Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 767 — page 2: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Sue | aA * “es - ) — a Bes i ; gees d {oy rig ; * ~ item cae earg . * r. we ~< : -t £.” : 7 a The scene was an elegantly furnished room, on the second story of a house situated in the center of the fashionable quarter of New York. This room was evidently a sleeping apartment, for it contaimed a bed, on which rested the Sanre of a man, e say figure, because 1t might have been waxen, for all the indications of life that were were apparent, Yet, that it was a mau, and alive, was proved by the conversation between the two men stand- ing at the bedside, The tall, well-formed, well-groomed first speak- er—Mr. Fulton—was evidently the master, and the neatly attired, rather stout and short, Her- man, the servant—or slave, A sardonic laugh accompanied Mr, Fulton’s last words, to which Herman responded with an obsequious smile as he whispered: ‘*But why take all this trouble, Mr, Fulton? One little drop, that I can easily get—” ‘Would hang you /” calmly interrupted the other. ¢ 4 Hang me?” exclaimed Herman, turning ale. ‘Certainly. You don’t suppose I would al- low you to hang me ? That little Parisian affair would discredit anything you might endeavor to tell, and hang you in the bargain, ‘“* But, Herman, ve no wish to harm you, so don’t make these foolish suggestions, Only blunderers murder, where it can be avoided.” Smiling, (and thus showing bis beautiful, even, white teeth,) while the ashen-faced Herman fairly shivered with terror, Mr. Fultun, after a short pause, continued: ** You know what to do, and when, ing for the doctors,” As Mr. Fulton withdrew, the valet, (that was Herman’s nominal position,) recovered his com- posure, and shaking his fist vengefully, mut- tered: ‘* Don’t be so sure, my fine gentleman! One can talk as well as another.” Below, on the parlor floor, Mr. Fulton, looking very sad, and speaking very’mournfully, was saying to a beautiful looking girl, and still handsome though aged matron: ‘* I fear—indeed I am certain—that poor Rob- ert is about to have another attack, “Do not go near the room;—it would only trouble you. [am going for the doctors,” The latter part of Mr, Fulton’s speech was broken—as though he was overcome by emotion, But, Mr, Fulton bad overreached himself for once: he had forbidden something, and since the days of Eve forbidness has, to a certain extent, meant an inducement to transgression—and it did shortly after Mr, Fulton left bis aunt and cousin, Up-stairs, Herman sat, for a half hour after his master had left him, in deep thought. It was about half-past two in the afternoon when Mr, Fulton left the sick-chamber. At three Herman started up with the balf- muttered exclamation: “The stake’s too biz! Tl finish—as I’ve started,” Waiking to the bedside of the unconscious man, the valet looked at him long and earnest- ly, but there was no mercy in his gaze, ‘*He’s coming to,” he muttered, and as he spoke, threw back the spread covering the uncon- J am go- _ scious man’s feet, revealing the fact that they were strapped to the bed} Having thrown back the spread, Herman went to a small cupboard, from which he took a small bottle of oil, and a long feather, With these, he took a seat at the foot of the bed, and watched patiently until the sleeper emitted a low moan, ‘‘Time to begin!” muttered Herman, dipping the feather into the oil, and, after another look at the now half-conscious man on the bed, began e draw it up and down the sole of the victims oot! The object was a simple one—merely to drive the tian on the bed mad / By simply touching the sole of your foot, un- der the instep, you will experience quite an elec- trical sersation; but, let another rub even a dry feather tbrice on it, and you will pot undergo that sensation again—with your consent. For a few minotes, the tickling sensation did not produce any effect on the victim, except to make bim stir a little uneasily. ‘**A powerful constitution!” exclaimed the fiend at the foot of the bed, as the torture began to take effect. Soon