The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-10-05
Doctor Trudeau,
the Convict
by JOHN PALMER


&c. 1919. wsstsra Newspaper union.l
DOC TRUDEAU was out of the pen.
~ but lie had not left II In the iegitl'
mate way. Doc Trudeau had climbed
two walls, unfastened three doors with
keys that he had made In the peni'
tentiary workshop, and walked to free-
dom.
Later he had broken into q house
and taken a suit Of clothes, clean col
lar, and tie. Doubtless he was well
on his way to his old city haunts-
! Doc Trudeau, the cleyerest surgeon
that ever went wrong.
n But q Gordon had been drawn for
many miles along the roads. 1t was
hoped the doctor was within that
| Gordon. ~
He had been serving a sentence of
ten years for malfeasance. He had
| been president of the State Medical
society. He had been summoned to
Europe to attend crowned heads.
| Actually the doctor, very hungry,
was hiding in natural cave that he
had discovered In the rocks. He had
hidden there four days without any
thing to eat. He believed this was
the safest plan; they would think he
had broken through the Gordon, Of
which he was very we'll aware, and
would relax their efforts to find him.
Toward evening he came out like a
bear after alternating, put on his coat
which he had neatly folded, adjusted
4 4. aI laiSttrnlv alnnO
the way toward a nearby cottage.
The doc meant to make q bluff for
some food.
The woman at the door. seeing
well-dressed stranger. asked politely
what he wanted.
MADAM" said the doc, "my car has
broken down. I'm hungry-I've had
nothing to eat all day. And left all
my money behind me-"
The wall Of child broke into his
speech. whats that?" he asked.
Tears came into her eyes. 'It's my
little Nanette. She hurt her back six
weeks ago, and she's just wasting
away The doctor says there's no
hope for her."
LET me see her." said Doc Trudeau.
She took him in. He ran his deli
cate fingers along the child's back.
"a broken vertebra pressing on the
cord" he said. "It's almost too late,
but not quite Scrub the kitchen ta-
BILE, bring me your husbands jackknife
he must have one about the house
scrubbed absolutely clean with soap
stone; needle and silk thread, and
whatever dlsinfectant you use in the
house. Also stiff nailbrush, basin,
and can Of boiling water"
The sheriffs wife said afterward
that she never knew what made her
obey. Perhaps he hypnotized her. OF
course she knew who he was. She
was In terror at first for fear her hus-
band would not return. Then she was
in fear he would return before the op-
Grafton was over.
Chloroform? No. Operations don't
hurt nearly as much as they are be-
lieved to. It Is only the cutting Of the
skin, where the fine nerve fibers are.
"Kiddy, look into my eyes. And say
I'm going to get WE'LL"
'Tm going to get WELL" "
ale Is not going to hurt me-"
"He is not going to hurt me-"
"That's right. You went feel any
thing" He turned the half-hypnotlzed
child upon her face. "Now I'll tell you
when I'm going to begin, and Doc Tru-
deau had already begun.
The sheriff said he dared not stir
for fear that Trudeau would take re-
venge upon the child. He and his
deputies, hot on the chase, just
watched while. with surprisingly little
blood, the doc manipulated the broken
bones into position. Then he sewed
up the wound with the disinfected
thread. He looked up. and for the first
time seemed aware where he was, who
those men were.
: "Don't let her lie on her back for
two weeks. Don't let her move. In
two weeks she can do what she pleases.
came just In time, my friend.
"Ay name Is Briggs" he added.
my car broke down In the hills-a
: nasty accident. How soon can get
train to town.
There's one In ten minutes, Doctor
Briggs. You can just make it,. said
the sheriff. "By the way, forgot your
purse, didn't you, doctor? You won't
mind loan Of tenT
"Thank you," said Doctor Trudeau,
: as he took his departure.
|