The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-03

to purchase a second hand tooth could not see
any prospect of turning my labors into cash. In
the beginning of the third week matters i'm
proved a little in appearance. well-to-do citi-
zen was taken ill with a fever l knew
ne had spoken appprovingly OF me, and the
thought arose that he had caught the fever on
purpose to give me q case. But he was only a
falr-weather friend it turned, friend for
prosperity alone. He used to hope I would DO
WELL said he remembered my father, and once
voted in his favor as town supervisor. In fact,
he said SO much that set him down as true
man of the kind that is said TO adhere to you in
sickness as in health. But he wasn't. When
sickness came upon him he sent for old Doctor
Bassett, and said he couldn't trust himself in
the hands of youth without experience. How
could he expect me to have experience without
practice2 Wasn't it his duty, as a friend and
well -wisher, to give me a chance to show my
medical knowledge or the lack of it.
While | was meditating upon the ingratitude
of man. and mentally calling the well
citizen variety of hard names, there was
knock at the door of my Office. In compliance
with my prompt come in," there entered a
sharp stranger who uttered hurried
good morning" and dropped into the chair to
which / invited him. He came to business
while nesting and twisting rather uneasily.
"Are you DR.. Morton2"
nodded assent.
Young doctor, I see."
Again l nodded
would like good thing, supposed"
Il smiled as l made verbal acknowledgment of
my youth and my willingness to engage in any
good thing
WELL" said he, 81 can let you into something
that will pay. And all straight and above
board"
intimated that desired nothing that would
be otherwise than honorable.
'That's right that's right" continued my Wis
itor; "a man never makes anything by going on
crooked road when there's straight one
alongside of it. Be sure you're right, then go
ahead, and don't fear anybody That's my mot
to. Now, here's what I've got to say and show"
He drew from his pocket and handed to me a
small box of tin, of the kind used by druggists
for the reception of ointment or pills.
l examined the parcel, and found that it pur-
ported to contain 'malarial pills" made by some
there was an expression OF wonderment on
my face as the stranger continued his talk,
without waiting for me to ask question.
You know" said he there's new disease
out In the last few years, or rather there's gen.
eral name for a dozen things ali at once When
you doctors don't know what's the matter with
man you call it malaria"
l made no sign of assent the reverse other
than smile, but allowed him to go on.
''Now, them pills are just the thing for ma
honey, 'pon my word They do lots of good
and can't possibly do harm"
"You are certainly right in the latter PROPOSE
tion." remarked quietly
ScEtdiuly, CCTldluly, was bH0 response.
Now" he continued, there's to be a conven-
ton here next week, as you know and want
to work off 500 boxes of these pills on 1t. While
the convention is going on III have boy put
some pepper or other harmless stuff on the stove
that'll give everybody headache; I'll be around
with the pills; you can say its malaria and the
pills will cure it.; they'll buy EN- and well share
the profits Perfectly honorable transaction as
everybody'll get we'll right off and you won't
have anything to do with the boy who fixes the
stove"
1 made no answer beyond indicating with my
index finger the position of the door. He took
the hint. and departed.
To keep Kate in good spirits, and particularly
to encourage the family hired small boy to
come for me now and then with request to go
to see some one who was in urgent need of medi-
cal aid. Sometimes his messages were verbal,
and sometimes in writing previously scrubbed
by mvself), and l always went at once when
summoned. My darling shared by professional
might be in utterance at the moment, or how
closely our hands might be clasped she always
rose at the call and assumed attitude worthy
of the mother of the Gracchi
Co. Fred, she would say, land relieve suf
fering humanity. Be as quick as you can, and
when you come back throw pebble against the
parlor window and III come to the door without
troubling the old folks"
/ generally returned in about half an hour
and was admitted the prearranged signal
Kate was inclined to be inquisitive concerning
my patients, but threw out hint about ''pro-
fessional secrecy" and the subject was dropped
by mutual consent
My boy did well in summoning me from the
house of my beloved and giving me good repu-
tation there ventured step further. and on
the Saturday which ended the second week of
my practice I summoned him.
David" said !. as l dropped dime into
hand, which bore many traces of alluvium. ito
morrow want you to come to the church.
Speak to the sexton and tell him I'm wanted"
Eyes, SIR"
'.And David if the choir is singing when You
come, wait till they are through and the minis
ter has begun preaching"
''Yes, SIR
That's ali tonight David; you can go.r
Eyes, SIR"
Next morning while the choir was singing
Coronation" and had pearly reached the last
stanza, ] saw David walk up the aisle to the
pulpit and whisper to the minister. The good
man listened and then pointed in my direction
The boy came to me and nodded and went out
just as the congregation was nesting down at
the end of the hymn. l lost portion of the
intended effect. 1t was the fault of the bov and
partly OF the sexton, the latter having absented
himself from his place David was Jealous and
not finding the sexton, he concluded that the
best thing was to speak to the clergyman.
Once friend of mine came to grief through
the stupidity of his messenger or rather of his
substitute. The regular youth had gone on a
fishing excursion on that particular Sunday and
engaged comrade to deliver the summons
About the time the parson had reached thirdly"
the new boy walked into church and up to the
young doctors pew. Then, with ragged cap in
hand he said:
please, DR.. Tonner Jimmy Barney says you
wants to be called out O. church when the min
listers preachn, and I've come for you cos
Jimmy's gone fishn."
Three weeks of the four were gone and no
practice. Charley Bliss dropped in to see me
occasionally, and we talked about old times. new
times and coming times, though somehow
couldn't venture to tell him of my approaching
marriage. We went one afternoon for row on
the lake While we We're on the water one of the
thole pins gave way and a one was wanted.
Some pins We're lying under the seat and
/ speedily fshed them out; they were too
large but l whitfield one of them down
and fitted it to its place. The knife was
q large one which / bought of stroling pedGler
while at college 1t frequently lay on the desk
in my office, and one day scratched my initials