Year: 1876

Some few weeks after had come here to
take up DIR. Greenfeld's business as VILLAGE
surgeon, had occasion to go and visit one
or two patients in the little cluster OF
cottages about two miles beyond the top OF
the moor, and consequently between ten
and eleven miles from the town. II was a
fine winter day, and the snow lay crisp and
bright N the sunshine. There was no need
for haste, and we we're by no means busy,
so determined to walk. was young and
active then, and | seldom lost the opportu-
nifty of walking: for by so doing gained a
better knowledge Of the country, as well as
an increment Of health from the exercise.


The journey to the town was long one
Tor poor people, so we kept a small stock OF
medical necessaries at the place of which !
have spoken, under the guardianship OF
one OF the cottages, and ! took several
small articles remembered we REQUIRED
there, and among them little phial of a
strong solution of nitrate of silver, to be
diluted hereafter and used for certain
diseases of the eye.


Bear in mind that little phial of nitrate
Of silver, for, under Providence, it brought
a murderer to the gallows.


set off brisbly Cor my twelve-miles walk
about noon. On my road over the moor |
passed the cottage inn; the sign was
legible then, and it told how Gabriel Sturm
provided good entertainment for man and
beast-the house looking far more suited
TO travellers of the latter species than the
former 1t looked, indeed, nearly as woe
begone as it does now, and few wayfarers
cared to accept Mr.. Gabriel Sturm's offer.
This was the case learned afterwards. for
the house had a bad name, though | had
been too short time in the neighborhood
to hear OF it. How far that reputation was
deserved you shall presently judge. In the
meantime, picture me striding braYely up
the hill, now and then having to make a
detour upon the moor to avoid an unusually
formidable snowdrift.


reached Hobtrush--for so the cluster of
cottages which was my destination was
named, after local spirit supposed to
haunt woods-and on arriving thereI found
more work to do than | had expected.
Ihere was, moreover, a young woman,
who, with a consideration for her medical
man not often shown by her sex in such
cases, took the opportunity of presenting
her husband with another baby, and so
saved me a special journey. Allmade this
to me very late, and had there been any
accommodation in Hobtrush might have
been tempted to stay. As it was, made
up my mind for the walk, fervently trusting
1t would be moonlight. But before went
looked carefully over our small surgery,
which was in an attic room in the cottage,
and regarded with superstilious reverence
by the inhabitants. These may seem
trivial details, but as you will see they are
essential to the story. At the surgery.
among others, did three things: /. /
found more of the nitrate ofsilyer solution
than | expected, so merey filed up the
small bottle and replaced the little phial
in its case. 2. | had entertained some sus.
picion of the goodness Of a certain acid





supplied us, and finding an old bottle of IL
on an obscure shelf, I put it in my pocket
to take home and test its strength. 8. 1
found the ring of the large brass syringe
which we kept there was taken; the
syringe worked perfectly we'll, but the ring
should be mended, and pocketed it also
for that purpose. need mention nothing
else--the silver solution, the acid, and the
syringe are all the details with which need
trouble you.


l started off at brisk pace, and even as
! did so could feel the wind rising, and
had not gone above hundred yards or so
when felt fake of snow fall on my face.
mat ought to have warned me, but was