Lincoln County leader., September 21, 1906, Image 7

The Trail of the Dead:
a., T"E STRANGE EXPERIENCE
Of DR. ROBERT HARLAND
By B. FLETCHER ROBINSON and J. MALCOLM ERASER
(Copyright (90S. by
CHAPTER I.
I. THE HAIRY CATERPILLAR.
It is with no Intention of delighting the
curious that I put my pen to paper.
Only at the urgent desire of many mem
bers of my own profession hare I under
taken task necessarily disagreeable, and
do now recall the details of a case which
1 take to be without parallel In the rec
ord! of criminology. In the mental state
of the afflicted being there was, Indeed,
little that was abnormal. Manias that are
similar to his fill our asylums. But that
laborious studies in the byways of sci--ence,
rather than in her more frequented
paths, had placed at the will of his dis
ordered brain weapons of a deadly poten
cy, transformed a personal misfortune
Into a great and urgent public danger.
I spent four years at Cambride, where,
though my degree was a high one, I
found too many distractions to make
such progress as I could bare wished in
4ny jprofession. Yet my Interest In med
icine grew steadily, and on leaving the
university I determined, having both the
means and the time at my disposal, to
seek out a spot where I could throw my
self Into my work without the interrup
tions of old friends and old associations.
The reputation -of Heidelberg attracted
me, and hither I migrated.
Sufficient for myself. The man who
-was to be associated with me in my
trange quest I will describe with equal
brevity. My cousin. Sir Henry Graden,
Kt, M.D., F.R.S., F.R.S.G., was a man
of remarkable personality a surgeon of
brilliant gifts that had made for him a
European reputation, yet an eccentric
or so the world held him who lacked
the steady application necessary for com
plete success. He would throw himself
Into the solution of a problem, or the
prosecution of a new experiment, with
the utmost seal; yet on achieving the
desired result he would shake off the at
mosphere of the hospital and laboratory
and start on some wild-goose chase that
night include the ascent of an unclimb
able peak, the capture of. a rare species
of wild animal, or the study of a little
known tribe of savages. In person he
was of great stature, and heavily, al
most clumsily, built, with a rugged,
weather-beaten face, keen yet kindly
trey eyes, and brown hair, somewhat
grizzled about the temples. In age he
was well past the forties. In dress and
deportment he might pardonably have
been mistaken for a prosperous Yorkshire
Crazier. Indeed, he was wont to com
plain that he acted as a magnet to ail
, the tricksters of London; though, from
the shrewd smile with which he accom
panied bis protests, it was easy to see
that he thoroughly enjoyed the diversion
of turning the tables on his discredit
able opponents.
It was towards the end of my second
year at Heidelberg. An autumn sun had
. sunk to rest in a golden haze over the
wooded hills, and the night, lum
inous under the harvest moon, lay npon
the old town. I was sitting at my table,
on which a shaded lamp threw Its yel
low circle, arranging the notes of the
lectures I had that day attended, when
there came a knock at the door behind
me. I cried sulky Invitation, for I
feared the appearance of one of my pre
posterous student friends, with his jargon
of the duel and the promenade. But the
next moment an enormous hand had
dragged me into the realization of my
duties as a host by standing me on my
(eet amid the clatter of a falling chair.
"Why, Cousin Graden!" I cried, for
Indeed it was he who had thus treated
me. "What cyclone has blown you
fcere?"
"Egad! I believe It's the truth I've
beard," said he, throwing himself on to
sofa that cracked again under his
weight he was a famed breaker of
furniture was cousin Harry Graden.
"They told me that you'd shut yourself
cp for nigh two years work, work, work
as If there was no young blood In your
reins, and no green world lying around
you, with not a yard of it that isn't
worth all the most learned dissertations
ever written."
I knew his favorite doctrine. It would
bave been as foolish to argue with him
s to attempt to uphold the necessity
for the Union with an Irish Home Ruler.
"But what are you doing here?" I
repeated.
"It's to Berlin that I'm bound, to read
paper before t society that Is good
enough to be interested in some notes I
took recently on the Kaffir witch-doctors.
I'd a few days In hand, so I thought I
would take a peep at my dear Heidelberg
and, Incidentally, at my worthy cousin,
Robert Harland."
He rose and stalked about the room,
(lucking to himself like a contented hen.
"Same old jugs and china pipes; same
wainscot, a shade darker maybe; same
old oak beams, a thought more smoky;
tame schlagers above the mantelpiece."
