New-York tribune., 1922-07-16
IN QUEST OF
THE KNIFE
Nv JEAN RAMEAU
-,...d BY William L. Mcpherson

HoNTANET always carried Ger
.s;r knife with him. 1t was bizarre
..,r,ament. more of poignard than
III tn;fe The single blade had the
!. ro~d Reetterdo cut in it near the
s7sn'' uoutanet had been stuck in the back
se -. tnife. one summer night, on a
ssly road.
n' unknown nomad who only wanted
...;,,,s purse--had failed in his purpose.
.,;.orv uasserby whom he had attacked
s.s..ad ssd on him suddenly and fired two or
hnllets at him. The nomad fed hurried
ae ..sout even picking UP his arm.
,ol;ce had never been able to find the
-" uortanet. who was then student of
'.. s,owly recovered. But he carried
ss.a h.,k nemento of the attack, and all
rs we're for him objects of very legiti-
rsis resentment
-. ba was doctor of medicine and the
~ his village. People observed with
's.,rnyise-for they knew the story of the
:. tbat gypsy wagons rarely stopped in
.g;.se. Every time Hoptanet noticed one
.t..a wanderers he examined him closely,
D., tbs wears passed and he didn't discover
r.uI5.be assassin. The knife, at first
...a With blood, then attacked by rust,
/ IA leone, little by little, an ordinary pocket
,.s with polished blade.
o,e winter day there was knock at the
l., woman in rags said to the servant:
4, there doctor here? My father sick,
.ek Doctor come see him, for the love
dSsaven"
Where is he?"
On the road. In the wagon. show him
@wsy"
The servant reported to the master.
afvpsies?p said the latter. "I'll CO."
H. started Immediately. He was then sixty
\ r. Years DID, He was bent, rheumatic, feeble,
rp for the graveyard. But he walked with
81 relatively quick step, for a new gypsy-that
Mgeted him.
f What's the matter with your father?"
Fever. Very sick. Maybe die
Fl Die How old is he?"
Eighty years"
Il hey arrived. A cheap-looking wagon stood
asnde the road, near a stream. There was
lite window at the front, with red curtains
At the rear was ladder with three steps,
h Nnitting one to enter. The doctor climbed in.
We'll, my good fellow, you aren't we'll?
Where does it pain your
The gypsy pointed to his chest and then to
u his head
4 He questioned the man and made him talks
But recognize you, my good fellow.
Haven't you been here before?"
I! Never, monsieur. | have never been
herr
4Anyou sure? Come! 1t was about fifty
yan ago, a little further on, on this same
naa one night in August. Didn't you lose
.on knife one night in August?"
= a nonsieur? Never! Not T."
As he said this his grzzled jaw trembled
AhH tooth showed its broken point.
Good! Good! You have high fever.
la shiver from your head to your toes How
1gu shver! / will leave you a prescription"
The doctor drew notebook from his pock-
On the preteXt of sharpening his pencil
also pulled out the knife. Without taking
s eyes off the gypsy he slowly manipulated
e knife, let the blade spring back wiped it,
he saw the sweat form in pearls on the
ok mans brow, his chest heave and his eyes
eEgn away
In heavens name, 1t is you," the doctor
a. 1t was you who attacked me one
snt with this knife. All, you rascal. l
pave you at lastr'
but the doctor turned around. At the
FSao OF these violent words the gypsy woman
~ approached. And child arrived also
E'"s OF four or five years, dark fine, adorable
saef MS rags. In his arms he carried
'sa ioaf OF bread, which the baker had just
aae' no doubt-a big loaf of bread right out
ae oVen' smelling like bread from heaven.
iehpted, the child suddenly put his lips to
ofead And, since the mothers eyes gave
PERMISSION, he bit into it delightedly with
lour or five new teeth.
'ae doctor sighed, He felt his heart travel
backward, as if to find it's youth. He
va MS lids over his moist eyes. He still
Ioe knife in his hand. What should he
Denounce this miserable creature? What
lu 0e the good of that? The statute of
T4'ohs had run long ago. Moreover, this
A'"' who was going to die, who had al
~ espiated his crime, perhaps, even if he
-0' oeen IN jail. All! who knows
much suffering there is in a transgres-
j sne! Who knows if man who lives so
nay not atoned for everything, little by