Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-06-05
his happiness, the friend who had been

| lOng-fOrgOtten words swung through
his brain as his fingers moved mehanl-
cally in their work.
"If it had been an open enemy that
had DIE me this dishonor, | could
have borne it. But 1t was even thou,
mine old familiar friend
Mine own familiar friend' A
queer look flashed into the gray eyes,
he raised them suddenly and glanced
again at the patients white face. II
was so very white that except for the
faint breathing that was just audible
you might have supposed that the one
| living upon the table was dead, Dead !
| the word sprung into Mr.. Menzies'
mind following quickly upon those
words, Mine own familiar friend, -
Dead--well, If the patient were dead,
there would be one villain less in the
world the wrong would have been re-
venged-if-if the patient who lay SO
still and white were still forever in
death.
The surgeons eyes went back TO
their work; his steady fingers never
relaxed their task; there was no out
ward sign Of the tumult within ms
soul, save q certain tightening OF his
lips.
Dead" The word surged to and FRO
| In his brain until he could see 1t act
ually dancing before his eyes. The man
whom he had cursed so bitterly-the
man who had vanished from his life
year ago-was helpless in his hands,
! absolutely at his mercy, and II the
knife slipped, ever 80 little, by the frac-
ton of a hairs breadth, the faint
breathing would cease-and-the life
that had ruined his life's happiness
would 90 down into silence.
It was so easy, too-so absurdly easy!
The operation was one OF extreme del
icacy. II it failed, no one would ever
blame the surgeon. Few men be-
sides himself would ever have under
taken it; still fewer would have been
able to carry 1t to a successful termi-
nation.
To fail meant such a tiny, tiny shift
ing of the instrument he handled with
such skill and care. The most critical
moment of the whole operation was
approaching. There was GREATNESS
silence In the theatre, and across 1t the
whisper of one student to another was
distinctly audible
by Joye, he has got tough Job
there"
As though 1t had been yesterday, in
stead Of a year ago, there rose before
Mr.. Menzies' eyes sudden vision OF
the last day on which he and the pa
tient had met. He saw his wifes draw
Ing room flooded with the sunshine,
and his wife smiling up into his face
with laughing eyes. The fragrance OF
roses pervaded everything, she had al
ways loved roses, and vivid recollec-
ton came to him Of great roses upon
the tables. A mass Of gorgeous red
ones had caught the flashing sunlight,
and shone blood-red in Its CLEANS.
She had had big pink one at her belt;
and she had held out to him dainty
orange colored bud. For your button
hole, dear" she had said softly.
Beside her stood the man who now
| lay unconscious under his hands, and
their two laughing faces rose up and
Knocked him with their falseness.
Such a little slip of the hand, so cas-
ily conlpassed, and the life OF the man
before him would slip forever into ST.
lence and revenge was sweet.
His lips frightened, his eyes grew
hard.
Wrong? absurd" There was no
wrong in avenglng your honor.
Heaven had thrown this man In his
way, the vengeance was meant to De,
| II was childish, ridiculous, to draw
back now, when the game was in his
hands
His lips had frightened till they
looked like thin band Of steel; his
eyes were for the moment devlllsh.
For what seemed to him like a CEN
fury, but what was In reality a quar-
ter of a second, his hand stayed Its
work, and the patients life hung IN
the balance. Then all at once the
tense look on his face relaxed, his
hand moved on steadily firmly, surely
and only that again one student, more
observant than the rest, noticed that
he was white to the very lips.
Strain too much for him was the
thought in the young mans mind;
mo wonder he feels bad; that was a
nasty moment, a slip Of a hairs
breadth, and goodbye to the patient
Never saw anything like it, an
other student murmured; the flnest
bit Of operating anybody could wish to
see. That fellow ought to be grateful
to Menzes,
Perhaps there was a little surprise
In the minds of all those in the thea
tire that day that Mr. Menzies did not
improve the occasion by lecture
upon the case. Indeed, he uttered nc
, syllable during the remainder OF the
operation, and never once again dlc
, he raise his eyes to the face OF the
! patient.
Get Mr.. Stiles to see the case now,
:, he said briefly; IL shall not be abl'
to come down tomorrow"
Outside in the June sunshine, hi
little daughter awaited him as HI
. . came down the hospital steps, and a.
!, he stepped into his carriage she slip
. ped her hands in his.
. Are you tired, daddy dear?" sh
:, said; you are ever so white
u VERY tired, my darling" he said
:, mechanically, and his voice shook.
"And you're cold" the child wen
on, Il felt you shiver though the sui
!. Is as hot-as hot-!'
. Another shiver ran through the sur
y geon's frame.
y uVas I think | am rold" he sale