The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-10-30
THE INpoMITAHLE DOCTOR.

| ton for originality and never loses an
opportunity TO run counter TO general
opinion and usage. But he has not the
slightest desire to impose his own views
on others, and. furthermore. he would not
| for the world have anything on his con-
| science in regard TO the care OF his fam
! lily. So, when the smallpox scare broke
| out, and his wife talked 10 him about il,
/ he urged her TO lose no time IN going,
with the children, 10 the family doctor
for a dose Of the prophylactic virus, but
| he carefully abstained from accompany
ing them.
When his wife returned. she said:
'''The Doctor told me must send you
/ 10 him 70 be vaccinated, too.
Just let me alone" he answered with
a shrug. You and the children have
been jabbed, and if you like 1t, all right
| no reason why I should have sore
arm"
-As you please, my dear"
! That same evening Andre went 70 his
club and played whist as usual About
/ eleven o'clock the Doctor made his ap-
| pearance.
! DR.. Lepercier was what people call "a
i true Partisan" Though only forty-five.
/ he enjoyed a great professional reputs-
/ ton, and yet was intimate with hosts OF
/ literary and artistic people, and never
failed TO attend the first performance OF
/ a new play. Besides, he was an all
around sportsman, and, in particular, an
accomplished fencer.
did Madame la Mourlette give you my
MESA ge?' he asked the banker.
"Oh, yes, Doctor; but shall not trouble
you"
You have been vaccinated recently?"
mo"
"Have you had smallpox"
No
Then, why don't you do as other peo-
pie do?"
Because other people are fools"
you are mistaken
The Doctor said TO more on the subject
that evening, but the next evening, and
the next, he returned to the charge, with
the same result. Both the Doctor and the
banker were regular attendants at the
club, and they had their little wrangle
about vaccination every night for week.
At last Andre lost patience, flung down
his cards. and exclaimed:
See here, Doctor, you make me tired
with your COMPOUNDED vaccination. If you
mean il as a joke, let me tell you that it
is a mighty poor one. Once for all, l
won't be vaccinated. Now, shut up"
Every one expected that the Doctor
would meet this outburst with good-hu-
mored sarcasm. but instead of doing so.
he rose TO his feet and said, gravely and
coldly:
Il cannot permit anyone to address me
in such q manner. I beg NJ. Beaudoin
and Capt Chibremol," he added, turning
to those gentlemen, Ito demand of you in
my name the satisfaction which your
language makes necessary
Very we'll" cried Andre. II would
Sather be wounded by a sword than by a
lancet" And he at once selected two
members of the club to arrange prelim-
inaripS with the Doctors seconds
Everything was settled that evening. AS
both principals wished to have the af-
fair over as soon as possible. 1t was ar
ranged that they should fight next morn
ing, with rapiers, the first blood drawn
to decide the matter. The Captain under
took to provide the rapiers. There was
no necessity for Andres seconds to bother
about the choice of surgeon, for DR..
Lepercier would, of course, attend to his
adversary If the latter should be wound
ed. Besides. he would bring one of his
colleagues with him.
The meeting took place as arranged.
The Doctor brought with him DR.. Rou-
dolin, a good fellow, but a crank on the
two subjects of music and antiseptics.
Capt. Chibremol produced the swords.
two beautiful, sharp-pointed rapiers, as
slender as knitting-needles. He was on
the point of handing them to the COM
batants when DR.. Roudolin suddenly ex-
claimed: '0Wait a moment" and laid
hold of the weapons.
Permit me-" he explained, Ito dip the
points of these rapiers in an antiseptic
solution. This is a precaution which
should never be neglected
He took small bottle of liquid from his
pocket and inserted the points of the ra-
piers, one after the other, into its mouth,
while he hummed popular song. Then
he handed the weapons to the combat
ants, and the duel began. It was evident
from the first moment that there could
be only one ending, for the Doctors repu-
tation a. an accomplished swordsman had
been well earned. Andre, on the other
hand. was exceedingly awkward in the
use of his weapon.
It also soon became apparent that the
Doctor was playing with his opponent.
for he allowed his sword to Craze Andres
breast several times without infiicting a
scratch But finally he "pinked" the
banker very lightly on the left arm, near
the shoulder.
"Touchedp' confessed Andre, lowering
his weapon.
And vaccinatedl" cried Roudonn, run
ming 20 the wounded man and turning up
his sleeve
What DO you mean?" Andre asked.
why. my dear fellow" said DR.. L.
percier, as he extended his hand to his
--S-9dt1u aAtaSVllIst' tHc SOltlo III "ilicA
our friend Roudolin dipped the rapiers
contained neither caFbolic acid nor any
other antiseptic, but good. fresh vaccine
virus. I had sworn that l would vacci-
nate you, and have done So"
For an instant Andre was stupefed
Then he debated with himself whether
he ought not 10 set angry. but, seeing
that everybody else was laughing, he
thought it best TO laugh also. Taking the
Doctors proffered hand, he said, proudly:
well, If I have been vaccinated,
have at least been vaccinated in a per-
fectly original and unique fashion -
Translated from the French for the
Evening Post, by Lawrence 3. Fletcher.