The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1903-07-16

BASIN MILLS ]
; ERUPTION !
BY James
Edmund DunnSs1&

10 BY james {
liz Edmund Dummy
3 Copyright. 1903. by 7. C. Mcclure G
o3csoso-sc.scsces s<s<osos2
A ruddy lad came into Dildoc's Office
and spread himself before the stove.
"Cold mornin', doc!' he said.
Dildoc, in whom the pains Of deep
detection were added to those Of In
tense cold, said nothing.
Twenty below" went on the boy,
unabashed. Twenty below at Ire
worgy's this mornin'; most as cold in
here; don't seem to git much good out
r this stove, do your
"William," replied Dildoc, "there has
been no fire in that stove for three
days" ... s... ....s.
William did not conceal his chagrin.
He peeped behind the stove into the
empty wood box, then grinned in a
way intended to express keen sagacity.
Say, doc" he remarked confiden-
TALLY, Il sh'd think doctorin' at Ba-
sin Mills ID be pretty mean pickin'."
Dildoc shivered. He wondered If
William knew that only lack of funds
prevented his leaving Basin Mills to
it's fate. Twelve months at the Mills
had established it as the sanitary cen
ter of the known world. at
"Ain't much sickness, guess" con-
tinued the cheerful William.
Dildoc wanted to move that very
day, but of the $40 necessary he pos
sessed not SO many cents. ..
"Hod Owens cookee come down
from tn woods las night, though" !"
rambled William, "an' down to Ire
worgy's they said JUS now he was real
sickly; spoke about calm you in'-
Williams eyes flashed = "but only
thought twas a pity to interrupt a
doctor for such small case"
Dildoc was too weary to be cross.
"What woods?" he asked.
yves Branch. They's been small
pox up there"
Dildoc's heart leaped, chilled though
1t was. William seemed safe, SO he
said:
Smallpox, ehY'
"Yeh." =
"Seen himT
''No."
ANYBODY seen himY' s
''He was at Treworgy's, a-settin' on
tn cracker barl las night when he
took sick, but held out till he'd called
to tn Free Will Babtist sociable an
took Miss Owen home"
Dildoc couldn't sit still
'William," he said, striving to be pro-
fessionally nonchalant, smallpox is
q very terrible disease"
/ Williams eyes waxed.
= nineteen hundred people died Of
smallpox one year out west"
William edged toward the door, af-
fecting Indifference.
"It is communicated to large num-
bers Of people in public places" con-
hnued Dildoc, land is''-
"Gotter be a-goin'," explained VIII
liam, nearer the door, dinner time to
my house, an p
The door shut on him. Dildoc saw
him pound rather obviously down the
stairs, then, with one hurried back
ward glance, begin running. F"
ITO Treworgy's store!' cried Dildoc
''I have them at lastv' .#..
Three minutes later he was at the
drug store, soon returning to his Office
with all the vaccine points in town.
'Only twenty" he murmured regret
fully; "must use 'em double, or some
thing"
He split up the wood box and a small
chair, and made a fire. Then he got
out a last summers sample copy of the
International Journal of Medical Juris-
prudence, and sat down behind 1t. In
precisely thirty-five minutes the expect
ed happened. William entered.
"Say, doc" he cried, Owens cook
ee's worse. They want you quickw
"very busy. William" responded
Dildoc from behind his imposing bar
ricade. '"Tell 'em l can't come just
now."
Another wait. Then the first select
man arrived.
Doctor" he said uneasily, "we've
got a sort of peculiar kind of case Of
sickness up to Hod Owens. Won't
you come up and look at him?"
Dildoc condescended to drop his mag
azine. what is it likeY' he asked.
"Queer- sort of fever, they say"
"U-m-m-m! Pains in back and headT
"Yes- -some."
Appetizer
"Not mite.''
'Dry tongueY'
"Awful dryy'
"Eruptions"
The first selectman tiptoed to the
door and peeped out cautiously. Evi-
IDENTIFY satisfied that the secret was Sc
cure, he returned, and, leaning over,
whispered: ....
"He's broke out like he'd been hit
by shotgun
Dildoc leaped to the door and turned
the key with dramatic flourish.
Quarantine him. he whispered,
''and don't tell soul. I'll be up soon"
SMALLPOX gasped the first select
man.
Dildoc held up a warning finger.
Then he opened the door and motioned
the other out 'Not word to soul,
but do your duty like man-your Off
cial duty without fear" he whispered.