He took down one of the student's
dueling-swords, and slipped his hand
into the heavy, hilt. Raising his long arm
Into the orthodox attitude, he swept the
keen, thin blade In hissing circles.
"Do you ever tramp on the sawdust,
and drum with the schlager, and bleed in
the tank, Cousin Robert?"
"Not I. Though I have heard of your
triumphs In the past, yon man of blood 1"
"And who has been gossiping?"
"Professor Von Stockmar. . He asked
me to tapper the second day I arrived,
(or the sola purpose, I believe, of lm-
Sreeslng ma with the fame of a certain
uellaf desperado of a student, one
Jeseph B. Bowles;
Henry Graden, who flourished In Heidel
berg twenty years ago."
"What. Von Stockmar? Little Her
mann? What a good fellow he was! Did
you ever hear him sing a song about
but, of course, that's not possible. So
little Hermann's a professor, is he? Are
you nnder him?"
"No; I'm with Professor Mrnac.n.
Graden walked across to the fireplace
and slowly filled huge china pipe that
lay thereon. He lit it and, turning his
back to the empty grate, sent forth such
puffs of smoke that ha spoke as from out
a cloud, mistily.
"He has made himself a great name,
this Marnac. ' How do you stand with
him, Cousin Robert?" I
"I don't quite know. I was a great
favorite of his in my first year."
"And now? Have you quarreled?"
"Well, not exactly; it's a foolish
story."
"The foolish stories are often of great
er interest than the wise ones." . -
"Well, cousin Graden," said I, lean
ing back In my chair and lighting a fresh
cigarette, "if yon want to hear it, I'll
tell It yon, and as shortly as may be.
It began by the publication some six
months ago of Protessor Marnac s cele
brated book, 'Science and Religion.
"Humph! a strong effort, full of sng
gestions," he grunted; "but brutal, cal
lous, and revolutionary. It had a mixed
reception, I believe."
"It had; and nowhere more so than
in this university. Von Stockmar fol
lowed It by a pamphlet of unsparing
criticism, which split the students into
two bodies the Marnac men and the
Stockmar men. It was a pretty quarrel,
and gave an excuse for a ecore of the in
evitable duels."
"Did Marnac attempt a reprisal?"
"He did, and in the unusual form of
reading aloud Von Stockmar's attack
upon his theories to the class, of which
I am a member. He appealed to us for
sympathy. His agitation was remark
able. ' I declare that he snarled over his
opponent's name like a dog over a bone,
and a most unpleasant scene ended in a
fit, from which we aroused him with
difficulty."
"But this does not tell ma how you
came to be Involved," he cried sharply,
striding over to the table and plumping
bimself Into a chair facing me.
"Have patience, my impetuous cousin.
From the first I had always found a
friend in Von Stockmar. I liked him and
we met frequently. The second day after
the scene in the lecture-room I was wait
ing with the cheery little man when we
chanced upon Marnac. He gave me an
ugly look, but said nothing, f hat night,
however, he came to these rooms and
abused me roundly. He reminded me
of the interest he had shown in my work,
called me a traitor to his party, and in
other ways behaved with a childish ab
surdity. Naturally, I refused to give up
a valued friend."
"You did right. But surely the affair
has blown over?
"To the contrary, the antagonism on
Marnac's side, at least has grown still
more bitter. Whenever I chance to be
present, he misses no opportunity of at
tacking 'my dear friend,' as he calls
Von Stockmar, In the most cruel and
vindictive fashion. My position at his
lectures Is, I assure you, becoming most
unendurable."
"You are too sensitive, Cousin Rob
ert. The absurdities of a vain and jeal
ous "
Graden checked his unfinished sent
ence with his nose cocked In the air
like a gigantic terrier. Surprise and sus
picion were in his expression and atti-.
tude. Then he rose slowly, as with an
effort, and leaned forward across the
table, bis knuckles resting on its edge.
"We neglect our visitor," said he
gravely, and at his words I turned sharp
ly In my chair.
CHAPTER II.
In the shadows about the door, yet
outlined with sufficient clearness against
the black oak of the wainscot, a face
stared in upon us. Around the head,
crowned with a black skull-cap, fell a
thick growth of white hair that was
saint-like in length and beauty; the
beard was of the like venerable purity.
In a man of his apparent age the
cheeks were curiously rosy, while the
hand that held open the door was small
at a woman's and delicate at old Ivory.
For a moment I thought that the eyes,
exaggerated by the convex pebbles of
great gold glasses, turned upon ma with
an expression of malicious satisfaction.
