, 1897-12-14
MY PATIENT.

doctor sometimes, but not always, gets
a few minutes rest.
The inner door was pushed slowly
open, and the head Of Il thorough little
gutter urchin appeared. lie was Il cap
ital specimen Of the London ''gamin''-
naked feet and legs up to the knee, rag
ged trousers, 2 thin cotton shirt, open
at the chest, 81 ragged coat and no hat.
He was grewsomely dirty, but his thin,
almost delicate fingers told me at once
that he was II piCkpocket.
Il want Dr.. PrebLlc," he said in a
hoarse voice.
We'll, you've got him" | answered.
bills fcll down and hurt ITSELF"
he said slowly.
WHO is Bill?" | asked.
A shade of disappointment passed
over his face. | had evidently fallen in
his opinion. Ny not knowing Bill proved
conclusively that | had not mixed i'll
the choicest society.
"'E's our lodgcr. he said cautious
ly. IAN ! amt a-soin to tell you no
more"
why didn't he go to a hospital?"
Il dunno" he said. "'E was at
work, and fell off of something. So e
come 'ome. That all.
Luckily n medical man is safe i'll al
most any ~neighhcrhood. Moreover, |
was well known. aud as | Went along
heard the gossiFs saying:
There goes the doctor. He's come
to see after Bill"
Clearly Bill was Il celebrity.
At last my guide stopped at a house,
and, notding to Il woman who stepped
on one side to let US enter. said, It's
all right. old gal"
| found ont subsequently, that the
''old gal" addressed was the young gen
tleman's mother. Respect for parents is
not a leading feature i'll that neighbor-
hood.
Without wasting n minute knelt on
the floor to examine Ellis injuries. |
found they Were scrious-a dislOcatcd
shoulder. two ribs broken and internal
injuries, which might prove more seri-
Gus still.
On his fingers were the marks of oak
um picking, which showed that Bill
was an cx-jailbird. and III the corner of
the room stood Il suspicious looking bag,
II of which pccred Il jimmy. 1t was
then fairly safe To assume that Bill had
met with an accident while engaged i'll
his professional duties as a housebreak-
or. He was educated. One could see
that at once Iy the development of his
brow. In his face, too, there were sone
lingering traces of refinement.
| looked up at the boy, who was
watching me carefully. and, | have no
doubt, reading my thoughts.
You amt a-goin to tell 10 tales,
gov'nor?"
My business is to cure him if !
can" | said briefly. Now, ! want
your help.
With some difficulty | managed to
get his shoulder sack into position.
Then | set his ribs. Beyond that ! could
do nothing until lie recovered sufficient
ly t o answer a few questions.
1t was necessary to find a nurse. The
man ought to have been i'll u hospital.
but it was impossible to move him. In
deed, it was almost a miracle that he
had ever reached home i'll such a man
gled condition.
Not far from my dispensary there
was a nursing institution, supported by
some ladies, who devoted their time
and money to nursing the poor i'll their
" houses. The matron was n SPLEEN
did woman. who never stopped to in
quire whether u case was deserving.
The fact hat a man or woman was Ill
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. and she
has not had much experience. However,
we must do something. III introduce
her to yon md sec what you think.
1t is Il curious thing that III first see
ing that girl she did not strike me as at
all good looking. Since then have
learned to know her well, and | think
her one of the most beautiful women i'll
the world.
In these years Ct work among the
poorest of the poor | met nc woman of
such a radiant. glorious nature us the
pale faced girl whom | saw for the first
time thnt Saturday evening.
To my great disappointment on reach
ing the sickroom her composure quite
gave WHY. | had hoped she would he
strong enough to maintain her self con-
troll, instead of which She trembled and
turned deadly white. looking almost in
clined to burst into tears
Come, come, Miss Clinton!' ! said.
You must get accustomed to scenes OF
distress. If you break down, you won't
lie able to help me ut NIL.
II leg your PARDON, DR.. Prcbble, y
she stammered hastily. 1T was only
the first shock. Everything is so horri-
BILE. You may depend on my doing
what you require.
. Then | explained the case to her care
fully and taught her the duties Of =
.nr.e ~ wen M | could in such a Short
time
Miss Clinton must nave nursed her
patient better than ! expected slit
would, for he PASSED Il fairly good night,
and when l saw him ut II O'Clock on
Sunday morning the t.,er a asateo
somewhat, leaving linn. Of course, very
weak and in u more or less precar1oui
condition.
The nurse whom Miss Shepherd hat
mt to take charge Of the case durtnt
the day was a highly experienced WON
a, whom 1 knew we'll :.
ssr&, t~d csse docfn.h she nd