Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1888-12-08
THE KNOCK AT MY DOOR.
a Leaf from the journal OF Medt-
cal Man.
BYF. CLINTON HARRINGTON.

seldom gave me time to eat regular meaD,
when there was loud, imperative rap at the
| door. knew from experience that 1t sigui-
fed an urgent and immediate demand for my
aid in some critical and alarming case.
81 do WISH" said Jane, petulantlv, ''that
they would give you time to eat. Whoever 1t
is, don't think Of going out until you have
had our tea, Charles
| Accustomed to such Interruptions, | began
| hurrIedly to take my supper, while my wife
| forbade the serving woman to go to the door
vet saying that she would give me time to
! finish my supper.
| A physician is never sure Of having time to
| partHke of q meal with proper leisure, or to
| do an, thing else that lie would like in his
| own way IL he has a fair amount of
| practice. l remember one time while stop
| ping at the house of friend where large
party had been given one night, wished to
write letter and so stole away to the library
! for that purpose, but had hardly written a
! line when there was knock at the door, and
in answer TO my response a young lady enter
ed bearing in her hand flower. Doctor"
/ she said, holding it out toward me, ''there is
something wrong with this. 1t has just been
! plOoCAlCU W LIcy anu L iAbuAON IT'S 1ldSl anu
once and it nearly overpowered me-"
| l took 1t from her, and found that most
subtle drug had been enclosed amid its petals
and her suspicious aud coming to me had
saved her from terrible fate. | only mention
this as an illustration of what l have said
that DOCTORS time is never his own.
| The knocking was now redoubled in strokes,
and fairly shook the house, echoing around
| the neIghborhood, go that l could see the
heads OF our neighbors opposite thrust out of
the windows 10 see what was the matter.
i must 60, Mistress Jane" said the an
cient woman, who was our only servant; for
was young In my practice then, and having
great horror of debt, liYed very economical
| Iy; Il must open the door, or they will break
| 1t down.
/ was quite convinced that some extraor-
binary occasion must have given rise to this
earnest appeal at my door, and putting down
| my cup Of tea rose, and went TO it myself.
| Upon opening it, saw man standing before
me dripping wet for it was raining and a
heavy wind was bowling down the narrow
street. His face was pale, aud bis eyes Wild
and eager His appearance was that of a
man in the middle station of life, with narrow
shoulders, straight white hair, a nose that
turned up, and phYsiognomy that did not
proposes me faVorably.
| Doctor" he cried, with great agitation,
and appearing TO be almost overcome with
horror, "come Sir Quick, sir. Do not delay
minute, sir. The colonel has poisoned him
self, sir. Run, sir!"
| "What Colonel! Where does LIE reside?"
| | asked, taking my cloak and hat from their
| accustomed place, and throwing my saddle
| bags across my arm, while Jane, whose sym
pathies completely took the place Of her
annoyance at my being interrupted, fastened,
without asking, like good wife, TO bring me
the stomach pump. All This time the messen-
ger was talking with exceeding volubility.
1.-THE colonel has been Responding, sir. He
fanccd he was going to lose his property.
He hasn't seemed himself for several DAYS,
Sir. l told the housekeeper 10 watch him,
sir. l expected he would take poison; he
talked so of death; and he once asked me,
doctor, which was the easiest. shooting or
poison. l don't know how he got it. We
zept everything from him. Hurry, doctor.
| He will be dead before we get back. Let me
carry the pumpr'
/ never knew man 80 excited aud anxious.
| lie fairly caught me by the arm to drag me
1ut of the door. He inspired me with some
hing OF his earnestness, and telling my wife
that would not be gone long, followed him
/ through the stormy night up The street He
almost ran away from me, ond then coming
| back, he would seize my cloak and pull me
| forward.
| 'For Gods sake, doctor, be quick as YOU
san Iwoud not for the world he should
| De dead before you get there"
It was about half an hour at ter dark. The
stores and shops were lighted up thou Oh but
| lew persons were moving along the pavements
On account of the driving rain. At the head
Of the street we turned to tho right, aud the
buildings now sheltering US from the wind, /
asked him again. we still hurried on, who
! the gentleman was.
1T is Colonel Wariie'd, DOCTOR | am his
serving man"
As soon as l heard the name knew that it
was a retired president of bank, whom |
had often met riding out in his carriage, and
Tho, was told, suffered from paralysis OF
| one side. knew that he was very rich and
4 bachelor, and had the reputation of being
! 7ery fond of his money which, rumor whisper.
| ID, he did not come by altogether in tho most
| honorable manner, having, as president,
| privately awaited himself of the bank funds 10
| enrich himself, when they ought TO have been
| locked up in the vaults of the bank. But as
nothing could be proved against him, and as
| he resigned as soon as he found men made
| too free with his name, he was never brought
10 any trial, but suffered TO live 10 the
obscurity which he seemed to prefer, with
] fol ipoS nf ct His riches btS
equipage, nor large mansion, he found, could
command him respect, where character was
wanting. He therefore lived Isolated from all
society, with but two servants-a housekeep.
er and waiting man, who was also his coach
man. 1t was this latter parsonage who had
como for me.
! l soon reached the street in which stool
/ the mansion of the rich banker. Il was o
! spacious and imposing edfce, three storiqs
| high, with a costly iron fence about it, a
| spacious Ionic portico adorning the entrance
assembled log marble steps. solitary light
| was visible from one of the windows of the
| coloners chamber which was on the second
| door in front.
/ The man ran across the street through the
! mud and water not needing the drier cross.
! ings which took.
"IIasten, SIR There is not moment to
! ose," he cried, throwing open the gate.
was soon at the door, at which was standing,
/ holding it half open, a thin, sharp visaged
woman, waiting for us
/ lis it the doctor, Jamesl' she asked,
eagerly.
Eyes. Heaven be thanked that | found
! Tim at homel | went to the nearest. How
I is he nov, Mrs. Locllett"
''lie is just alive Doctor" she answered 4,
4 addressing me. as she held the door open fol