The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-14
A PRIEST TO THE SACRIFICE.
How the Doctor Cast His Entire For
tune Upon the Waters of Charity.

How the Doctor Cast His Entire For
tune Upon the Waters of Charity.
The Doctor sat at the curtained win
dow of his reception room and reflected
that his total capital consisted of only
his operating chair, his instruments. a
few medical works, and a wardrobe rich
in similarity He smiled.
The Doctor was unfortunate in looking
little like a rising physician in that he
carried his thirty years much as if they
were but twenty. His face was round and
red and boyish and he chung to a youth
full habit of wearing a little narrow, brim-
med, rough straw hat, which, perched on
the very top of his head of fiery hair i'm
parted to it much of the look of a rare
sunfioWer.
BECAUSE the Doctor loved his work
with all the devotion Of a single purpose,
his natural disadvantages had not at first
scented insurmountable
Yet, though failure meant death to the
love TO whom he had given the best of
his life and for whom he had fought with
all the tenacity and courage of his tenn
permanent, he looked in it's face and
laughed.
But in this particular instance his mirth
was suddenly checked A tall man in
tattered buster had stopped in front of
the house and glancing at the sign, was
now doubtfully mounting the steps. The
Doctor had scarcely time to spring to his
feet and adjust his hat to more dignifed
angle before the bell rang.
Then an idea seized him. He ran to his
inner Office and, allowing a decent inter
VAL cried Come in" and shut the door
between the rooms AS the man in the
buster entered and looked around ex-
pectantly, he opened 1t again, slightly.
"In just q moment" he said, looking
gravely out at his visitor and bowling.
Can you give me moment before you
| go out, Doctor?" he said.
"Why yes, said the Doctor Step in"
and he motioned with his hand toward
the inner office
mo, SIR said the man, II don't be-
lieve that's necessary. II only wanted
| to see you about my little girl"
The Doctor looked at the man again.
| He did not appear as promising as under
| the milder glare of the street lamp. His
| hat looked soiled as he twisted it in his
| fingers, and grizzly beard covered his
| coarse-skinned face, doing away by it's
| length with the need of neckt1e. The
heels of his trousers were frayed and
below them the hugeness of a mechanics
brogans encased his feet. A subtle odor
| Of oil permeated his being.
"Ohr' he said, conceahng his disappoint-
ment. What is it ?"
II don't know what's the matter with
her, SIR continued the man. "She's had
| a fever-at least that's what the other
doctor said-but she don't somehow seem
| to get better. I'm afraid if something
isn't done soon that"
What doctor? l can't take another
l
"a doctor on the Board of Health.
Only a health officer he was sir" an
swered the man quickly. HE came
| through inspecting the building one day"
"Oh! said the Doctor again.
Yes sir" said the man. He said I'd
ought to have doctor. All he did was
TO inspect. So l came over here"
why haven't you had a doctor be-
fore if the case is so serious?" asked
| Workman, mildly.
We'll" replied the man, visibly embar-
raised, II haven't had much work lately
and times has been so kind of hard-I
| didn't have any money"
Workman turned sharply Have you
any now' he said, as a curious, half
amused look shot into his eyes.
You don't think I'm square, sir?" he
asked resentfully. "I'n pay you every
cent if it's thousand dollars. I'm not
time"
The Doctor stopped him. I'm sorry"
he said, simply. 81 wasn't laughing at
you. ! think you are square and I'll do
what can for you. Where do you hive?
Go ahead"
He could not repress a shudder Of dis
! gust as, mounting the rickety stairs, he
saw the greasy, nondescript tenants-six
or seven to twice as many feet-lying and
| sitting around the open rooms. The air
was heavy with every known odor of UNI
cleanliness, mingled in one nauseating
whole.
The man turned alphabetically.
1--WE used to live up town further" he
said. This is pretty bad. Our rooms
not as dirty though, sir. Up one flight
more This door"
In the dim light woman by the win
dow looked up quickly.
Ibid you get one. John?'' she asked.
| and then as she caught sight of the UNI
| familiar figure and the medicine case,
| she half rose gave quick sob and burst
/ into hystercal tears, burying her face
In her hands.
you See" said the man. still apollo
getically, "she hasn't had anything 10 eat
| for three days. She's weak like"
The doctors heart gave sudden
! twinge; clearly. II he laughed here II
must be with and not at his patients
"Oh. come" he said stepping cheer
| ilv forward. Don't feel that way. I'm
| going 70 cure both you and the little girl
/ You're-you' re not strong. you know. BY
the way. where f. the little grip he add
| ed. as he mentally noted. "Hysteria; lack
of proper nourishment." as the woman's
/ diagnosis.
Her hands dropped from her eyes and
/ she rose weakly and walked toward the
corner ~ the room beyond the window.
Here's Mary, Err" said the wOman
/ quietly
'shes asleep" said the man.
mo she amt John" replied the wo-
/ nhn. "she'H always iylnF that way now
] sou don't Zee hcr when you're 0ut look
| inF Cor work.
Ihs dogtof walked over beside lhem