Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1897-10-08
A DRY NIGHT.
Experience Of Doctor Under the
Care Of Practical Joker.

pltal on Waru $ lslunu rs a cOnllflncu
angler. lie has a friend who, in adj
dition to being a great fisherman, is
also a doctor, practicing in Newark.
One day the Wards Island physician
wrote a letter inviting the Newark
physician to come over to the hospital,
and after spending the night to take
an early train to forked river, where
the wcakfsh are running.
The Newark physician accepted
the invitation promptly. But when
he presented himself at the hospital
it was discovered that there was no
place where he could sleep except in
the contagious diseases ward. How
ever, there had been no patients in
the ward for some time, and having
a firm belief that on general princ-
pies germs avoid doctors, the New
arker readily consented to have a bed
put up for him in room in a de-
tached part of the building whose high
ceiling, as well as walls and floor, was
covered with glazed thing
After the attendant had made up
the bed he retired, leaving a pitcher
of ice water and lamp on the table
near by. He also locked the door by
which he left the room, which com
municated with the main part of the
building. There was another door
which opened ON a court, and this also
was locked, though the Newark doc
tor didn't notice it at the time.
'By Joye" he said: "Pd like to
have nip Of whisky" and he began
to think about how to get it, The
"bait" for the moTow's excursion
had been carefully packed in his
friends valise. lie tried first one
door of the apartment and then the
other, only to find them locked. Then
his eye fell on bell cord near the
bed, and he gave 1t vigorous pull
Now the bell rang in the room of
female 1lurse--a young woman who
had been attending to a case in the
city all day and had retired as soon
as she got to the hospital.
After waiting a reasonable time
the Newark doctor heard the key turn
in the lock of the outside door and
then, his ear catching the rustic of
a dress, he had just time to dive into
bed again when the nurse came in.
"Why, I didn't know there was
case in here" she said. Her apparel
gave evidence of having been put on
in hurry, and the visitor took in the
at a glance and resolved to
profit by it. Trying to look as if he
were in the last stages of dissolution,
he groaned:
ooh, I'm very sick. ] must have
some stimulant or | will die. Please
tell DR.. Blank to send me some
whisky"
Let me feel your pulse" said the
surse, and she took hold of his wrist.
"Why, it seems to beat regularly.
But I'll go and see DR.. Blake"
She left the room and the Newark
doctor chuckled as he thought of
how mad his friend would be when he
was walked up He also thought of
how good the whisky would taste |
when it came. But his comforting
were cut short when the |
nurse returned without any liquor.
CDR. Blank says you're to go to
Sleep she announced. That wasn't |
'eally the message. DR.. Blank had |
old the nurse to tell the Newark doc
or to go to thunder, but the nurse
hought it better to soften the
Message
II must have whisky" he yelled in
rage 81 am not a charity
,atient. When / came here they
greed to give me stimulant every
lalf hour. You tell DR.. Blank that
le's dod-gasted old numbskull if he
loesn't understand my condition
nough to know that | must have
thinks at frequent intervals"
This was true enough, but the
lurse was plainly angry as she
ounced out of the room again. When
he returned she carried a pan which
he placed in the middle Of the floor.
Then she lighted a match and the
tuff in the pan began to burn, and
he went away taking the water
,itcher and locking the door behind
er.
The stuff in the pan had a most
.illainous odor which the Newark
MUSICIAN recognized as that which
ccompanicd a new-fanglcd disin-
ectant lie grabbed for the water
itcher to put it out, but that was
one, and he got so angry that for
while he did not have sense enough
} turn the pan over on the floor and
lamp ont the fire. When he finally
id this, enough of the disinfeotant
adj been burned to fill the room