The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-12-29
THE DENTISTS STORY.

his office from All adjoining parlor by
the apparition of a weary-looking
young man in a dress suit, who was
reclining in the capacious operating
chair, and smoking a cigar. The den
tist had been prepared by his servant
to see a professional visitor, but he
was totally unprepared for the visitors
luxurious. free-and-easy attitude. AS
the young man recognized the dentist
through the aureole of smoke he re-
marked, with the tranquility of one
who is used to that sort of thing:
doctor, I want a tooth filled"
The professional gentleman, who
also looked a little weary. took a nee
dle-like instrument from a marble
shelf with his right hand, and, with
his left, gently pulled down the young
mans chin. disclosing an interior that
fairly glittered with gold. AS the
dentist put his head closer to the
young mans mouth and tapped gently
on The only tooth that seemed to have
any Of its original structure left, he
became aware that his patient had
been drinking. As the dentist made
this discovery, which furnished him
with a reason for the unexpected visit
and attitude, the young man found
out that the dentist was not a prohibit
zionist.
suppose," said the dentist, tapping
the tooth again, "you want gold put
in this? ,"
The young man nodded Affirmative
~. The dentist noticed, as he tucked
a towel under the young mans chin,
that he wore a massive gold watch
chain, diamond shirt studs, and a big
solitaire ring. He mentally concluded
that the young man could afford to
pay $50 for having his tooth repaired.
An energetic agitation of a little
steel probe in the hollow of the bad
tooth dispelled some of the young
mans WEAKNESS.
II should say" the dentist observed,
as he inserted a revolving tool, opera
ted by a treadle, into the cavity and
worked it around with great enthusi-
asm-"I should say that the gold in
your head is worth a snug little sum ?"
The young man made a sound indi-
eating that it was.
The dentists liquor, apparently un-
III the young mans, was s%peech-pro-
voking.
"Who filled themY" he inquired, as
he withdrew the tool and let the pa
tient spit out some part of the super
t1uous tooth.
The young man languidly answered,
as If the dentist were boring him as
well as his tooth. that it was a certain
well-known dentist.
"Is that so?' said the tooth member,
with a surprised expression. "Why,
he AMI I were partners less than eight
years ago. He's a good dentist; n of
the ornaments Of the profession, sir. I
once had a very funny experience with
one of his customers-very funny"
A look of distress came over the
young mans face. But the dentists
liquor spurred him on, and he began
In the style of a man who had told the
story before:
Il was crossing Broadway at Twen-
ty-eighth street one rainy summer
night about Ave years ago, when a cab
came dashing along, spattering the
mud right and left. just as It bound
ed over the crossing the head Of "a
does that hurtP-the head of a pretty
young woman protruded from the"
ouch r exclaimed the young man,
starting up in the chair. "You struck
q nerve. Why in the deuce
81 beg your pardon said the den
tist. backing away as II he expected
the young man to pitch into him. .I-
think not--I don't believe the
nerve is exposed. But If you will be
calm and permit me TO look, I win find
OUT and the dentist introduced a little
looking-glass into the young mans
mouth and examined tie tooth. emo"
ssid the dentist, confidently, 1.-THE
nerve 10 all right" Then he rot "a
wcs:r with the revolving tool again,