Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-21

"A woman, age twenty-five. Very
cultured and agreeable. No unpleas.
ant or illegal features to fear, what
ever Nothing at all questionable.
Just an operative case, you under
stand
III | misrepresent anything at all
you shall have written and legally
witnessed guarantee that you are at
liberty to withdraw, with four weeks
salary. That is eminently fair,
think"
Perfectly. Where is this opera.
ion to be performed"
AT a kind of private sanitorium
out on Long Island-an old colonial
house, rather. that we have fitted up
especially for our work. We have en-
gagged a woman to cook and do the
homework. There will be only one
patient, as | have told you
II The case. 4 know, will not only be
profitable to you from financial
standpoint, but will also afford you
large opportunities for learning. You
will see some unusual work done. and
will LARGELY extend your surgical and
medical knowledge know you will
never regret your decision to cone.
"Secrecy, you understand, Is IA sine
qua non in the matter Quite essential.
Nobody at all must be informed Of
your whereabouts or employment.
Can you promise thst?'
Easily. When shall ] Gomez
DAY after tomorrow at p. M. I
will call for you in carriage"
Every well. | shall be ready"
Agreed" he concluded.
He took out his pocketbook, count.
ed down hundred dollars in bills and
left them on the table to bind the bar.
gam. Then he shook hands on it. We
discussed a few minor matters: then
he took his leave, bidding me make
no mistake, but be ready at the exact
NiihO ACSiSudttu.
l Kept his Injunction to the letter,
but no more punctually than he OBJ.
served his promise. It was not one
minute past four O'Clock of Tuesday.
March "a, when his carriage--rather
smart landau, driven by negro
drew up before SO Congress Avenue.
Two hours later, having crossed East
River BY the Flushing Ferry, our car.
rlage'lamps were cleaning along the
country roads between Flushing and
Port Washington, with dun evening
shadows wrapping the flat low coun.
tryside.
Ergazy showed no disposition what.
ever to talk, but remained in his cor
ner OF the carriage. wrapped in his
greatcoat From time to time he rolled
and smoked a cigarette and now and
then rubbed his beard, as if immersed
in thought.
/, on my side, made no effort to
dfaw him out. Ny relations to him
were strictly professional He was
,he surgeon, | the nurse. Until he
should see fit to give me further in.
formation silence best befitted me.
But as he lighted his tobacco
watched bis thin, deeplined face and
sparkling eyes, revealed by the flar.
ing match. with keener interest
than | remembered having felt in
years.
That interest was far from being
with uneasy foreboding. Not
eve I my many years of experience as
a nurse, accustomed as they made me
10 all sorts OF eases and environments.
could quite lull the sense of dread OF.
pressing me. am not timorous or
given to vaporings, nor do believe in .
f0rebodings or presentments of evil, !
yet some inner voice seemed repeat. |
ing with tireless persistence:
Tragedy ahead--look out.'
About half way between Flushing
and Port Washington, after having
passed through much open, marshy
country, and between many fine
lnarket-garden with fresh.turned earth
mat spoke of spring planting. we
reached the private sanitorium of Dr.
Ergazy and his colleague, whom had
never yet seen.
The building stood on the right.
nand side of the road. yellow
picket fence separated The roadway
rom the estate. Inside the fence
srew one Of The tallest and lhickest