The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-08-17
My Patients
Request.
A Story of a Doctors Sim
gular Experience at Sea.


steward entered my stateroom.
Doctor" said he, "AIr. Bentleigh
would like to see you. He is feeling
much worse tonight"
Every good, steward. I'll come imme-
diately."
| procured some drugs from the medi-
cine chest and passed out through the
saloon. 1t was a wild night and bitterly
cold, with a gale blowing from the
southeast. The main deck was awash
with the dark green seas which broke on
board. waited for a favorable oppor-
tunity and then darted across the deck
Mr.. Bentleigh. middle aged. refined
looking man, was lying in the under berth
of small two berthed cabin His lungs
were affected. and since entering these
cold ATTITUDES he had been confined to his
bunk. As entered he was seized with a
violent fit of coughing. | mixed him
soothing draft. which he drank eagerly.
doctor" said he in a hollow, weak
voice. I'm dying | am convinced
shall not last out the night"
Nonsense said |. T'n pull you
through all right"
He shook his head sadly and despond-
emily.
Doctor" said he after another fit of
coughing. 81 had another object in view
in sending for you tonight. Will you do
me a favOr?"
signtied my willingness to oblige him
81 wish you to take charge of packet
which you will find in that trunk you are
sitting on. You will find the keys under
my pillow"
unlocked the trunk. which was tightly
jammed between his berth and the wash
stand, and after some rummaging found a
sealed packet, which extracted.
at contains some valuable manu-
scripts" said he, apparently to satisfy
any curiosity | might evince as to the
contents. "They have cost me years of
study and research, and | want you, if
you will be kind enough, when you re-
turn to England, to deliver them person
ally to the address which have penciled
on this envelope"
| glanced ut the envelope and perceived
it was addressed to a lady in a market
town in Yorkshire.
l promised faithfully to carry out his
instructions. He thanked me in a very
feeble voice and handed me a purse,
which. on opening, | discovered contained
few sovereigns. y
mo, take it," said he, noting my re-
luctance to accept the money. 1T is
merely to defray any expense you may
be put to on my account"
At length | rose to depart, promising
to look in first thing in the morning.
emerged from the fore deck house, on the
lee side, and was walking quickly along
the main deck when an immense crested
wave struck the vessel. mounted over the
bulwarks and, before | had time to re-
treat, caught me in its icy embrace and
swept me into the lee scuppers. scram-
bled to my feet half stunned and gasping
for breath
The sealed packet which had been in
trusted to my care was missing.
1t must have been dashed from my
grasp when the sea struck me. Where
was it now? | hurriedly drew on an
overcoat. rushed up the companionway
to the poop and acquainted the mate
with my loss.
"What size was the packet?" he asked.
about a foot in length and some four
inches broad
about the deck" said he. Here. Clark
son, fetch a lamp"
When the apprentice returned with the
lamp, |. at the risk of another immersion.
descended with the mate to the main
deck. We searched diligently. but could
not discover any trace of the missing
package. We came to the conclusion
that it had been washed out of one of
the gunports. which swung open at inter-
walls with the rolling of the vessel and
permitted the sea to escape.
What was to do? Suppose Mr.. Bent
leigh recovered and demanded his valua-
Bile papers? | really felt i'll myself when
| thought of such contingency.
In the morning as soon as daylight APP
peared. | dressed and went on deck.
encountered the mate. who was again on
duty, and we had another search, but it
was as fruitless as the one of the proceed
ing evening.
After breakfast plucked up sufficient
courage to visit the fore deck house. Mr..
Bentleigh. in spite of his prediction, was
ttill alive.
place of safety. he asked auXiousy as /
was leaving his cabin.
Don't trouble about that. Mr.. Bent
leigh said |, gazing out of the port. Il
know where they are"
The gale abated during the day. For
the next few days a light, warm wind
blew from the north and the sun shone
out gcnially.
One afternoon as was enjoying Il
siesta in my stateroom Mr. Bentlcigh en-
tered. He was looking his old self once
more and stepped jauntily in. The day
OF reckoning had come at last. | neryed
myself and invited him TO sit down ON
my settec.
81 suppose you've guessed what I've
come for?" he said, with bland smile.
Perfectly" said. moistening my dry.
uarched Inns But | regret to tell YOU
] mean, Pm sorry to inform you that
that
"What do you mean?' he cried, spring
ing up and facing me.
1.-The fact is, Mr.. Bentleigh-pray don't
alarm yourself" implored, for his coun-
tenance had assumed CHASTITY hue. "The
fact is, the packet has gone a-missing."
tits COMPOUNDED lier' he cried.
As had no desire to exasperate him, l
passed over the grossness of his language
in silence.
Il beg your pardon, DOCTOR" said he,
calming down. "Pm not feeling well.
SUPPOSE you mean you can't lay your
hands on it at the moment"
That's it, exactly, Mr.. Bentleigh," l
exclaimed, grasping like drowning man
ut a straw, Il can't Law my hands on it."
~ e. a At salH 20