Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-02-22

4 and certainly mine
not been. Sickness was very preva.
lent in Colbourne, and the ills of
1000 inhabitants were i'll the hands of
two doctors. Besides, there had been
an outbreak of smallpox among the
navvies engaged in cutting a new rail
way to join the Colbourne terminus,
and OF late we had had our hands
full.
"Did the person send in her name?"
enquired.
''No, sir she said was to look sharp
and ask you to come at ouce-she re-
peNted at once, sir; and, oh, there
was an awful look in her eyes.
rose and went to the surgery, and
there found a young woman. She did
not reply to my greeting, but at once
plunged into the object of her mission.
Her husband, Bill Gro sland, had met
with an accident on cutting OF the
new railway, and had been brought
home on n stretcher in "bad way.
81 will be with your husband in a
few minutes" | replied, seeing that
the nature of the case demanded my
instant attention.
The woman left me, and procuring
what I thought necessary, | hurried
to the squalid ard in which Bill Cross
land lived. Colbourne, like many
other small towns, had sums almost
rs bad rs some of those which we are
told exist in the East End of Lon
don, where fevers and other pesti-
lences thrive like weeds in an i'll kept
garden. The houses in this yard
were rickety, and some OF them filthy
and Nbominable.
| found the injured mau lying on a
sofn, which had been improvised into
a bed. An old woman was attending
to his wants, and by the fireplace an
elderly mana navy, stood. As /
approached the bed, lie left the house.
My patient was strong, lusty looking
fellow, with an almost black complex
ion, crisp black hair aud mustachc
speedily examined his injuries, and
found them of n serious nature. His
ribs had been severely crushed, and a
portion of one had penetrated lung.
But he bore up with wonderful cour.
age, and scarcely emitted groan
when | handled him. Having done
everything possible for his com 'ort.
prepared to leave the house, at tn
same time beckoninS to his wife to
follow me, with the idea of warning
her of the danger her husband was in.
The injured man noticed the motion,
and called me.
Doctor" he said family, "thero 3
one thing | want to know. Now tell
mean done for?"
The question was SO poiutedly put
that it quiet upset my equilibrium,
| began to hesitate in my evasve an
swer to him, but he quickly stopped
me.
ELook here, DOCTOR" he said, in q
most determined tone, "l'm a-going to
hear the truth from you afore you go.
I'll have it out o you, or I'll limb II
out, l will" and his black eyes
cleaned like burning Goals.
Again demonstrated win him, but
he would not heed me, and OF last hi.
wife lnteriered.
"You can tell Bill anytntn', sir
she said. ''Let him know If he's co'
to pass in his checks, and maybo he'll
prepare for it. It's none loo good ,
life he's lived" and she jerked hel
thumb over her shoulder at the recum
bent figure.
"Well, them" / replied, IL may as
well he frank. The fact is, enter
tain very little hope of your husband,
recovery"
aye hear that, Bill? Doctor says
! yer to pass in yer checks, SO Just yel
| git reddy and do it T.
/ was amazed at her .bloodet
tone.
81 know'd it, lassl I know'd itl'
Bill replied. doctor % / turned tc
the bed. ''Sit down. Martha, brins
the doctor chair" and the old wo
man placed one close to the bed for me
When l had seated myself for
thought 1t best to humor hlm-ht
looked round the room and saiu:
"Now, Pm a-goin to make con
fession. Don't any of yer git inter
ruptin', cause | can't speak 70 WELL
lie paused, and then went on:
Breath seems terrible short I
Then, turning his head to me, he re-
marked: "Yer remember that 'er,
accident to Jem Barker nigh on .
twelvemonth sin %
| nodded, for | recollected it per
fectly. One of the drivers in the tim
mel just outside the town had slipped
and fallen on rail in the dark.
load of earth had passed over his body
breaking his back, and death had re
suited almost instantly. He wa
found shortly uiterward, and tn,
;oronet's jury returned verdict o
accidental death"
"Well,' the injured man pursued
that ere accident wor no accident
1t wor summat else. had better tel
ye that Jem Barker and l wor mates
! ee wor called 'Guzzler,' cause ht