Yet this was but an Impression, for the
gloom hung heavily about him where
he stood, and my sight had not been un
affected by nights of study.
"Will not the gentleman step In?"
Graden continued, with a reproach at
my unhospitality in his voice.
Professor Rudolf Marnac for It was
he who thus honored us slid his dimin
utive figure through the door and ad
vanced, with a courteous Inclination,
into the lamplight.
"My dear young sir," said he, In the
soft musical English with which It was
bis custom to address me, "I should not
have Intruded myself at this lata hour
but that I am the bearer of painful newt
which I felt It right to communicate to
you. Tour friend, Hermann Von Stock
mar, died thla evening of acuta Inflam
mation of the lungs."
"Died?" I cried In bewilderment.
"Why, I patsad him In the ttreet at mid
day looking well and hearty."
"Yes, it is even so, Mr. Harland. On
moment a steady flame illuminating this
university with its light; the next, a sigh
from the conqueror Death and it it ex
tinguished. The .active brain Js still;
the pen, trenchant, incisive, destructive,
is laid aside for ever."
It was an Impressive homily; but from
so open and vindictive a foe it seemed
singularly inappropriate.' '
"You seem surprised," ha continued.
I fear that encounters In the cause of
science may have led the public to be
lieve that poor Von Stockmar and I
cherished personal animosities. If that
Is so, I trust you will use your Influence
to contradict it. My sorrow it already
heavy enough without that unwarrant
able suspicion. .
The professor seemed deeply affected.
Removing his spectacles, he pulled from
bit tide pocket a large tilk pocket-handkerchief.
At hetdid to, a tinkle caught
my ear. A tquare box of tome white
metal bad fallen to the floor. It rolled
Into the lamplight, where the lid flew
open. The professor hastily clapped on
his glasses; but already Graden had re
trieved the box and was presenting It
to him.
"There was nothing in it, sir," said he,
for the professor had stooped and was
examining the carpet minutely.
"I thank you, I thank you."
"Pray do not mention it Cousin Rob
ert, if you and the professor will excuse
me, I will step across and take a last
look at poor little Hermann. Where are
hit rooms?"
Before I could answer, the professor
was on his feet.
"Pray accept me as your guide," said
he, moving towards the door. Graden
bowed his thanks like a polite elephant
I followed the pair down the stairs.
It waa growing late, and the narrow
street of the students' quarter were
well nigh deserted. A moon, like a pol
ished shield, hung over the old castle
above us, picking out each turret and
parapet in silver grey against the sleep
ing woods that swept upward to the
sky-line. Across our path the gabled
house cast broad, fantastic pools of
shadow. A wind bad risen with the
moon, and sighed and quivered in the
rooft and archwaya. Once, from a dls
tant tavern, came the faint mntter
of a rousing chorut, but toon It was
swallowed and carried away by the
midnight breezes.
We had not far to walk, and In five
minutes the professor was tapping die
creetly with an ugly devil-face of a
knocker on Von Stockmar't door. Pret'
ently th.e bolt was drawn, and Hani, the
grey-bearded servant of the dead man,
atood in the doorway, a lamp held high
above bit head. He blinked upon us
moodily, with eyes dimmed by old age
and recent tears, till, catching sight of
Graden't huge bulk, he stepped forward
with a snort of surprise, flashing the
light In his face as he did so.
"Ah ! Goodness I but It is Heinrich der
Grosse!" he stammered. "Ach! Herr
Heinrich, but have you forgotten Hans
of the Schlagers, servant of the honor
able corps of the Saxo Boruoen?"
"No, no," said Graden, shaking the
veteran by the hand. "So our little Her
mann took you for his servant, as he
promised? This Is a sad day for us both,
old friend. Tell me, bow did it happen?'
"Do not; ask me, Herr Heinrich. My
mind wanders I, who served him nigh
on twenty years and was as a father and
mother to him.
The worthy fellow put down the lamp
In the little ball Into which be had
led us, and mopped his eyes with a hand
that trembled with emotion.
But Graden persisted in hit quiet way
and toon extracted the details. It teemed
that It wat the custom of the dead pro
fessor to take a nap after hit midday
meal. That afternoon, however, his
sleep was unduly prolonged, and at four
Hant, who knew he had an engagement
about that hour, tupped in to wake him
Hit master was lying on the couch in his
bedroom, where he wss wont to take his
siesta. But ha was In a curious, hud'
died position and breathing ttertorously.
