The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-12-09

| Later than himself 10 20 In before him.
afraid Of me-" thought the doctor,
with asmte. 'Hs looks superstitious. -
It was near closing time, 30 Lampkin
ordered the Office boy to shut the outer
door and to admit no one else. The old
man was the last patient, and the fact
that he was left alone in the waiting
room seemed to frighten him more than
ever. When the office boy closed and
locked the door, he sprang up, took hold
! Of the knob and pulled at it excitedIy.
''The doctor will see you in a min
ute," said an assistant, who had taken
his hat to go out. "Sit down and wait
for him."
II believe III come back tomorrow,
stammered the old man. II can wait.
I'm in no hurry"
"Wait moment" urged the assist
ant. "You look nervous DR.. Lampkin
will not hurt you. He does not even
give medicine. You have nothing to be
afraid Of. !"
The old man seemed only partially
treasured. He resumed his seat, his eyes
bent alternately on the outer door and
the one opening into the Office. The as
sistant sat down to keep him company,
holding his hat and gloves in his hands.
He tried to draw the old man into con-
versation, but the effort was futile.
When DR.. Lampkin opened the door and
motioned for him to enter, he began to
tremble violently.
ut is your turn now" said the doc
tor, smiling genially. Come in. I
won't hurt you. What is your trouble?"
The old man made no response. His
eyes were fixed Oh the floor A close OBJ
server and suspicious one might have
noticed that the long white beard and
hair were false. Seeing the paper in his
hand, DR.. Lampkin took it.
is this for me?" he asked.
The old man nodded. EYES,, he said
in a queer, piping voice. "My son
wrote it and told me to bring it to YOU
The doctor opened it. 1t ran as fol-
lows:
DR.. Lampkin:
DEAR SIR-Having heard great deal about
your wonderful skill in curing imaginary dis
cases. l have decided TO send my father to you.
He Inns the idea firmly fixed in his mind that
early in life while drinking from brook on
his farm he swallowed a small snake. He be-
leves that it has grown to be pretty large one
and that it is eating up his food. Indeed, my
father has an enormous appetite. It is hardly
ever satisfied. Do what you can for him, and
the bill shall be paid on presentation to me.
feel that you can do more for him than all the
regular physicians put together. Yours truly,
JAMES FRITZ LINTON.
"Ah, I see!" said DR.. LampAin, ad-
dressing the old man and motioning his
assistant to retire. "Your son writes
me that you swallowed small snake
when you were young and that it is
now giving you some trouble"
The old man looked up suddenly, and
his eyes flashed Indignantly.
"Ah, he told you that, did he? He
admits to you that have the snake, and
yet he has been lying to me about it for
the last ten years. I shall 60 home and
give him good licking. He knows I
can't read, Or he wouldn't have wrote
it,
The patient rose suddenly, as if to
leave.
"Be calm," said Lampkin. "He was
doing it for your good. As for myself,
l believe in being frank about such
things. OF course you have it, but I can
remove it without any trouble. Come
into my office"
II am little uneasy about it," said
the old man as he followed the doctor
into the other room. II have had it so
long that am afraid I'd be sort Of
well, reckon there would DO an empty