Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1902-05-15
HOW THE
DOCTOR WON
BY Jeanette S. Benton
Copyright, 1902, by the
s. S. Mcclure Company

was DurleQ IN DaSln or water, ana
the formaldehyde bottle stood open.
Flows the smallpox" he asked.
"Bad," she replied, emerging rosy
from the towel. SIS any one waiting?-
"No one now but Mr. Doane Aldrich:
been three or four. but they got tired
waiting
Every well. Tell him 1 will be there
in q minute
AS the boy closed the door she walk
ed to the mirror and regarded herself
attentiTely, spraying violet water over
her hands and hair.
81 wish l had some powder she
murmured. II am afraid look blow
~"
To the tall young man in the recep
ton room she looked discouragingly
cool and unperturbed as he arose at
her entrance.
"It is a little matter, Doctor" he eX-
planned. 81 have just been transferred
to the 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 a good deal of small
pox and more dissatisfaction. sup
you there"
II 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 it's nearest representative,
you will be doing good work. How
| ever, come into the Office, and 1 will
+ raccinate you"
He followed her in.
'This is the first time ever came
here as Il subject" he remarked.
He barred his arm and looked dubi-
ously at its white surface. ss5
How could she be a doctor? Still, he
had sometimes wished he could be sick
a week or two. 1t WORLD be such 9.
good chance to see her every day.
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-
cinated. Suddenly it began to describe
erratic circles in his vision.
DIR. Richie felt his arm relaxing I'M
n 10.
quiet as it was quick she eased his
stalwart body to the floor, then loosen
ed his collar and dashed q little water
In his face
j He opened his eyes slowly.
i ooh, say he gasped, whats the
matter?'
i The doctor stood little way off re-
garding him with professional gravity.
II was vaccinating you, and you
tainted" she explained. you will be
all right in a moment"
/ He got rather uncertainty to his feet
and leaned against convenient case
Sof drawers.
Good Lord!" he groaned. what do
you think of me? hope you don't
think it was because it hurt. don't
know what it was. 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,
4 AS she adjusted the small bandage
he thought savagely:
"If l should lift you off your feet,
my sweet doctor, and kiss hat dia.
bolical dimple, you might at asst re
spect my muscle. How can fellow
make love to woman doctor any,
way?" Aloud he said, "Thank you,
DOCTOR" rather abruptly, hurried into
his coat settled with the Office boy
and got away with all speed.
The doctor strolled to the window
|. and watched him go striding off, his
big shoulders squared.
Poor old felloww she said softly.
Then she flushed and smiled in a
way that little befitted a member of
the medical profession.
"He is bashful and stupid, too," sh.
pouted.
Doane Aldrich squared his shoulders
against his troubles often that winter.
His recognized powers as a pacifica-
tor seemed to have signally failed.
One day he swung into the cart as
the doctor was trotting home.
"See here" he said. 81 must talk
with you. don't know what to do
with those people. Heaven knows
they have reason enough to be sore,
and am helpless. OF course they
can't realize that, but the company
pays no attention to my representa-
tons. l am the nearest thing the poor
brutes have to hate, and they hate me
!, well. Tomorrow l have got to dis
charge Mcclure and Kearney"-
The doctor interrupted "That means
a strike, to begin with. Then Kate
Mcguire and Dilsey Kearney-why,
they would as soon have riot as
enough to eat"
But what can do? The men have
come on the shift twice within week
drunk and quarrelsome. Overlook it
and they will all get drunk and''-