Hani failed to rouse him, became
alarmed, and hurried off for a neighbor
ing doctor. That gentleman diagnosed
the case it a Hidden and tevere chill
which had settled on the lungs, causing
violent inflammation. Everything possi'
ble was done, but Hit eight be was dead,
Beyond the remarkable violences of the
seizure, the doctor had said, there was
nothing in the symptoms. Overwork had
doubtless undermined the constitution
and rendered it vulnerable to a sudden
attack.
"And while he was asleep had he
visitors?" asked Graden.
"The street door is never locked dur
ing the day."
"But would you not have heard the
stept?"
"It wat my custom to sleep too. Herr
professor allowed it."
"So. I should like to take a last look
at your poor matter, friend Hani. By
the way, Cousin Robert, where Is our
guide, the learned Marnac? I did not
see him leave the house."
"Perhaps the Professor Marnao hat al
ready gone to my master's room, tht
second to the right on the first floor,"
suggested the old servant
(To be continued.)
Yellow Peril.
"Mora startling newt from Shang
hai," exclaimed the man with the pa
per, excitedly. "I tell you it la only
a matter of time when the Chinese will
try to do us up."
"WeN," tald the peaceful man In the
scorched shirt, "at present we will be
satisfied if they only do up our shirts
and collars. I can't even gat them to
do that right"
An Oft Yea for Travel,
"My husband won't go to Europe thla
year;"
"What's his excuse?"
"Ha tayt til the newspapers would
wonder why." Cleveland Plain Dealer
J '.
The Dlalc Cultivator.
Disks as farm tools are growing more
popular all the time. They are used at
all stages of farm work, from plowing
to final cultivation. A man of long ex
perience says of them :
The main points in favor of the disk
are that it will work closer to young
corn without covering It, will work
ground without Injury that Is too wet
to be plowed with a shovel plow, will
not throw up clods, but leaves the
ground always In a fine tilth, can be
set to run varying depths, shallow next
to the corn and deeper In the middle
of the row, which is the proper way
when making the last two cultivations.
However, the disk will not plow deep in
very hard ground or turu the soil In
such a way as to kill large weeds, yet
If the weeds are taken In hand before
tbey become too lurge the disk is satis
factory In this as well.
When corn is checked It is not prac
ticable to plow across the fleid with the
disk. If the disk Is run across the
rows, It will be very ln-onvenlent, ss
the gangs are more nearly rigid and
cannot be so easily adapted to the in
equality of the ground.
For barring away the young corn,
cutting the. dirt away from it, and for
giving the last cultivation, laying by,
I consider the disk vastly superior to
the shovel, but where land has been
severely pucked, as by hard rains, noth
ing, in my opinion, will take the place
of a four-shovel cultivator of the twist
ed pattern, and they should not be less
than five Inches wide.
Fattening Coop for Poultry.
In the fattening of poultry for mar
ket It is always a good plan to confine
the birds to quite small quarters In or
der that the food given them may ac
complish the best possible result The
fattening coop should be where It is
light and dry and the birds must be
kept comfortable at all times. More
than all, the coop or coops must be kept
clean, else the fowls are likely to be
come sick and will not In such condi
tion take on flesh. Where there are
a number of fowls to fatten coops are
arranged on a wide shelf which forms
the bottom, then when it Is to be
cleaned simply lift it up and set In an
other place, leaving the shelf free to
clean thoroughly. Any box of light
'material will do for the fattening coop
with wire netting to within six Inches
of the bottom. Across this space a bar
may be placed with just enough space
between it and the wire netting so that
the hen can get her head out to feed.
A' narrow trough should be kept In
front of the coop and be filled with a
variety of grain in mixture so that the
fowl may help Itself when It desires.
These coops are very Inexpensive, easy
to make and will prove very economi
cal. The Illustration shows the Idea
very plainly. Indianapolis News.
When to Dark Lamb.
The docking of lambs should take
place when they are 2 or 3 duys old.
Of course, it niny be done lutcr, but the
Injury resulting is less at the age
named than later. When docking Is
deferred until the lambs ure several
weeks old bleeding Is usually profuse.
IL some Instances It will cause the
death of the lambs unless it Is stayed.
The flow of blood may be checked by
tying a cord tightly around the adher
ing portion of the tall, and better still
by searing the wound with a hot Iron.
Farm Note.
A man makes a mistake when he de
pends on a scrub bull to head his herd
of cows.
If you want to make the atrawstack
benefit the cow, put some of It uuder
her for bedding.
