The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-05-06

M ne held. William Beebe, NJ. D., was
there. Drs. Willet and Stenton were
with him. These two latter celebrities
had arcepted with alacrity Beebe's
invitation 10 help him out with this
case for the ailment happened to be
that new European malady, and the
thing promised to hecome fashionable
after the Easter festivities.
The doctors entered the room. The
nurse Immediately held up 4 warning
finger. In silence the group tiptoed
over to the bed. The patient was
asleep. his beautiful flowing beard
resting peacefully upon the pillow.
His temperature, respiration and pulse
were rapidly ascertained. Drs. Willet
and Stenton looked with a certain
yelled admiration at Beebe upon find.
ing that the figures agreed with that
rising young physicians prognostlca'
tionS.
He is yielding to the treatment
they whispered as the nurse accom-
nanied them out Of the room. BeeDe
soon returned alone, happily rubbing
his hands. The patient sat up in his
bed and he, too, began happily rub
bling his hands.
II say, Doc" remarked the patient
cheerfully, you're making such q
great success that I'm going to raise
my price to $3.50
You agreed to $780," objected
Beebe.
Not a cent less than $3.50 or wont
respond to your blamed old treat.
ment," ultimated the patient recalcit-
rantly. He suddenly subsided as the
nurse entered the room and began
bathing his brow. The patient fufed
ont his beard with both hands and
winked fiirtatiously up at the nurse.
The nurse winked flirtatiously back
again.
The patient, as it will have been oh.
served. was Jimmy Bockerty, and it
tickled him immeasurabiy to think
that the nurse mistool his wink for
delirium and winked back merely to
soothe him.
Jimmy awoke the next morning with
a vague feeling that all was not quite
as it should be. He felt aged and
ouerulous. His organs were playing
discords, so speaking. His feet seemed
to be a thousand miles away and after
Jimmy had followed them all that dis
tance they appeared to be somebody
else's feet. His pulse was feverish.
His eyes bulged from his head.
Poor old chap" said Beebe solicit
ously, feeling his pulse. Here's
complication, to be sure" Beehe's
startled face as he said this was a
pretty thing to see.
What's tie matter?" asked Jimmy
weakly. From Beebe's tone he was
already beginning to feel sorry for
himself.
I'D hate to alarm you,'' began
Beebe, land it wouldn't do you any
good to know" he continued after q
weighty pause.
Beebe stepped back and gave the
nurse certain whispered instructions.
Jimmy family caught something about
deadening the pain. He also heard an
order for a barber to shave the pa
tents head and beard. Jimmy feebly
called Beebe to the bed.
81 say, Beebe," he whispered, "you
remember what said yesterday about
wanting $3.50 before I'd let you cure
me?" He paused for breath and weak.
ly wetted his lips. "Well, now, that's
all tight" he went on. You get me
out of this safe, and sound and We'll
call it square, see?" He fell back
upon his pillow and began feebly
moaning. In a few moments he called
Beehe to the bed again.
"And I say, Beebe," he whispered,
'.just don't let them shave my beard,
will you" With strong effort he
controlled his rising emotion. "rd al
most rather die than have it shaved"
he gulped. Honest, I would"
There are times when that famous
young physician, William Eeebe, M. D.,
looks back upon the case that brought
him into prominence. Beebe smiles
when he remembers how the patient
responded to his treatment.
There are times when Jimmy Book
erty thinks with shudder Of that
awful time when he nearly lost his
beard.-New York Evening Sun.