New-York tribune., 1901-01-20
AS DEATH DREW NEAR
From Phil Mays Winter Annual.

Frankly I've strong nerves Dale, as you
know OF old; can bear it, whatever if is Is
1.-THE Beyond?"
Why, no, lnderwick, / trust not: trust not
But Sir James agrees with me that only an
operation on the brain save your reason
perhaps your life"
And you doubt if it will do either? Come.
Dale, old fellow. be honest with me- We've
known each other since were boys and you
never knew me to funk the risk, whatever it
was"
My dear Gilbert. the fact is / don't think
there is more than about one chance in a thou
and that you'll pull through Macpherson saws
the odds are great deal more in your favor
but You know what Sir James is. You are a
case to him. and though i don't doubt that he
honestly thinks he believes what he says I've
still less doubt that the opportunity of perform
ing such an operation gives an unconscious bias
10 his judgment"
Il see." said Captain Inderwick; his optimism
is bred OF the opportunity of demonstrating his
skill Well. suppose we abandon the operation;
what then?"
Dr. Dale was silent
Dale do you want me to still further imperil
my already threatened existence by throwing
the sofa pillow at you9"
Gilbert, old CHIP" said Dale the one cir
cunstance in Your case about which there is no
doubt whatever is that if the tumor is not re-
moved nothing on earth can possibly save your
reason"
"And if it is removed / have about one chance
In thousand OF surviving 70"
'yes. j may be wrong and Mac may be right;
but you asked me for my frank and honest
opiaon, and I've given it,
Thanks. old man. That's what | wanted I
Its rather hard lines perhaps. but'-and he
held out his hand. which the other man grasped
aifectonately, and they both lapsed into silence.
Hard lines? Yes How old was he? Thirty
three-thirty-fOur? Well. say between the two.
inralided home from the war before il had
We'll begun 10y reason of this confounded tumor 4
or whatever il Mas which had suddenly mani
Tested itself in his brain; cheated out OF the
glory ne might have won during the campaign
and cheated. too. perhaps out Of the great 10y
Of his life, his union with Margaret Orme, which
If ali went well was TO have taken place in the
early summer, or, at any rate. as poss-
bic after the trouble in South Africa was over /
And now? What hghwaymen these doctors +
were: Your reason your life"
- AND there was one chance in a thousand that
he would recover; none whatever that he would
retain his SANITY unless he took that greater I
risk
He lad lost his once already and
although the voyage had helped him back
to mental health again he knew well enough
that this respite would not last.
Better be dead than mad-what? Much bet 1
ter; much better. Margaret would sorrow over 4
him dead; mad. ne would be a haunting night
mare to her, a constant, ghastly grief.
Better, much better dead. Perhaps in the
BeyOnG-who could teli?-he might see her ]
watch over her. wait for her. All. well,
when it De done. Dale?" he said sud /
denly.
You have decided then. Gilbert?"
''Oh, yes; there's nothing else for it, of course"
1T could be done on Friday, but you would /
have TO come up to the hospital for it,
well, old chap. arrange il for me. will you?
in the time I'll put my affairs in order in
case that one small chance Of mine does not
Off"
Captain Inderwick rad not said more than the
/ truth when he reminded his old friend DR. Dale
that he had strong nerves.
When ne arrived at the hospital he looked as
sound and healthy and to the full a. cheerful a
subject as any surgeon student in the build I
Ing.
He shook hands with Dale just before the
chloroform was administered. and Dale was
moved TO say: Good. old chap. Not a tremor, /
upon my word"
''Well, I'm in good hands" said lnderwick'
sr,a hoping for the best; and after all man
N only die once whether it's by Boer bullet