The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-11-08
sTRANG CASE OF LUNAR SURGERY
CONTINUED from Page Seven)

company was on the train, bound for
O distant city.
"Can | be of service to you, Miss
Talbot" | said. Her glance con-
nected me at once with the high pow
cred runabout out of which l had just
stepped.
"Boy, you certainly cam was her
prompt reply and before the sound
waves of that short speech had rolled
by me she had slid under the steering
wheel, foot on clutch. and the cylin-
fers answered with a howl as she
Jumped on the accelerator.
Father doesn't allow" l pro-
tested with some spirit.
Quite right Best of judgment.
Father shouldn't allow the promiscu-
Gus use OF his favorite machine, but
YOU Chamber up, son, IL you're going,
and trust me to make 1t o. X. with
father, or mother either, for that mat
ter"
| was In by that time and came
down on the seat very promptly, for
as | came through the door, she put
the machine up to fifteen miles an
hour, in the first twenty feet. We
miles with deadly promptness. she
must have considered this the limit OF
the car. for running with one hand.
che reached over around my neck ana
drew me, intoxicated with delight, but
utterly bewildered, down upon her
heavenly-wrought Acknowledgements
ing shoulder. Speed had no terrors
for me and fathers limitations about
the drivers of his car were promptly
forgotten.
"Oh. boy, you were my comrade last
night to be sure. Yer did great!
Just Struggled right down and never
bothered me a minute. Will I catch
that train at Hazensack. Think"
made no reply and further events
of that ride need no narration except
that we did catch the train, having
made the eight miles in about nine
minutes.
Az Chsrmette, this was her stage
name). few up the steps of one car
boarded another. leaving the auto
standing where she had stepped out of
It. travelled with the company to
their next town. She promptly dis
covered was workable and proceeded
to do the trick, respectfully and tho
roughly. She told me she loved me;
was lavish of her caresses; kept my
heart ON fire. had but eighty dol
lars with me and the only avenue
through which | could secure funds,
fortunately yielded less than five hun
bred more This lasted about two
weeks. The financial crisis came at
a six O'Clock lunch Charm cite was CIV
ing, one of series for which she had
made arrangements and for which |
had paid. | was sixty dollars shy
OF enough to settle. She laughed,
paid the bill herself and that evening
/ was fatty refused admission at the
stage entrance.
hung around and tried to speak to
her when she came out The play
house policeman was ready to march
me away; had evidently been given
specific orders for my case. found
a note from 'Charmette at my hotel,
running.
''Cut II out boy. go home. You've
had some good time. once in your
life. and I'm glad for you. You
really interested me, but for
permanent thing, It's out of the
question. Father'll forgive you.
Lord, yes, he won't mind because
you let me run his car Am sail
ing with the troupe today for
six months Paris engagement.
Guess I'd let you see me II you
come across.
Charm"
Father did forgive me and the cpl
sode seemed to convince him that ]
had best be taught not to depend ex-
clusiveiy for protection and liyeli-
hood on my occult powers. He sug-
gested that study medicine for which
! had already done substantial pre-
liminary work. Six years later |
found myself a surgeon of some note
and attached to the Nuelly Hospital In
Paris where was arriving a constant
stream OF wrecked and battered hui
mauity from the battlefelds and
trenches of the north. Since my es-
capade with Charmette had treasur-
ed some sort of sentiment toward her
hut the memory of her faithlessness
and mendacity had embittered me to-
ard all womankind | was often call
ed 10 other hospitals and the bitter
ness in my heart caused me to take
grim pleasure In my work In the fe-
male wards Professional instinct
never allowed me to do less than my
best hut to carve and dismember these
limbs and bodies, whether. old and re-
pulsive or young and fair, was mea-
sure OF solemn revenge.
I cut down my work outside of the
military hospital as much as possible,
as that alone was enough to tax my
endurance to the limit. | consented
to 70 on few cases where peculiar
conditions promised advancement in
surgical knowledge or where an OBJ
scure or critical case demanded my
special fitness. spoke no French
and had no patience to learn. This
inability hindered me somewhat as
most of the nurses and attendants
used nothing else. Among them ALL
only one never Numbered. She was
beautiful creature. who had volun-
teered for hospital service from con-
vent in the south of France. The
male population Of the hospital, with
ont regard to martial condition, 1t was
said, had fallen In love with her by