The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1880-06-18

"Stay, stay" cried Sir Timothy "you
mistake; never refused to pay you only
omitted to do so. You are really wrong to
look upon it as personal matter, because /
never pay anyone unless am actually obliged
| Why did you not bring an action? But come,
let us see if we cannot do business together,
Save my wife and will pay you hundred
pounds. ThereW
| "Eh ?" said DR.. Radford, rather staggered.
"But you know there is no taking your word
for anything"
"Come down and let me in and will put
the promise down in black and white" said
Sir Timothy.
"That sounds like business" not altogether
sorry for an excuse for going to the aid of a
dying woman. So he shut the window, put
on some clothes, and admitted Sir Timothy
Graham, taking him into his consulting
room and lighting the gas.
snow, how am to word it ?" inquired the
baronet, taking up pen and arranging n
sheet of foolscap before him. III promise to
pay the sum of f100 to Mr.. John Radford,
surgeon, if he cures"
mo, no." interrupted the doctor, at is on
ly quacks who make such bargains rs that |
must have my fee, whether am successful
or not"
every good-'surgeon for attendance upon
my WIG, hlll OT cure w I'LL lllui 10
"Ycs, that will do; but sign it,"
ooh, oh forgot How stupid" And
Sir Timothy appended his name to the docu-
ment and then putting on his great coat and
hat, he left the house with his successful WISH
tor.
He found Lady Graham very i'll indeed,
quite past human aid in fact and though he
was indeiatigable in his attendance, and per-
formed that feat which is popularity called
"eXhausting the resources of his art" she
sank on the third day The widower was not
inconsolable. The undertaken took some
timber which had lately been felled, in part
payment of expense and ON the very day of
the funeral, Sir Timothy let u farm, the lease
of which had expired, for an increased rent,
without having to do as much in the way of
repairs as he had anticipated /; so that he was
enabled to bear the domestic misfortune like
n Spartan.
After decent lapse of time DR.. Radford
sent in note referring to the promise which
Sir Timothy Graham had made him, and re-
questing a check for hundred pounds and
no answer being vouchsafed to this cOmmu-
nication, he presently wrote again in more
urgent language but the second letter was
ignored as quietly as the first. Then the
good doctor got angry, and meeting his
debtor in the course of his rounds, he up
braided him with his conduct and threatened
to take legal proceedings
quite right, doctor-quite right" said Sir
Timothy Force me to pay you, and | will
do it; but never part with farthing except
under compulsion; it is against my princi-
Piles; and am sorry | cannot make an ex-
cepton in your favor"
So Dr. Radford put the matter in the hands
of lawyer and in due time the case came.
IN ,o 1ittln
for the case excited great deal of curiosity
and amusement the poor doctor, who was
general favorite, had been pitilessly chafed,
though everybody hoped for and anticipated
his success and the court was crowded with
county magnates. 1t added to the attraction
of the affair that Sir Timothy Graham, with
all his faults, had the merit OF been consistent;
he could not employ lawyer, but conducted
his own case OF course the doctors solicitor
was jubilant, and quoted the proverb which
AYERS that the man who so acts has a fool for
his client. mot but what the case is clear
enough" he added; "all the lawyers in Lon
don could not get him off paying up"
And indeed it did seem simple. The doctor
was put into the witness-box, and told his
story and Sir Timothy did not question the
correctness Off on the contrary, he openly
said, that, to the best of his remembrance,
everything nau occurred exactly as ueScrlDeu.
"But," he added, II should like to look at the
document which has been alluded to, and ask
the plaintiff question or two about it."
The memorandum was handed to him, and
he read it aloud: i promise to pay the sum
of f100 to DR.. John Radford, surgeon, for at
tendance upon my wife, kill or cure EX
actly. We'll, Mr. Radford, did you cure herr"
"No that was impossible"
Did you kill herr"
That ended the case in Sir Timothy's
favor