The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-11-20

ly, or actual INJURY OF oeatns
through this sort of thing?"
Eyes" Professor Carlisle assent
ed. He was grave now. "There
have been persons found dead, their
bodies charred to a cinder, their
clothes not burned at all. There are
even one or two cases reported
of men killed by bullet, or
stabbed, but with no rent in their
clothing to correspond with the
wound in their bodies"
"What does your friend Fort say
Of such incidents?"
'He only points out that wounds
such as might be imagined by hat
ers of people have appeared upon
the bodies of people, the pro-
lessor cautiously explained.
Doctor Breeding nodded. II sup
pose most of US, in fits Of anger,
have wished that unpleasant things
would happen to certain people," he
reflected soberly. ''It would be rath-
er disturbing to man if those ma
licious wishes on his part began to
come true" He chuckled. ma
tons might enlist an army of good
effective haters to win war by
wishing their enemies Gead!"
Professor Carlisle shook his head.
"That's outside the bounds, of
course" he commented, not smil-
ing.
81 wonder whether it is" Doctor
Breeding stubbornly demurred;
and he said thoughtfully: "You
know, the human body has an inf
mite capacity to rise to emergencies.
If man loses sight, or hearing,
his other senses become more
acute. If a vein is destroyed, even
the jugular, others take up the bur-
den. If fingers are amputated, the
thumb redoubles it's usefulness.
Isn't it possible that in some cases,
when man approaches old age and
the impairment of his muscular
strength, he may by way of COM
pensation develop such a-power?"
cold men acquire WISDOM" the
Professor pointed out. "That is
weapon enough"
''But in primitive society,"" Doc
tor Breeding urged, "old mer, when
their increasing weakness made
them a burden to the tribe, would
have been eliminated, unless as
their strength failed they learned
other ways to defend themselves.
For instance, to imagine a wound,
and have that wound appear"
/ And he said, his eyes cleaning
strangely: "a man able to do that
would be a dangerous enemy"
Professor Carlisle said reflective
ly: II expect he would be more
dangerous to himself than to others.
The world seems to be organized
for the general rather thar the in
dividual benefit. Probably some
counter-force would arise to deal
with him"
"Yet it's fascinating thought"
Doctor Breeding insisted.
Professor Carlisle retorted grave
ly: 81 should be inclined to re-
mind such a man that he who eats
with the devil will need a long
spoon!"
There was something monitory in
lis tone; the Doctor felt it, and sud-
denly wary, was silent. Before he
could speak again, Mrs. Breeding
came to the door.
"You two have been alone long
enough" she suggested. "Dan and
Nancy have disappeared, and Mary
Ann and I are talked dry. Pro-
lessor, I thought you might care for
bridge?"
"By all MEANS" Professor Car
Isle assented, and rose so quickly
that Doctor Breeding suspected the
other man was glad to see an end
to this conversation. They settled
at the table in the other room, the
Doctor and Mary Ann as partners.
But almost at once the telephone
rang, and Ruth came to call Doctor
Breeding. When he returned, it was
with apologies.
"I'n have to break UP the game"
he explained. "This is a call l
can't very well refuse. Up in Ken
nebunk. An old friend. an emer-
gency." He looked at Mary Ann,
smiled. "It's a grand night for a
drive, Miss Carlisle" he suggested.
"But if you'd rather not"
Mrs. Breeding protested: ''Ned,
it can't be necessary to subject
Mary Ann to this-nor yourself Ell
Their. You could send Doctor May
hew!"
Mary Ann insisted: "Oh, don't
mind. After all it's my job. you
know!"
~ don't know at ALL" the older
woman argued. On the surface
there was in her words no more
than solitude for Mary Ann. Sure
" your regular work is"
But Doctor Breeding interrupted.
''Tosh, Myra," he said cheerfully.
"a doctors work Is never done; and
a nurse is just as much abused as a
doctor. Come, Mary Ann"
And Mrs. Greedinr yielded,
though reluctantly. So they were
presently upon the road.