the hapless victim moaned most pitiful- ly, as he writhed (as muchas bis bonds would permit), in his agonized, but vain endeavors to pe the torturer. latter calmly continued his diabolical s° work, and, as with returning consciousness, the torture increased, shrieks, prayers and curses echoed through the house, At times, it seemed as if, in his terrible agony, the miserable victim would burst his bonds—or a blood-vessel, but be was securely fastened just above the knee cap, and at the ankles, Above the waist, the sufferer was strapped, as were his arms, but the bands that secured the knees were iron, and ran right through the thin mattress! The legs, from the knees downward, being thus rendered immovable, the struggles of the victim did not disturb the devilish work of Her- man, which was continued until the door-bell rung twice. ‘* Five minutes, eh?” muttered Herman. Glancing first at the handsome clock on the mantel, and then taking a long look at the man, who was now a raving maniac, frothing at the mouth, he continued: ‘* He will do now. More might spoil it.” Having put away the instruments of torture, Herman returned to the foot of the*bed, In his band he carried some cotton batting, evident- ly intending to remove all traces of bis nefarious work, Seating himself in his former position, he drew down the bedclothes until only the feet were exposed, and wiped a little oil from one foot. At that moment, hearing voices of persons approaching, the atrocious wretch sprung to his feet, dropping the cotton on the floor, just as his master, accompanied by three gentlemen, entered the sick chamber. They were the physicians—two above fifty years of age, and the third about thirty, ‘*T fear, professor,” said Mr, Fulton, address- ing one of the two older gentlemen, ‘‘I fear poor Robert is growing worse, ‘* Has he been very violeut, Herman?” ‘Terrible, sir, terrible!” The young physician, meantime,’bad moved to the foot of the bed; his quick eye caught the glistening oil on the sole of the patient's foot, and stooping, he touched it with his forefinger, just as the professor, said: ‘*There is no doubt of it, my dear sir, Mr. Barret is mad!” ‘*Mad as a March bare!” assented the other old physician, ‘Sweet oil! What does it mean?” asked the young pbysician, He turned to Herman, as he spcke, and the other—his colleagues—looked at bim in surprise, Mr, Fulton in alarm, and the valet in quite evident confusion. Quickly recovering bimself, Mr. Fulton, ina soothing tone, said: **Don’t be ashamed, Herman! You shall be amply compensated for your goodness to my poor cousin,” Turning to the physicians, the speaker ex- plained. ) ‘* Herman was my cousin’s valet, as you, per- baps, khow, and became so attached to him that we thought it best to allow him to nurse Robert, Night and day he has attended to him, per. forming service that no one could be hired to do, ‘‘One of Robert’s fancies, Doctor Lewis, is that devils are tormenting—burning—bis feet, and Herman rubs oil on them.” | “* You lie! Save me from those fiends! They are driving me mad!” This shrieking appeal from the victim, con- jirmed Mr, Fulton’s words, and Professors Teherza and Sanders exchanged significant glances, Mr. Fulton saw, and smiled, but looked ap- prebensively at Doctor Lewis, on catching the latter’s eyes fixed upon bim. ‘*You cannot keep him here!” declared Pro- fessor Sanders, ‘*No, no!” agreed Tcherza, longer.” ‘* Well, what shall 1 do?” appealed Mr, Ful- ton. ‘*Send bim to a private asylum,” suggested Sanders, adding: ‘“ He can be better cared for there than bere,” ‘* Yes, and if necessary, this good fellow can have charge of him,” added Tcherza. ‘* Then you are agreed that he is mad, gentle- men?” Mr. Fulton shot a sharp glance at Doctor Lewis as he asked the question, and nofd that the latter did not join in the— ** Oh, ves!” from Tcherza. ‘* Undoubtedly !” from Sancers, ; The patient, himself, settled the question, how- ever, at that moment, by emitting a succession of curses and surieks, combined with accusations ‘**Not here, any - aS + 5 * ; j “9 _™. « = | Ma “ é .3) : 1 a . ‘a ? a bs j Ay ee! ae I4 « < r : . ¥ . “ fs ot F . = “> i~ ad # “< . - CS ca Mac and J ack, the Invincibles. -p -p.., 4, Pil Pde, of conspiriug against him—in which t cians were included, ite, “And you, Doctor Lewis?” asked Mr, Fultt seeing the effect of this outburst, With a reluctant sigh, the young, but already becoming famous physician, bowed assent to the verdict of his colleagues, ‘‘Then you had better sign tbe necessary papers at once,” enjoined Mr, Falton, adding: “Since it will be better for poor Robert, he should be removed as soon as possible, I will send for a lawyer immediately.” CHAPTER II. AT GOODHEART'S ASYLUM, ‘‘ WELL, doctor, bow is the patient to-day?” “Doing nicely, Mr, Fulton, After the first day we had no trouble whatever.” ‘*{s he sane? Has he full possession of his senses?” ‘* Well, yes, but he is still very nervous, and a few days’ rest will do him no barm.” , The *‘ doctor ” was Morris Goodheart, a patri- archial looking Hebrew, and the scene the office of his private lunatic asylum, just outside the city limits; the time Une week after Robert Bar- ret (who was the patient referred to) had been declared insane, The visitor appeared pleased to hear the doc- tor’s favorable report, and said so, adding: ‘¢ You have worked wonders, doctor,” The aged physician stroked his long white beard for a few moments, evidently thinking of something other than his visitor’s laudatory re- marks, and then asked: ‘‘Has Mr. Barret recently received any sud- den shock- such as might temporarily deprive him of his senses?” ‘No, not tbat I know of,” replied Fulton, “ And you would be likely to know?” ‘*T would be very likely to know.” “Sirange, very strange. 1 bave known of but one—” The aged physician was thinking aloud, but here bis voice sunk, and the balance remained unuttered, although, judging from the eager ex- pression of bis face, Mr. Fulton would have given quite a little to hear that balance, — An impatient movement of bis visitor, aroused the dector from his thoughts, and, looking up, he said; “Except that he is very nervous—suffering from some borrible fear—Mr, Barret isa}l right, ‘* After be recovered from the opiate, which I ~ oo - gave him on the day he arrived bere, there has ~ beep vo trouble with bim, and be might, with | perfect safety, be discharged at once, | ‘7 would, however, recomuiend bis remain- ing here another week, and when he is dis- charged, that he should have plenty of rest and quietness—no business!” Mr. Fulton exhibited great satisfaction on ~ heariug this, ‘‘ Your directions and suggestions shall be fol- lowed to the letter!” be declared, ‘‘Suppose we go see Mr, Barret? He is out on the grounds,” suggested the doctor, and the visitor assenting, they left the office, and enter- ing the small park, (in the center of which the asylum stood.) met Robert Barret just about coming in at the rear door, The latter, (more as if startled, than for avy other reasov,) shrunk back on seeing Fulton, but the Jatter sprung forward, exclaiming: , Robert, my dear fellow, l’m delighted! I could bardly believe the good news the doctor had for me this mornivg!” Say. “Thank you,” quietly returned the patient, as if repenting his coolness: ‘Of course, I know you are glad, George.” “Glad!” echoed the other, 'reproachfully, ‘“why, I’ve been almost crazy myself since you’ve been here! ‘‘And, now, the doctor nearly drives me crazy” (with a smile) ** by telling me, this morn- ing, that you are yourself again, and only need rest and quiet for—for how long, doctor? ‘Oh, a little while—say a montb, replied the physician, adding: ** But the longer the better.” ‘ “Then I may resume control at once!” ex- claimed the patient, and there was a ring of ex- ultation in his voice, | ‘“Who bas the management, now?” he con- tinued, addressing Fulton, vail bave—as representing your holdings, of course, **so you can follow Doctor Goodheart’s advice, and enjoy a long rest,” replied Fulton, the frown whicb bad gathered a minute before, disappearing from his usually calm countenance. ‘*No, no! 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