The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-04-24
J HOW THE
DOCTOR WON
BY Jeanette S. Benton
Copyright, 1902, by the
9. O. Mcclure Compan

49,
The office boy heard the doctor in
the annex and went out. Her face
was buried in basin of water, and
the formaldehyde bottle stood open.
"How's the smallpox" he asked.
"Bad," she replied, emerging rosy
from the towel. lis any one waiting?"
mo one now but Mr.. Doane Aldrich;
been three or four. but they got tired
waiting"
Every well. Tell him will be there
in minute"
AS the boy closed the door she walk
ed to the mirror and regarded herself
attentively. spraying violet water over
her hands and hair.
81 wish I had some powder" she
murmured. 81 am afraid / look blow
zy."
To the tall young man in the recep-
ton room she looked discouragingly
cool and unperturbed as he arose at
her entrance.
sit is little matter, DOCTOR" he ex-
planned II have just been transferred
to the Y mine, and they have smallpox
down there, so l suppose it is neces-
sary to be vaccinated."
"It certainly is, If you haven't been
lately. Things are in bad shape at the
Y. l have put in the whole afternoon
there. There's good deal of small
pox and more dissatisfaction. l sup
pose the dissatisfaction is what sent
you there"
ST suppose so. What's at the bot
tom of the trouble anyway"
"Sickening novels and the company
store. If you can get the company to
do anything before those people MUIR
der you as its nearest representative,
you will be doing good work. How
ever, come into the Office, and l will
vaccinate you"
He followed her in.
"This is the first time I ever came
here as a subject" he remarked.
He barred his arm and looked dubi-
ously at it's white surface.
How could she be doctor? Still, he
had sometimes wished he could be sick
a week or two. 1t would be such
What was she going to do with that
razor looking little knife? 1t had been
so long since he was vaccinated he had
forgotten all about it. Did she jab the
stuff in at the end of that? If she was
going to jab, he wished she would and
stop that scratching.
He watched the scratching knife, fas-
cinat ted. Suddenly it began to describe
erratic circles in his vision.
DR.. Richie felt his arm relaxing I'M
der her grasp. With movement as
quiet as it was quick she eased his
stalwart body to the floor. then loosen
ed his collar and dashed little water
in his face.
He opened his eyes slowly.
"Oh, | say" he gasped. whats the
| matter?'
The doctor stood q little way off re-
garding him with professional gravity.
81 was vaccinating you. and you
| tainted" she explained. "You will be
all ri"ht in moment"
He got rather uncertainty to his feet
and leaned against a convenient case
of drawers.
"Good Lordr' he groaned. "What do
| you think of me? I hope you don't
| think it was because it hurt. I don't
know what it was. I was watching
that little knife: then was here on the
floor. Please finish the job" he con-
cluded irritably. "I'll try to stand up
under it."
AS she adjusted the small bandage
he thought savagely:
eff l should lift you off your feet,
my sweet doctor. and kiss that dia-
bolical dimple. you might at least re-
spect my muscle. How can fellow
make love to a woman doctor any
way?" Aloud he said. "Thank you.
DOCTOR" rather abruptly. hurried into
! his coat. settled with the office boy