The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-09-16
MY PATIENT.

o>NNA CO.
a few minutes rest.
The inner door was pushed slowly
open, and the head of q thorough little
gutter urchin appeared He was a cap
ital specimen Of the London "gamin"-
naked feet and legs up to the knee, rag
Eed trousers, a thin cotton shirt, open
at the chest, a ragged coat and no hat.
He was grewsomely dirty, but his thin,
almost delicate fingers told me at once
that he was a pickpocket.
II want Or. Prebble," he said in a
hoarse voice.
"Well, you've got him." I answered.
"Bill's fell down and hurt 'isself,"
he said slowly.
"Who is Eill?" 1 asked.
A shade Of disappointment passed
over his face. l had evidently fallen in
his opinion. My not knowing Bill proved
conclusively that l had not mixed in
the choicest society.
les our ledger, y he said cautious
~, IAN l amt a-goin to tell you no
more"
why didn't he go to a hospital?"
II dunno" he said. "'E was at
work, and fell off Of somefng. So e
come 'ome. That's ALL"
Luckily a medical man is safe in al
most any neighborhood. Moreover, l
was we'll known, and as l went along l
heard the gossips saying:
There goes the doctor. He's come
tc see after Bill"
Clearly Bill was a celebrity.
At last my guide stopped at a house,
and, nodGing to a woman who stepped
on one side to let us enter, said, 'It's
all right, old GAL"
l found out subsequently that the
"old gal" addressed was the young gen.
tleman's mother. Respect for parents is
not a leading feature in that neighbor-
hood
Without wasting q minute I knelt on
the floor to examine Bills injuries. l
found they were serious-a dislocated
shoulder, two ribs broken and internal
injuries, which might prove more seri-
still.
On his fingers were the marks Of oak
I'LL pACh41S, NAlIA SAO"CN CuuC A1A4
was an ex-jailbird, and in the corner Of
the room stood a suspicious looking bag,
out Of which peered a jimmy. It was
then fairly safe to assume that Bill had
met with an accident while engaged in
his professional duties as a housebreak-
er. He was educated. One could see
that at once by the development Of his
brow. In his face, too. there were some
lingering traces Of refinement.
looked up at the boy, who was
watching ne carefully, and, l have no
doubt, reading my thoughts.
You amt a-goin to tell no tales,
gov'nor:"
My business is to cure him if l
cam" l said briefly. "Now, l want
your help"
With some difficulty l managed to
get his shoulder back into position.
Then l set his ribs. Beyond that l could
do nothing until lie recovered sufficient
~ to answer a few questions
1t was necessary to find q nurse. The
man ought to have been in q hospital,
but it was impossible to move him. In
deed, it was almost a miracle that he
had ever reached home in such a man
gled condition.
Not far from my ~dispensary there
was q nursing institution, supported by
some ladies, who devoted their time
and money to nursing the poor in their
own houses. The matron was a splen-
did woman, who never stopped to in
Guire whether a case was deserving.
The fact that a man or oma was i'll
was all that she cared about. Their
crimes and shortcomings she left TO
other people.
Miss Shepherd listened to my story
with her usual sympathy.
"There is only one young lady l can
send,' she said thoughtfully, land she
has not had much experience. However,
We must do something. I'll introduce
her to you and see what you think"
1t is a curious thing that on first see.
ing that girl she did not strike me as al
all good looking. Since then l have
learned to know her well, and I think
her 4 Of the most beautiful women i1
the world.
In these years Of work among the
poorest Of the poor | met no woman O.
such a radiant, glorious nature as thu
pale faced girl whom l saw for the frs
time that Saturday evening.
To my great disappointment on reach
ing the sickroo1n her composure quit,
gave way. l had hoped she would b.
strong enough to maintain her self con
troll, instead Of which she trelnbled AM
turned deadly white, looking almost in
clined to burst into tears.
Come, come, Miss Clinton!" l said
"You must get accustomed to scenes 0
distress. If you break down, you won
be able to help me at all"
Il beg your pardon, DR.. Prebble,
she stammered hastily. 1T was onl,
the first shock. Everything is SO horri
BILE. You may depend on my doinl
what you require"
Then ! explained the case to her care
fully and taught her the duties Of