Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-07-07
,o%o<o%o>o%o<o%o<o%o>o%ot
A SUBSTITUTE. :
By W. F. Rore.
Science Footed the Bill. I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

So~o<o%o<o%o<o<o~o%o>o<o~
IF you please, sir. child wishes to
see you"
She was a little giri-a very little girl
with a little weakened face and little
black eyes that snapped and twinkled- A
shabby brown straw hat crowned her
black curls, and her frock was shabby,
too. and her shoes and stockings were
shabby indeed.
The surgeon looked down at her. She
was such little mite, perched on the ex-
treme edge Of the biggest chair in the
room. with her shabby little shoes pushed
hack against round. Somehow he didn't
say the sharp words he had intended
saying.
In fact, all he said was, "Well?"
BE YOU tn doctor?'' The childs voice
was a little hoarse and a little old for her
years. The surgeon nodded. ''Then that
girl O. yourn is liar. She says. You
can't see him. I says. 4 can She says,
'You won't an says. y will An then
| gives her a push an runs straight by
her. an here am, an here you be-" And
she laughed noiselessly.
"Well, WELL" said the surgeon, repress-
ing an inclination to smile, ''now that you
are here. what can do for you!"
The child Strengthened her face.
"'Taint for me-" she said quickly. 81
wouldn't come here nohow for myself.
Your prices is too high. Districk physick-
ers is good enough fer poor folks like me.
Besides. Missis Flaherty-she's tn lady |
boards wit'-says. oh, how you do love to
knife 'em!'
Perhaps the great surgeon WINGED lit
tie at this.
go on" he said. MY time is valua-
ble."
mine ain't.'' said the child complacent-
ly. "But what comes here fer is Petite"
"And who is Petie?"
Hes me big brudder, gon on 16. He
got hurted by a motor las Tuesday, an
you got him in de horspital, ward 2. fort
bed from de door"
The surgeon took out a memorandum
book.
YES" he said. Peter Mullen: ribs
broken. spine hurt. | remember the boy.
What about him?'
Didn't he say nothin about Mamie!
OATS me. You see, it's the fust time
Petite an me has been separated since
mudder died" She passed the fringed
cuu Ol luc SudWl aSlOSS hSi Cs SS'
"There, it's all right. Boys will git hurt.
What | wants to say is this: At 'leven
o'clock youse is goin to op'rate on Petite.
He tole me so himself. He wuz lyin quiet,
an the young doctors thought he wuz
asleep. An dey says it was mos inter-
estin case an very scarce an dat you wuz
boun to try de knife on it. An dey said
dat wild good nursin Petite would git well
in de natch'ral way. but in de int'rust of
science-dat's what dey said-you was
goin to take de chances wild de knife
an den dey said dere wasn't one chance
in 20 of de boys livin through it. See?"
The surgeons face grew dark.
"Well, what of it ?' he asked almost
roughly.
"Don't git mad" said the child. I'm
| Just givin it to you straight. You see, it's
like dis: cant spare Petite nohow. He's
| all I've got. amt strong meself. an
| Petite looks after ME like mudder. He's
an awful smart boy. He sells papers, an
runs errands. an holds hosses. He kin do
mos anythin. An what I want to say is
dat if science needs kid to cut, why not
take me an let Petite go?
whats thatY' cried the surgeon
sharply.
There you so, gittin mad ag'in," cried
| the child. 81 know what you'll say.
You'll say my case amt no interestin
one like Petie's. But how do you know
till you look?''
"What's the matter with you?" growl-
ed the surgeon.
The child stood up. One of her shoul-
ders dropped, and she was bent like an
| aged woman.
"Tt's me back" she explained.
"Come here" said the surgeon.
The child shuddered.
"You amt got no knife nor nothin?"
mo-" said the surgeon, and he repeat
ed more gently, Come here"
Then he took her on his knee, un-
fastened her dress and ran his hand
along her spine, kneading it carefully
here and there. As the examination pro-
ceeded his eyes sparkled, and he breath
ed hard
"When did this happen?" he asked.
"Tree year ago." replied the child;
runaway hoss."
Anything ever done for it,
"Petie took me to a man that put irons
on me, but dey hurted so dreadful dat
Petite trun 'em away
The great surgeon swore softly.
"There," he said, 'that will do" He
smiled down at her as he helped refasten
the dress. Science accepts the ex-
change" he gayly added.
"An Petie?"
Petite will be taken care of until he
gets well," said the surgeon. go and
see him today. ] shall want you tomor-
row."
The child shuddered slightly.
"Wh-what for?" she TREMENDOUSLY asked.
Don't you worry" said the surgeon.
'TThat Mrs. Flaherty Of yours was lit
tie harsh. Anyway, there'll be no knife
for you. Be here at 8 o'clock tomorrow
morning. | want a very wise man to see
YOU Then you will go to nice place,
where children who are not strong are
sent, and, please God. if all goes well, we
will fit you out with straight. new
back"
But Petite an me amt got no money,
gasped the child.
Science, who has just made bargain
| with YOU, will have to look out for that
herself" laughed the surgeon. Any
way. you needn't worry"
The child looked up at him with shin
ing eyes and made an awkward little
courtesy.
"You-you're splendid man!' she
cried. "Goodbyr'
"Goodby," said the surgeon.-Cleve-
land Plain Dealer.
Af.. What doooitf1l