would not be likely to object, since
he had never broached the subject OF
fees. Theobald hoped into the ma
chine with his instrument case and
patted his companion on the back
cheerly.
There's no danger, Mr.. Thompson"
he said heartily. Don't be afraid
I'm not afraid" retorted Haynes
grimly. Il hope you will not be-
The other laughed. I'm not likely
to be-" he said. "By the way, what
make of machine is this? never saw
anything like it. She must be on
springs, but she runs so smoothly
why, could almost perform an opera
tion here
"Ill give you a chance-perhaps,
said Thompson, smiling, and turned
abruptly toward the poorer region Of
the town, beside the freight station,
edging the wilderness. Theobald was
now convinced that his patient was
mad. He looked at the nurse inquir-
!2gly, but sne sat silently in the ton
neau and ignored his professional
Signals" He felt a momentary pang
of uneasiness, too, at the course the
machine was taking-for he feared
that he might have overestimated his
patients wealth. Certainly this quar-
ter of the town was not inhabited by
The wealthier citizens Of Nokomis.
However, he breathed more freely
when the machine swung out from
the town and along the roadway
which bordered the railroad tracks.
Soon they were in the midst OF the
prairie Undoubtedly. then, Mr..
Thompson possessed a house on the
outskirts-one of those new residen-
tial mansions, doubtless, which were
springing up everywhere in the vi
cinty. or course-and that was why
he had thoughtfully brought his auto
mobile for him. lie smiled at his
thoughts and brought up his bill to its
original figure again.
Then, when Nokomis was out OF
sight behind hummock of sand, the
machine ran down the railroad en-
bankment in surprising fashion,
travelling as though on level ground
Theobald saw his companion turn and
tidget with a spring. He looked down;
two wheels lay on the ground! He
grasped the seat in terror.
"Mr. Thompson-Mr. Thompson" he
gasped, you've lost two wheels!'
-Four" answered John Haynes
calmly, and the two others fell rolled,
detached, for a considerable distance
and settled down beside the metals.
The car stood steady as
AS that which automatically de-
tached itself from the opposite side
and folded downward, at the touch of
a spring, to meet the seat on which
they sat- 1t was smooth glass
shelf.
Your operating table," said John
Haynes grimly, and the car moved
forward and gently balanced itself
upon q single rail; then began to run
forward at about twenty miles an
hour Theobald attempted to spring
from it.; instantly the speed increased
to thirty, forty tifty-seventy-tive,
The machine bowled along on its rail,
without a jolt or jar. Theobald might
have thought 1t to be stationary, but
for the whirl of objects that spun past
them
While he sat there aghast John
Haynes rose on his crutches, drew up
the windshield, pressed another
spring, and then the machine became
an alright case of glass, save for
ventilator overhead. John Haynes sat
down and put his hand to his hip;
Theobald found himself looking into
the muzzle of pistol.
"You skunk said John Haynes
softly. Look at me harder. Do you
remember me?"
pete Timmons!" gasped the doc
tor, the name flashing into his mind
for the first time since he had sold
his patients body for fifty shares OF
stock In the Nokomis Land COM
pany.
Yes, Pete Timmons," answered
Haynes. What have you to say?
You have convicted yourself!"
DR.. Theobald, whirling along that
narrow line in the car with his vic
tim, felt a horror steal through his
soul. Encased in glass, helpless, at
this mans mercy he might have been
suffering in an inferno such as the
earlier medicos had depicted as the
penalty for those who broke the hip
pocratic oath which they had taken,
II don't know what to say" he
pleaded. "You won't take my life?
Before God. swear ] can cure you.