The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1900-07-27
CLINTON

1t was about o'clock one Satur-
day afternoon, time when the east
end doctor, sometimes. but not always.
gets a few minutes rest.
The inner door was pushed slowly
open, and the head of a thorough little
gutter urchin appeared. He was a
capital specimen of the London ga
min" naked feet and legs UP to the
knee, ragged trousers, a thin cotton
shirt, open at the chest, ragged coat
and no hat. He was grewSomely dirty,
but his thin, almost delicate fingers
told me at once that he was a pick
pocket.
Il want DR.. Prebble," he said, in a
hoarse voice.
Bills fell down and hurt isself,"
he said, slowly.
who is Bill?" l asked.
A shade of disappointment passed
over his face. 1 had evidently fallen
in his opinion. My not knowing Bill
proved conclusively that had not
mixed In the choicest society.
Els our ledger" he said cautious
ly, IAN amt goin' to tell you no
more
Why didn't he go to hospital?"
II dunno" he said. "'E was at work
and fell off somefing. So e came
ONE. That's ALL
Luckily, medical man is safe in
almost any neighborhood. Moreover.
was we'll known, and as went along
heard the gossips saying:
There goes the doctor. He's come
to see after Bill
Clearly Bill was celebrity
At last my guide stopped at a house,
and, nodding to woman, who stepped
on one side to let US enter, said:
Its al right, old gall
found out subsequently that the
"old gal' addressed was the young
gentleman's mother. Respect for par
ents is not a leading feature in tibet
neighborhood.
Without wasting a minute knelt
on the floor to examine Bills injuries.
found hey We're serious-a dislocated
shoulder, two ribs broken and inter-
nal injuries. which might prove more
serious still.
On his fingers were the marks Of
oakum picking, which showed that Bill
was an ex-jailbird, and in the corner of
the room stood a suspicious looking
bag, out of which peered Jimmy. 1t
was then fairly safe to assume that
Bill had met with an accident while
engaged in his professional duties as
housebreaker. He was educated. One
could see that at once by the develop
ment of his brow. In his face, too,
there were some lingering traces of re-
finement.
/ looked up at the boy. who was
watching me carefully, and, I have no
doubt, reading my thoughts.
'You amt a-goin' to. tell no tales,
guv'ner?"
"My business is to cure him if 1 can"
said briefly. Nov want your help"
With some difficulty l managed to
get his shoulder back into position.
Then l set his ribs. Beyond that I
could do nothing until he recovered
sufficiently to answer q few questions.
1t was necessary to find nurse. The
man ought to have been in hospital,
but it was impossible to move him. In
deed, it was almost miracle that he
had ever reached home in such man
gled condition.
Not far from my dispensary there
was nursing institution, supported by
some ladies. who devoted their time
and money to nursing the poor in their
own houses. The matron was q splen-
did woman, who never stopped to in
quire whether case was deserving.
The fact that a man or woman was i'll
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.
AASAS 40 SAAAy SAAS ySNAAo As@NS =
can send" she said thoughtfully, land
she has not had much experience.
However, we must do something. Ill
introduce her to you and see what you
think"
1t is curious thing that on first see-
ing that 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
in the world.
In these years Of work among the
poorest Of the poor met no woman
Of such q radiant, glorious nature as
the pale-faced girl whom saw for the
first time that Saturday evening.
To my great disappointment on
reaching the sick-room her composure
quite gave way. had hoped she
her self-control, instead of which sne
trembled and turned deadly white,
looking almost inclined to burst into
tears.
Come, come, Miss Clinton" said.
"You must get accustomed to scenes
of distress. II you break down. you
won't be able to help me a. all.
she stammered hastily. "It was only
the first shock. Everything is 80 hor-
rible. You may depend on my doing
what you require"
Then I explained the case to her
carefully and taught her the duties of
q nurse as well as could In such
short time.
Miss Clinton must have nursed her
patient better than l expected she
would, for he passed fairly good
night, and when / saw him at IL on
Sunday morning the fever had abated
leaving him, of course, very
weak and In q more or less precarious
condition.
The nurse whom Miss Shepherd had
sent to take charge Of the case during
the day was highly experienced wo-
man, whom knew well.
Its q bad case, DOCTOR" she said.
'sWill you pull him through"
can't say yet" answered ASK
me tomorrow morning. What time
did you relieve Miss Clinton p
EAT 81 o'clock. She didn't like to go
away, but ] insisted on her having q
rest. / can't help thinking that Miss
Clinton takes something Of personal
Interest in the case said the day
nurse. Have YOU read the morning
paper d y.
She produced q Sunday paper and
pointed to paragraph headed Daring
ATTEMPTED Burglary" The burglars