A man Is quite liable to .make a mis
take when he attempts to grow three
crops of corn In rotation. This Is tak
ing a stop backward.
With the bay loader and the horse
hay fork hay ought to go Into the barn
rapidly. When hay is cured It cannot
be put away too fast
At a recent public sale of mule teams
and other farm stock In Hancock coun
ty, Indiana, the mules averaged $208 a
span. Thla was the averago price set
by the buyers themselves, the teams be
ing placed In the ring to tell for Jutt
what they would bring.
THE FATTENING COOP.
t here Is more clean coru ground this
year than usual. The cultivator can
not do Its best work when rains are.
plentiful and abundant
Federal and Utah state sheep Inspec-,
Ion officials have decided to make dlp
Ing compulsory In the state In order
3 eradicate the scab.
It is claimed that although the con
ditions of food and climate In JaDaa
offers no serious obstacles to sheep
rniing, there were in 1901 only 2.543
sheep In that country.
Vain of a Batter Cow.
The value of a cow considered as an
Investment wss la fair fl
p Guerier, the Illinois expert Start
ing witn a poor cow. one that produced
200 pounds of butter a year, be reckons
tne rood cost at $39 and the labor at
$12.50, while the butter Is worth only
$35, or less than the market value of
the food consumed. The fancy butter
cow produces 400 pounds of butter per
year, and on the same basis of reck
oning nets her owner Interest on $400,
besides paying for the food and labor.
The price of butter In both cases Is
reckoned at 20 cents. The fnnev cow
consumed somewhat more food than
the other, but the difference was more
than offset by the Increased amount of
sklmmlik. According to Mr. Guerier,
tne raney cow Is better worth $400 than
the ordinary cow taken as a gift
For Rinsing Hoars.
Make a box 6 feet long, 4Vi feet high,
18 Inches wide and put a floor In It
Put a door In one end and a stanchion
In the other end with loose bolts, so
you can adjust It easily to suit the size
BOX AND STANCHION FOB RINGING.
of the hog. .The stanchion Is the same
as for cows, except the one you move
should not hnve a bolt through It, but
a notch cut In lower end to catch over
bolt When you are through ringing,
loosen stanchion. The hog will always
step buck, then lift out the loose
stanchion so he can go through. Sim
ply catch the hog lu stanchion to hold
him and then aise the tongs. Have a
narrow shoot at rear end of box so you
can drive hogs Into It euslly. Farn
and Home.
Tomatoes and Nitrate.
One hundred pounds to the acre of
nitrate of soda applied to the tomato
crop when the fruit Is beginning to set
will largely Increase the yield and has
ten the time of rlnentnsr. Snrend th
nitrate broadcast or betweeu the rowa
Just before a shower, and then cultivate
it into tne sou. One quarter of an
ounce to a plant Is about right in small
gardens. Experiments at the New Jer
sey station havd shown that nitrate)
applied about the middle of June had
a much greater effect on the crop than
the same amount applied earlier In the
season. A dressing of 100 pounds per
acre increased the crop one-third above
that of a plot not so treated. . Nitrate
of soda Is a very quick working ferti
lizer. It produces rank, durk ereeu fo
liage, which obstinately resists the at-
tucKs or insects and of mildew. We
huve found nitrate excellent also to
produce eurly asparagus, but care must
be tukeu not to apply too much.
Method fur Testing; Ears'.
A simple method for testlnir e?.
which comes from Germany, Is based'
upon tne Tact that the air chamber la:
the flat end of an egg Increases with
ace. If the pair Is nlncori In a anlnHnm
of common salt It will show an Increas
ing Inclination to float with the lomri
axis vertical. By watching this tend
ency the age of the era can ha
mined almost to a day. A' fresh egg
lies in a Horizontal position at the bot-'
torn of the vessel ; an egg from three t;
five days old shows an elevation at the-
flat end, so that Us long axis forms ani
angle of 20 degrees, and an eirir
month pld floats vertically upon thai
pointed end.
Waste Land In Corn Fields.
Most corn growers Dlant morn km
to corn than they harvest Investiga
tion has shown that there are twenty
five acres and often a much larger areai
of Idle land In every corn field of 100
acres. This idle land results from the.
failure of seed here and there through
out the field to grow. It Is cnltlvatedi
just the aame as if It were properly en
gaged. The farmer, therefore, wastes
labor and loses the nse of the land.,
W here a large acreage of corn Is grown
tne aggregate loss Is an lmDortant
Item. !