Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-11-03

chances of ultimate success were most
highly estimated by those professional
friends who knew him best; but he
had himself almost lost heart. He
looked every day with sinking spirits
and lengthening face on his young
wlfe and son-now rapidly growing
boy with a portentous appetite, whom
he must soon begin to think of placing
at school-and his heart sank lower
still one morning when the only visi-
tor to his surgery was ragged mes
senger, who produced from his pocket
a dirty and much-folded slip of paper.
which. on being smoo,hed out, proved
to be only the usual parish order to
visit pauper patient In the poorest
quarter OF the town. 1t looked just
like any other such as he was In the
daily habit OF receiving. and he glanced
at 1t almost mechanically as he an
swered:
Peter Ingram, 3 Paradise Row-ur-
gent Very well. shall be there in
about half an hour"
1t was not n promising duty. but 1t
was at least better than to sit
eating his own heart in the bitterness
OF enforced idleness. as he had too oft
en- been compelled to do Of late; so.
waiting only to put his stethoscope and
thermometer In his pocket. he seized
his umbrella and started. The streets
through which he passed to his destin-
alton. each darker and dirtier and more
thickly studded with public houses
than the last. seemed to his morbid
fancy to symbolize his own position
and prospects. In one OF the darkest
and dirtiest of all he stopped before
house even in such n ncighborhood
was conspicuous for its neglected ap-
pearance. The paint had long ago
peeled in great patches of the door.
and more than half the pancs OF glass
were broken In the window. while the
remaining ones were perfectly opaque
with dust and cobwebs. Nine out of
ten persons would have passed the
house as uninhabiieh. but DR.. Falconer
knew better. Finding his knock I'M
answered. he tried the latch. but the
door was locked. Again he raped
sharply, this time with the handle of
his umbrella. and after a second repe-
tition n key grated In the lock. the
door opened three inches. and a gilt
tering eye under n red bushy eyebrow.
sharply scrutinized him from behind
II. Then II closed again: he heard
chain unfasten. the door was opened
just wide enough to admit him, and
closed. locked. and chained behind him
the moment he had entered.
Are you afraid of thieves. my
friend?" said the doctor. .glancing round
the four bare walls as well as the
light permitted. You need hardly be
nerovus on that score. think"
No" said the man who had admit
ted him: "onc who has parted with
the very last rag and stick he can
spare has ut least that consolation.
vacuus cantabit. you know. But
have still little pride left. and don't
like every one to see me in this
plight"
"Ah." said Falconcr. catching him
by the arm to draw him near the light,
you have come down In the world.
then. Was II drink? BE frank with
me-
81 won't deny that drink began It,"
he answered, quietly. But don't make
a mistake, doctor: drink isn't the cause
Of my present illness. was once a
university man myself.and looking for
ward to a profession. Drink ruined
my prospects. and I found myself
private soldier instead. But | pulled
up. | haven't tasted drink for many
years. An old wound received at Abu
Klea. and repeated doses of malaria
have brought me to my present condi-
tion.''
Am to understand. then" said the
doctor, that you are yourself the pa
tient was sent for to see? Why are
you not in bed, them
because there is no one to open the
door but myself | am alone in the
house-and in the world But when
you see my bed" he added. grimly.
you will not wonder that like to
keep out of IL as long as I can"
you ought to be in II now" said
the doctor. and, indeed. as he spoke
the man began to shiver and tremble.
and crying with chattering teeth. "Oh
-h-h' it's on me again!" clutched at
the solitary chair that stood In the
room and sat down in such a paroXysm
of shuddering that the ioor shook be-
meath him. and the very window rat
tied in its frame. The doctor hastily
produced his hypodermic case. and
looked around in vain for a jug Of
water. Opening door behind him,
he stepped into a room almost as bare
as the first, except that n heap OF rags
lay in one corner and handful of fire
smoldcred in the rusty CRATE. A water
jug and cup and plate stood upon
the floor close to the wall but on lift
ing the jug he found 1t empty. Re-
turning to his patient. he found the 1T
had terminated in violent sickness.
"My poor fellow" said he, as soon
as this had subsided. you must go to
bed and have nurse to look after you.
| shall have YOU taken TO the infrmary
nt nnrn Ingi Lie lnMn hern for a fnM