The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-06
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open ledger With the long columns OF ".
Odacres prescriptions. at his elpo"
Iay the wooden tray with the labeis III
various partitions the cork box 'l,c
1,mps Of twisted scaling wax. while IN
front rank Of empty bottles "a,tea 10
DO filled But his spirits were 100 10"
FOR work. He sat In silence with MS
flnc shoulders bowed and his head upon
his hands. -,
Outside through the grimy surgery
window over a foreground of blnckened
brick and slate, n limo Of enormous chin,
news like Cyclopean pillars Upheld the
lowering. dun colored clodhanK ror
six days In the week they spouted snlohe'
but to- day the furnace fires we're bahkeu,
for 1t was Sunday. Sordid ana poilut,
Inc gloom hung over district ollghteo
and blasted by the greed Of man. 'fhcre
was nothing in the surroundings to chcer
his respondent soul, but It was more than
his dismal environment which Welgheo
upon the medical assistant
His trouble was deeper and more per
sonal. The winter session was approeh'
Ing. He should be back again al the
university completing the last year
which would give him his medical de.
gree: but alas! he had not the money
WITH which to pay his class fees. nor
could he imagine how he could procure
Il. Sixty pounds were wanted 70 IlaNe
his career and It might have been as
many thousands for any chance there
seemed to be Of his obtaining It,
He was reused from his black meui'
tntion by tho entrance .of Dr.. oloaere
himself. a large clean -shaven. respecta-
hlc man, with a prim manner and. an
a,,stere face He had prospered exceed
lnrlv nv the support Of the local church
interests. and the rule Of his life was
MAYER BY word or action to run risH
OF offending the sentiment when h ,i,
made him. Fills standard OF respectap',''
{ty and Of dignity was exceedingly mig
and he expected the same from mis- as
sistants. His appearance ana "o1a org,
we're always vaguely benevolent. a SUD
den impulse came over the respondent
studnet He would test the reality Of
this philanthropy J.,
a"l beg your pardon Dr. Oldacre' said
he, rising from his chair; II have great
favor to ask of you.
The doctors appearance was not en-
couraging. His mouth suddenly usht-
ened and his eyes fell.
.eYou are aware. sir. that need only
one moro session to complete my
course"
$50 you have told me-
1T is very important to me. sir.
9 NATURALLY"
'.The fees, DR.. Oldacre, would amount
to about sixty pounds" :,
II am afraid that my duties eau me
elsewhere. Mr. Montgomery
zone moment, sir! l had hoped. sir,
that perhaps IL / signed q paper promls-
Inc YOU Interest upon your money, you
would advance this sum to me. VIII
pay you back. sir really Will Or, II
you like, will work 1t off after am
qualified"
The doctors lips had thnned into a
narrow line. His eyes were raised again
and sparked Indignantly.
''Your request is unreasonanie, Mr
Montgomery. ! am surprised that you
nhould have made It. Consider, sir, how
many thousands OF medical students
there are in this country. No doubt
there are many Of them who have
difficulty in finding their fees. Am to
provide for them all? Or why should
/ make an exception In your favor? !
am grievcd and disappointed. Mr.. Mont
romery. that you should have put me
into the painful position OF having to re
fuse YOU" He turned upon his heel, and
walked with offended dignity out OF the
surgery.
The student smiled bitterly and turned
to his work Of making UP the morning
prescriptions It was poor and unworthy
work-work which any wealtling might
have done as well. and this was a man
OF exceptional nerve and sinew. But,
such as it was. 1t brought him his board
and Ell a week, enough to help him
during the summer months and let him
save few pounds toward his winter
keep. But those class fees! Where were
they to come from? He could not
scve them out OF his scanty wage. DR..
Cidacre would not advance them, He
saw no way of earning them. His brains
were fairly good, but brains OF that
quality were drug on the market. IIc
only excelled IL .l1is strength; and where
was he to find o. customer for that? But
the ways OF fate are strange, and his
customer WAS at hand
Look y'ere!" said voice at the door
Montgomery looked up, for the voice
was a loud and rasplng one. young
man stood at the entrance-a stocky,
bull-neckcd young miner. In tweed Sum
day clothes and an aggressive nccktie.
He was n sinisterlooking figure with
dark, nsolent eyes, and the Jaw and
throat of a bulldog.
Look y'ere! said he again. "Why
hast thou not sent t medicine OPP as
thy master ordered?"
Montgomery had become accustomed to
the brutal frankness OF the Northern
worker. At first II had enraged him, but
after q time he had grown callous to 1t
was something different. 1t was lnso-
lence-brutal. ovcrbearing insolence. with
physical menace behind It,
What name?" he asked coldly.
Barton Happen | may give the cause
TO mind that name, young man. Max
OPP t wife's medicine this very moment,
look ye, or II will be the worse for thee"
Montgomery smiled, pleasant sense
OF relief thrilled softly through him.
What blessed safety-valve was this
through which his tangled nerves might
ind some outlet The provocation was
30 gross, the Insult so uuprnvoked that
he could have none OF those qualms which
take the edge off OF a mans mcttle. He
finished sealing the bottle upon which
he was occupied and he addressed 1t and
placed It carefully In the rack,
"I-ook here" said he turning round ia
the miner. your medicine will be made
UP In It's turn and sent down to YOU
don't allow folk in the surgery. Walt
outside In the waiting ROOM II you wish
to walt al all"
"Yoong man" said the miner, "thou's
got TO max I wifcs medicine here and
now, and quick while wait and watch
thee or else happen thou might need
GONE medicine ,hyse! before all is over
II shouldn't advise you To fasten {
quarrel upon me" Montgomery was
anGnEinp In tho ha ri s,acro ia yoico -, =