Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-01-14
THE NEW DOCTOR.
BY TOM P. MORGAN.

ueut CltLSuS VI 4NeW SnlCdSO lnen gain
cred in the single room of the combined
real estate, loan, insurance and collection
office and bachelor residence of the
speaker, we are confronted by an
epoch. Heretofore it has been our policy
to welcome immigration with open arms,
SO to speak, but now the time has ar
tived for the exercise of discretion.
What do you think, Fanshaw?"
I" l reckon" returned Mr.. Hank Fan
shaw, sententiously.
"Thats So" assented Mr. Ike Fos-
dick. 1.-The new doctor will have to
GO"
Messrs. Banning and Benson wagged
their heads in affirmation.
Exactly !" resumed the colonel.
"While working for the advancement of
our city as whole, we must also con-
slider the best interests of its citizens in
the abstract"
"Shorely" said Ike Fosdick, briskly.
"An' we'll stand by Harry. The new
doctor will have to CO."
"Mebby he'll try to cut up rusty"
began Banning
Let him cut!" broke in Fosdick
"Were able for him..
As the ancient adage has it, two of
trade rarely agree. But it is rare indeed
that one ofany trade or profession is pos
sessed of partisans so prejudiced that
they will voluntarily take it upon them
selves to purge his path OF professional
rivalry. Equally unprecedented was the
determination of these five prominent
citizens of New Chicago settlement
as yet tiny almost to insignifcance, but
big with hope of future greatness-to
deliberately deprive its census roll of an
addition who might perhaps prove as
prominent as themselves and factor in
the advancement of the hamlet toward
that desideratum of all Western settle
ments-a BOOM Then, too it was little
short of amazing that Colonel Pride-a
self-convicted legislator in embryo
should coolly turn back an untested
conner in whom, for all he knew, might
be the material of which active par
tisans are made.
Conflicting representatives of other
professions would probably have been
left to settle their differences after the
good old fashion of the Kilkenny cats, or
otherwise as they might elect But now
that the professional bailiwick of DIR.
Harry Wakefield was trespassed upon,
the matter was not one that concerned
the young physician alone, but his
friends as well. Should they stand
tamely by while an alien interloper was
endeavoring to possess himself of the
position and practice rightfully belong
ing to DIR. Harry? They emphatically
"reckoned" not. DR.. Harry had "stood
by" New Chicago in its direst need, and
New Chicago, represented by Messrs.
Pride, Fosdick, Fanshaw, Banning and
Benson, would "stand by" him.
Two years before had come the time of
New Chicago's dire need. A poor wretch,
in deadly terror of dying alone, had
dritted thither and thrown himself on the
tender mercies of the settlement. He
had kept his CHASTITY secret well. The
hamlet boasted no physician then, and it
was not till his malady manifested its
deadly nature so plainly that the tyro
could not doubt, that they knew it was
smallpox.
Then it was too late for precautionary
measures TO avail; the seeds of the pes
thence had been sown broadcast through
the settlement. Then ensued a little
season of chaos-when despair reigned,
the eve of a grim battle before the pros
pect of which strong men covered for a
little while and trembling mothers clasped
close wondering children and sickened
with dread.
But inaction reigned but for little
while, and then the strong men turned
squarel y toward the issue. They volun-
tariiiy isolated the settlement from the
world around and begin the grim battle
with the pestilence.
linen had come to them young Harry
Wakefield, new-hedged graduate from
an Eastern medical college. who, while
seeking location in the West for the
displaying of his maiden "shingle, had
heard of New Chicago's extremity and
hurried thither. What he lacked in ex-
perience he made up in will. The set
tlement took heart, and presently the
pestllence was conquered, but not until
it had claimed for its prey more than one
poor soul. And from thenceforth New
Chicago called Harry Wakefield blessed
and his fame soon extended all over the
adjacent county, and sometimes a whole
days ride was necessary to bring him to
more remote patient.
And now there had come an alien in
tent upon trespassing upon Dr. Harry s
professional preserves. They knew lit
tie about the newcomer, and cared even
less. The rising sun of the morning
upon which the conference was held in
Colonel Pride's Office had shown them,
nailed to the door frame of modest cot.
tage, this sign: ~. l.. Ransom, Md
And that told them all they desired to
know. So far as they had known, the
only corners to the settlement within the
last few days had been young woman
and an older one-mother and daughter
they believed-and it had been rumored
that they were to occupy alone the cot
tage which now displayed the offensive
ign. No man had thus far been seen
about the cottage. 1t was now supposed
that the new doctor had arrived during
the night and at once thrust out his sign
The women were probably his mother
and sister. Further than this the promi
nent citizens neither knew nor cared.
new doctor was there.
"An' the new doctor must go!" sale
Fosdick.
And the others agreed with him. TIL,
women could stay or go, as they nigh
elect. Ike Fosdick was for turning tn,
doctor out headlong and thrusting hin
from the settlement with scanty cere
mony. But the others were Il trihe NOR,
conservative. 1t would be well to leari
DIR. Harry's wishes in the matter. Th
interloper might possess paraphernalii
that Harry would be glad to purchase
md besides it would be but fair to ALLOW