Smyrna times., 1871-11-22

|
cess of refrigeration.
olr Timothy 5 messenger again, Isuppose2"
here myself
For what purpose, Sir Timothy Grabham.
do you come and disturb me, when you know
very well that L never intend to enter your
doors again p
:, "Ay, ay," replied the voice from below :;
out this Is not time to bear malice | tell
you that my wife is dangerously ill--dying.
believe and if she dies for want of medical
assistance you will be responsible
Not SO; the responsibility will all lie on your
own shoulders L am poor man, working
hard Tor my living, but no one ever knew me to
neglect a patient because he could not pav me.
lwO-thlrds of my work is done for nothing. or
next to nothing and those who can afford it
ought to take some share of the burden, more
especially you, the lord of the manor, under
whose protection the whole poor are placed by
providence. Instead of which, you refuse to
pa3 me Tor actual attendance upon yourself
ana your family tor upwards of year !"
Stay stay !" cried Sir Timothy; "you
mistake; never refused to pay you [ only
omitted to do so. You are really wrong to
look upon 1t as personal matter, because |
never never pay any one unless am actually obliged.
WY did you not bring an action? But come,
let us see if we cannot do business together.
Save my wife and will pay you a hundred
pounds. There !"
"Eh?" said Mr.. Radford, rather staggered.
But you know there is no taking your word
for anything.
!, Come down and let me in, and I will put
the promise down in black and white" j" said
Sir Timothy
That sounds like business" replied the doc
tor, not altogether sorry for an excuse for going
TO the aid OF the dying woman. So he shut
Ti ene window put on some clothes, and admitted
Or Ilmothy Grabham, taking him into his
consulting room and lighting the gas.
Now, how am to word it?" inquired the
baronet, taking up pen and arranging a sheet
OF toolscap before him. Il promise to pay the
SUN OF 9l0O to Mr.. John Radford, surgeon, if
he cures"
,'No, no." interrupted the doctor: ait is
only quacks who make such bargains as that
L must have my fee whether am successful or
not =
Very good-'swgeon, for attendance upon
my orife, kill or cure. Will that do?
! eS; that will do; but sign it"
Oh, oh; | forgot How stupid ~
And Sir Timothy appended his name 70 the
document, which Mr. Radford locked up in his |
desk and then putting on his great coat and
hat he left the house with his successful visitor
lie found Lady Grabham very ill indeed, |
quite past human aid, in fact; and though he |
was interchangeable in his attendance. and per- |
formed that feat which is popularity called |
eXhauStng the art, she sank on the third
day. The wldOwer was not incOnSoIable. The
undertaken took some timber which had lately
been telled in part payment of expenses; and
gu the very day of the funeral Sir Timothy let
a farm, the lease of which had expired, at an
increased rent, without having to do as much
In the way of repairs as he had anticpated; so
that he was enabled to bear his domestic mis-.
fortune like Spartan.
After decent lapse of time Mr.. Radford
sent IN note referring to the promises which
Sir Timothy Grabham had made him, and
check for hundred pounds; and
no answer being vouchsafed to this communi
cation, he wrote again in more urgent Ian.
guagc; but the second letter was ignored as
quietly as the first. Then the good doctor got
angry, and meeting his debtor one day in the
course of his rounds, he upbraided him with
MS conduct, and threatened to take legal pro-
,eedingS.
=. Quite right dOctor-quite right" said Sir
lmothy. Force me to pay you, and l will
10 1t; but | never part with farthing except
lnder compulSon; it is against my princi.
oles; and l cannot make an exception in your
avor
90 Mr.. Radt0rd put the matter in the hands
IT lawyer, and in due time the case came on.
t was gay day in the little country town, for
he case excited great deal of curiosity and
amusement; the poor doctor, who was
;eneral tavOrite, had been pitilessly chaffed,
hough everybody hoped for and anticipated
lis success, and the court was crowded with
county magnates. 1t added to the attraction of
he affair that Sir Timothy Grabham, with all ,
lis faults, had the merit of being consistent; g
lie would not employ lawyer, but conducted :
rs own case. of course the Doctors lawyer
7as jubilant, and quoted the proverb which 7
vers that the man who so acts has a fool for
is client. mot but that the case is clear -
1ough," he added; AL the lawyers in London \
ould not get him off paying up" .
And indeed it did seem simple. The doctor n
'as put into the witness-bOx and told his story. $
nd Sir Timothy did not question the correct h
ess of it; on the contrary, he openly said that n
} the best of his remembrance everything had r,
ccurred exactly as described. But" he
aded, I" should like to look at the document b
hch has been alluded to, and ask the plaiH- "
# question or two about it,
The memorandum was handed to him, and i
e read it aloud 50 | promise to pay the sum
9l00 to Mr.. John Radford, surgeon, for
tendance upon my wife, kill or cure. o.
xactIy. Well, Mr.. Radford, did you cure T
er ?" ev
81 No; that was impossible" C.
=" Did you kill her?' b,