CHAPTER XVI.
THE ROENTGEN RAYS.
"I tell you, Sturgis, it is a wonderful discovery. I don't know what applications may ultimately be made of it in other branches of science; but I am convinced that it is bound to cause a revolution in surgical diagnosis," said Doctor Thurston enthusiastically.
"Yes," replied Sturgis, "I have no doubt that Roentgen's rays will be of great assistance to the surgeon in the examination of fractures and in the location of foreign bodies which cannot be reached by the probe."
"As a proof of that, I must show you a beautiful photograph which I have just made. After leaving you on New Year's morning, I found a patient asleep in my office. He had been waiting several hours. It was the usual case of a pistol in the hands of a fool friend, who did not know it was loaded; and of course with the usual result—a bullet wound in my patient."
Sturgis was listening in an absent-minded way while his friend spoke.
"The wound was not severe; no bones broken. The bullet had entered the palm of the left hand and had passed up into the forearm."
A sudden light came into the reporter's eyes; but he maintained his listless attitude.
"Well, sir, probe as I would, I was unable to locate that bullet. At last I concluded to try the Roentgen rays, and here is the result. It is as pretty a shadow photograph as I have yet seen."
So saying, Doctor Thurston handed the reporter a photograph, which the latter studied carefully in silence.
"Notice how clearly you can see the peculiar shape into which the bullet has been flattened," said the physician.
"Yes," replied Sturgis, "I was observing that. Have you a duplicate of this that you can spare?"
"Yes; keep that one if you wish."
"Thank you; I am very glad to have it. Did you succeed in extracting the bullet?"
"I have not tried yet. I had to develop the photograph first."
"Of course. When do you expect the red-haired young man to return?"
"He promised to come back yesterday, but he failed to do so," replied Doctor Thurston. Then suddenly:
"But who said anything about his being young or red-haired?"
"Not you certainly, old man," replied Sturgis, smiling. "Don't worry; you have not voluntarily betrayed any professional secret. But, for all that, your patient is wanted by the police. He was bound to fall into their hands before long. The only effect of this discovery will be to hasten the dénouement. I had traced him to your house, and I knew how he was wounded; so that I recognized him as soon as you mentioned his case."
"Who is he?" asked Thurston. "I am sure I have seen him somewhere before; but I cannot remember where."
Whereupon the reporter related the story of Chatham's connection with the Knickerbocker bank case.