Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-06-28


dreamed it. / have been wanting to
speak to you about it. I'd gladly spare
some of my own scalp if the hair on it
wasn't so awfully thin, I'll give you a
thousand dollars if you can manage it.
and pay all expenses Think it over, and
see if there isn't some way to do it, and
now / must be off. Good night, old
boyl"
laughed at the idea, but after he had
gone could not help thinking about it.
A thousand dollars was certainly tempt
ing. Ny practice did not increase so
rapidly as could have wished. and, of
course, like many another foolish young
fellow. had married nice girl when
scarcely able to keep myself comfortably,
and the tiny olive branches had dread
full way, sweet as they We're, of appear
ing all too frequently for poor man.
I'm not saying, mind you, that I've ever
regretted my marriage, or been willing
to spare one of the boys and girls now
growing up so fast around me, but
money was very scarce in those days,
and thousand dollars seemed too much
to let go without some effort to earn it.
did lot of hard thinking for few
days and spent all my spare time over
some old books in a musty, out of the way
library down town. finally told Frank
that would see what. could. be done if
he would give me $500, the rest if sue
ceeded in the undertaking. He agreed
at once, so | put a carefully worded
want" in the Herald offering $500 for
a bit of scalp from the head of a healthy
person, young woman preferred, and
naming an hour for applicants to call at
my office.
Well, had good many answers in
person and by letter. The letters paid
no attention to, and those who called did
not suit, until began to think l would
have a good deal of trouble to find the
right person, when my small boy of all
work ushered in a young lady. l knew
that she was young, though she was
heavily yelled, by her slight girlish fig
ure and low sweet tremulous voice.
Her dress was neat and plain and fitted
exquistely, Her gloves and boots were
not new, but they were the gloves and
boots of lady. Wavy dark brown hair
was worn in heavy coil beneath little
round hat, and | thought Here's the
very girl at lastl"
questioned her closely, and explained
to her more fully than to the others just
what wanted. She was nervous, as was
quite natural, but had evidently made up
her mind to win the $500 if possible She
was perfectly healthy, she said, and SO far
as she knew came of healthy parents.
Her father was dead. Her mother was
usually quite well, though not very
strong. She was just now suffering from
injuries received in fall on the stairs.
"The doctor says, the young lady
went on, that my mother will soon be
as well as ever, but we need money very
badly at present. On account of my
mothers illness / lost my position in
that is, am out of employment, and as
am the bread winner for our family,
am willing to do anything honorable
that will not injure my health to earn
money. l must stipulate that my face
shall remain covered, and that no effort
will be made by any one to discover my
identity" !"
"Can you endure the operation with
out the aid of an anestheticf" / asked.
You must know that your confidence is
sacred.
But no. She insisted that her nerves
were strong enough to endure the ordeal;
so appointed an hour next day for the
operation, and bowed her out. / then
rushed off to inform Frank Of my success.
He was charmed with my description of
the girl, and delighted with her pluck.
"Give her $500, he said, whether the
operation is successful or not She is a
brave girl to do such thing for herfam-
lily. Great hulking boys, no doubt, some
of them. Now / haven't much family,
but am sure / wouldn't part with any
of my scalp for all of my relatives in
heap.
The young lady was promptness itself.
had just shown her into an inner room
when Frank arrived. After the opera
ton / sent him away first, then put her
into cab, taking care to withdraw be-
fore she gave the driver his orders.
No. I'm not going to tell you how |
transplanted two bits of scalp from the
back of the girls head to the lip Of the
3Ou4E GA<bfAs AA11NE AAENCA DOA0 <4AA1 OAAC
how it was done, but it was success.
The young couple were as brave as pos
sible. There was not even groan from
either. The girl lay face down upon a
lounge, her luxuriant wavy hair stream
ing around her. / could not but admire
the dainty shape of her head and the
pretty neck, with tiny rings of hair curl
ing down upon it. just below one she'll
like ear small star shaped spot showed
white upon the now rosy skin 1t would
probably not be noticeable usually. The
young lady came to my Office for some
days until the wounds were quite healed
AS she was young and healthy it did not
take long, but never got a glimpse Of
her face, nor did try to do SO, havin
too much respect for the courageous
young creature. When handed her
$500, instead Of the 500 she had ex-
pected, she was quite overcome with JOY.
= e. - a -