The Somerset reporter., 1902-03-20
HOW THE
DOCTOR WON
BY Jeannette S. Benton
Copyright, 1902, by the
8. s. Mcclure Company

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. rs any one waiting?"
mo one now but Mr.. Doane Aldrich;
been three or four but they got tired
waiting"
VERY well. Tell him l will be there
in a 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.
II wish l had some powder" she
murmured. 81 am afraid l look blow
zy."
To the tall young man in the recep-
ton room she looked dscouragingly
cool and unperturbed us he arose ut
her entrance,
ut is a little matter, doctor" he ex-
planned. 81 have just been transferred
to the Y mine, and they have smallpox
down there, so | suppose it is neces-
sary to be vaccinated"
1T certainly is, if you haven't been
lately. Things are in bad shape at the
Y. 1 have put in the whole afternoon
there. There's a good deal of small
pox and more dissatisfaction. | sup
pose the dissatisfaction is what sent
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 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 | ever came
here as a subject" he remarked.
He barred his arm and looked dubl-
ously at its white surface
How could she be doctor? Still. he
had sometimes wished he could be sick
a week or two. 1t would be such
good chance to see her every day.
What was she going to do with that
razor looking little knife? 1t had BET
SO long since he was vaecinated he had
forgotten all about 1t. Did she iab IT,
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
cratic circles in his vision
DIR. Richie felt his arm relaxing I'M
der her grasp. With a movement j
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, 1 say" he gasped, whats the
NATTER"
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 a convenient case
of drawe
Good Lordr' he groaned. "What d.
you think of me? l hope you don't
think it was because 1t hurt. l don't
know what it was. l was watching
that little knife; then l was here on the
floor. Please finish the job" he con-
Guided irritably. "rll try to stand up
under it."
As she adjusted the small bandage
he thought savagely:
"If / should lift you off your feet,
my sweet doctor, and kiss that da-
bolical dimple, you might at least 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 OF, 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" she
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. Il must talk
with you. l don't know what to do
with those people. Heaven knows
they have reason enough to be sore,
and 1 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
strike, to begin with Then Kate
Mcclure and Dilsey Kearney-why,
they would as soon have riot as
enough to eat"
But what can l do? The men have
come on the shift twice within a week
drunk and quarrelsome. Overlook 1t
and they will all get drunk and
RAISE hades," gently suggested the
doctor. Then her face grew msehie-