The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-08
GuStavG ECkStGiD & Co.

"'Then may I ask why you have sent
for me?' l asked, feeling very much like
losing my temper.
well. II is like this, Doctor he said
plaeidly. I can't sit up all night by my
self feel as though should go mad IL 1
do. / must have somebody TO talk to-
" And you mean TO tell me- ! began
hotly, and paused for want Of words to
express my Indignation.
MY patient took advantage OF the pause
to proceed in his gentle, half-apologetic
manner.
." I assure you, doctor, that looked
upon IT quite as a business matter / do
not look upon a physician as a philan-
thropist, but as business man, whose
chief inducement, after all, is to make
money. May ] ask what your usual fee
ISL"
My usual fee is acknowledgement
/ said, severely. / was a modest begin
ner in those days But when am called
out in the night
You make 1t higher OF course put in
my patient, importantly; shall we say
ten shillings?"
II NODDED.
And may ask how long your visit
usually takesY
1T varies from five minutes TO an
hour
"rhe man performed short caicula-
ton on his fingers.
Then we may call your average VISIT
thirty-two and a half minutes he said
quietly Well / am quite prepared TO
pay you ten shillings for every thirty-two
and half minutes that you remain with
me. You came IN at exactly twenty min
utes past r. Allow me TO pay you up till
minutes TO /. He gravely handed me
half-a-sovereign as he spoke and went
on If you prefer II, / have not the
20.
advice all the time you are here, although
that is quite immaterial to me, so long as
you talk about something and keep mo
from the loneliness that dread DO take
cigar and help yourself to the whisky
His tone was so businessalike and
matter-of-fact that II was impossible TO
quarrel with him. Besides, his evident
dread Of being alone, which so many vic
Tins TO insomnia have. appealed to my
sympathies
Il was not successful enough then TO dis
regard the chance of gaining a rich and
eccentric patient, the very class who make
the profession worth practicing, from a
pecuniary point Of view.
II made no demur. therefore. but de-
termined to stay at least until ] had
given him directions for curing his want Of
sleep by systematic exercise and plain iiv-
ing, and l lighted one of his cheroots,
which were, indeed, excellent.
AT the end of half an hour rose to
go. But my strange patient pleaded with
me so earnestly to accept another fee and
stay half an hour more that 1 scarcely
had the heart to leave him. A fresh idea
occurred to me.
Il will stay on one condition. I said
that you lie down and let me try to get
you to sleep.I felt that If I could succeed
in doing 50 should have done something
to justify my visit and should be able
to get back TO my own bed without
any danger Of offending possible remun-
erative patient.
''TIe agreed instantly and drew up
comfortable-looking couch to the fire in
the place Of his chair.
Now, If l will do my level best TO
sleep, will you promise not to leave mo
till am off?' he said and. feeling pretty
confident of my powers, l rather unwisely
consented.
II began by reading aloud 70 him in
a soft, monotonous tone which l have gen
orally found effective. and at the end of
half an hour was congra tulating myself
on my success. when the old gentleman
jumped up wide awake and fishing in his
pocket. produced another half sovereign.
- must nef forget your fee, ne said
as he lay back again at full length on
the couch. Please go on. 1t Is very
soothing
II was getting desperately sleepy my