The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1901-07-26

Good morning, gentlemen; SIT
down; I want to tell you something"
| uttered the celebrated surgeon, in his
peculiar, jerl1y words. After the two
were seated, he turned around square
ly and asked:
"Either of you want to die? Ha,
| ha! Good joke, that-stop! Don't
say word until I get through. I'm
not much of talker; like to finish
what I've got to say before the other
chap begins, though. Some men are
born soldiers, and do not know what
fear means. Others acquire bravery
after much practice. Was a timid
young thing myself once. Got all
over that-with few exceptions here
and there. The case I'll mention is
one of the exceptions. Candidly, I
am timid about it. Wish people
would have some other sort of ills if
they must be sick. This case I do not
like. 1t makes me timid, os l said.
I'm as cowardly as a child before a
bulldog now"
If "Old Ice" felt as he said he did.
he failed to show any signs of it in
the slightest. He looked as ready to
perform great piece of work as he
ever did. John Findlay, who could
contain himself no longer, ventured
to say:
"Will you please enlighten us con-
corning the case, doctor?"
elm a moment. First, you are both
sure you do not want to dep
"You are joking,my dear sir" said
Henry Morse.
81 joking? You must be mad, sir!
I never joke. I may play jokes with
nerves, bones, muscles and such; but
what is commonly called joking
never indulge in the foolish practice.
To come right down to the facts OF
the case, will simply say that I am
about to take great, very great
risk. 1 am obliged to call upon my
young men to take The same risk"
doctor, we are at your service"
broke in Findlay. And Morse nodded
approvingly.
"Ah! that's the sort of spirit I like
to see in my young men," said "Old
Ice," good naturally. Then fixing his
deep, hazel eyes upon the face of
John Findley, raised his hand and
punctuated the air with his long fore
finger as he spoke: "It is an easy mat
ter, young men, To remove limb or
sew and plaster wound; nothing
easier-in our line-in the world. But
when surgeon takes his life in his
own hands and attempts to heal
poor mortal of fatal infection, and is
liable, ten chances against the rest, to
incur himself a fatal infliction, how
about it, eh?" The sandy fringe of
hair seemed to be bristling about that
grand old head that had bent low
over many a serious case in its time.
Henry Morse began to feel as though
he was wholly ignored, for the sur
geon kept his clear eyes fixed upon
Findley's face. And then Henry grew
nervous as his friend began to push
that inky slip of mustache out of sight
with his fingers.
"Well, doctor, what is the case?"
asked Findlay, without glancing at
his bosom friend, who was bending
eagerly forward, with a rosy flush
spread over his fair face.
"Putrescent abscess of the liver"
John Findlay quit gnawing his mus
tache; he Strengthened up in his chair
and looked for a brief instance into
those clear, hazel eyes fixed upon him.
Then he rose and said, hesitatingly:
cdr. Thorn, I am very sorry to say
that we do not care to assist you in
the case"
"You mean yourself-not L." broke
in a sweet toned voice.
"Eh? You-why bless my stars!"
broke from the surgeon, as he gazed
at the fair speaker.
''My friend is only joking. Come,
Henry, let us go.' Findlay went to
the door and laid his hand upon the
brass knob. He opened the door and
stood for brief instant upon the
threshold, as though waiting for his
friend to depart with him. He only
sat there, smiling back at the hazel
eyes of the sandy-neaded man who was
looking at him in establishment. The
door opened and closed, and the sur
geon of st. Marks and the student
were alone.
81 thought he had the most nerve"
said the surgeon.
$50 did T."
"I had picked him out from among
the entire lot of young fellows to
help me in this affair. Well, I was
mistaken"
$50 was l."
"And you will JOIN me in this case,
young MANI"
with the greatest pleasure in all
the world, doctor" A pair of hands
clasped there in the little square room
where many life or death verdict had
been pronounced. The young man
received his instructions as to the
hour of operation and then he left
the room, went out where the flowers
nodded, and where pretty girl
dressed in the uniform of the ST
Marks nurses stood by the side of the
tinkling fountain under the elms.
What passed between the pretty
Canadian nurse and the young medi-
cal student is of small import to us;
but look of surprise, followed by
one of anxiety, came upon her face
when Henry Morse responded to the
question she asked. She turned her
E. IL l. 4