Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-02-02
A DOCTORS SECRET.
Strange Story of How a Physician OBJ
tanned a SHELTON.

Everybody who has lived to drift
long upon the vicissitudes of this ever
changing, wave-tossed world of ours
has had skeleton in his closet. Prac-
ticing physicians are no exceptions to
the rule.
One cold, rainy night friend Of
mine CHANGED to be the guest of bach
elor doctor, having been invited by him
to partake of the hospitality of "Bach-
elor's Den," as he called his quarters,
consisting of an office in front and
bedroom to the rear. They had been
fellow jewellers at the german given at
the splendid home of the Denierres,
just few blocks away, for, though the
doctor had sprinkle of the white frost
of years on his hair, he still parted it in
the middle, and was just young enough
in spirits to enjoy the dance as much
as any of the younger men.
1t was l o'clock, and maybe ., before
they could overcome the charm Of the
dance, don their overcoatS and hurl
themselves into the cold and slippery
streets to go home, and, hence, it must
have been getting on pretty close to 8
O'Clock in the morning before they
found themselves seated in the doctors
simply furnished bed chamber, where
everything seemed gloomy and nothing
bright. except the blazing fire in the
CRATE.
The fumes of iodoform and carbolic
acid lurking into the room from the
Office in front added not one whit of
brightness or cheer to the environ
ments. They were smoking good cigars,
however, and the doctor was a very
entertaining gentleman. So. despite
the lateness of the hour, as if by mutual
consent, the two fixed their eyes on the
glowing Goals of fire and soon were lost
in conversation about the serious side
of the world and its ways
by Jingo!" the doctor finally ex-
claimed with suddenness that made
my friend look up nervously and m
consciously at the big bone he had pre-
viously noticed on the mantlepiece, ask
ing Whats the matter. doctorp''
why here's my surgical knife all
covered with blood, lying here on the
table where left it this evening, yet
uncleaned. I must rub it up little;
gracious"
NY friend felt relieved that it was
nothing else, and soon fixed his ewes on
the CRATE again, meditatingly, while the
doctor, with a rag and soft skins,
rubbed away at his blade, telling of the
case in which it had served the after
noon before. Soon he ceased talking,
and, looking over the table, my friend
saw him looking fxedly into the fire,
the knife still in his hands, and the
rubbing getting slower and slower until
it stopped.
what are you thinking about, doc
tor?"
.'Oh, nothing" he remarked, recover
ing himself, but did you notice how
happy old man Denierre appeared at
bis daughters dance tonight?"
HE was seemingly joyful" my
friend said, ''but why do ycu ask?"
well. this knife could tell you a
story, if it could talk, which would ex-
plain my strange mood, and if you will
light another cigar and listen, I'll give
you a rude outline of the story the
knife would tell"
My friend lit the cigar, and the story
proceeded.
"Old man Denierre once had another
daughter, prettier even than the one in
whose name the german was given to-
night; oh, she was a beautiful young
woman, the belle of the town and
courted by scores of young men. She
died, however, before marrying and at
the zenith age of woman's beauty and
loveiiness. 1t was strange case; the
strangest L ever nad anything to do
with None of the physicians attend
ing her knew what the disease could
be. 1t came on her like some blight
that saps away the life of some pretty
mower. SUc DcSdu W LuT III pdlc 6llnOut
being sick. This continued for months.
and several doctors were called in from
time to time for consultation. 1 was
among the number, and, do declare,
it was the most mysterious case that
ever came under my observation. The
poor girl lost all her beauty, and gradu-
ally lost her strength, yet nothing in
her physical condition could be taken
to account for it. By slow and gradual
fading away she finally died, leaving
her parents sorely grieved and a half
dozen physicians seriously perplexed.
became intensely interested. for in
those days when L was fresh from col
lege wanted TO know everything that
science could unfold. ] asked DenierTe
to let me have an examination after the
death of his daughter that our science
and profession might be benefited by
the strange case being disclosed. but he
sent me from him with an outburst of
grief and opposition. The more 1
thought of it the more curious became
a.