The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-06-16

IIeR luo1SlI / WAS 1Sitt'1. &c -. u
tinUed-"the doctors d.G -snJ ll. "a
'em talkin'. What's cp pr i..a.
Bob?"
"Operate?" Bob rubbed iiis g.,
tly. why, that's the medical ;a...' u.
carvin. They're eoiu' 10 care So. :e
party up to see what's in rn. b.. ..
it's that guy in the last iuaI. ...-a %
the croaler say last ni-nt be- US go
in to cut of his narcotics"
mo, its me, Bob; its me. They was
standin right over me- and Thought
was asleep. Don't let 'ela rut me up.
Bob-piease don't"
STEADY, now. kid. rOn't play too
far off your base. Why didn't you say
it was you?"
Il amt got it, BOb-honpst amt!
It's just Il little pain that II De we'll in
few days. Don't let EN- do il. Bobr'
Hold your base, now. These croak-
ers ought to be on TO their job. They
want to do what's best for you. y
croaker, YOU know, kid, he does the III
fightin', while a trained nurse like rae
only does the bottle and sponge act
you might say. They looked into your
case. You been eatin' plenty apples,
guess. and swallOwin' seeds"
Il double crisscross declare, Bob. I
amt ct an apple in two months"
That's funny" unused the new nurse
perplexedly. at comes always from
eatin' apple seeds. What give you this
pain, then, KIDD"
Number Nine drew Il long, SLOW.
quivering breath.
'Nothin' never give it to me-" %p
answered dully-"nothin' t all. We
fadder sent me here cause I was Sick"
After pause he continued: Me fad
der gimme a sled one Christmas. Me
fadder was good to me. Three O'Clock.
the doctor said. Bob. and it's most j.
now"
McManus laid Number Mines r.,r
back upon the covers and rose. stoou.
ing over him to arrange the pillow.
kid" he said thoughtfully, you lay
still and remember that Bob is goin'
to look ont for your interests Pm
goin' to investigate this business
The hospital druggist an anaemic
young man in a garruous checked
suit and red necktie, was bending over
his counter, jabbing capsules full Of
white powder. Came the new nurse
and leaned upon his elbow two feet
away.
Hospital pretty full for the time of
ho
sinuatingly and scored a base hit
ooh, I'm not one of the physicians.
said the druggist in tone that init
mated the loss to the institution.
Though if it wasn't for my looking
after things l don't know what the
patients would do, old Fletcher's away
so much. You're the new nurse-pro-
fessional?"
"Professional-sure! 1t must take a
pretty wise head, now. to hold your
job, Guess you get on to all the latest
lodges. What's your opinion about
operatin' for appendiseedus, now?"
ITS a deuced neat caper," said the
druggist, with a critical frown. Il al
ways assist old Fletcher. He's crazy
about appendi-cl-tis-eXcu me-cases
He's writing a book on the subject
He's a brilliant operator, but | don't
exactly approve of his plan of ligating
and amputating below the ligature
believe in suturing over it. Still. he's
been successful"
your idea seems to ME to be best"
said McManus, with admiration in his
tone. Now, that kid, Number Nine, they're
goin to operate on-you think he's got it?"
WELL" said the druggist, slowly clos
ing one eye, did Eighteen have necrosis
when Fletcher amputated his leg. last
Thursday? And did Five have septicamia
when he lost an arm on Saturday?
guess l can talk to you"
You mean the kid amt got it?" asked
the nurse, with a shade too much inter
est in his voice. The druggists en-
thusiasm ebbed a little. He shrugged
his shoulders
"Oh, he's been diagnosed. Fletcher is
supposed to know his business. But"
he added in little furry of self vim
dication, you know yours, too, so just
take a look at the temperature chart
on the wall behind his bed"
you know a first class croaker-er-I
mean doctor-that'S got an office close
around here?" asked the nurse suddenly.
There's DR.. McIvor on the next corner
below. this side of the street. Pm study
ing theory and practice with him after
hours. He's Al, but not as daring as
Fletcher"
Half an hour later McManus walked
into DR.. McIvor's office and laid down
S4.2O upon the table.
That's my pile, doc" he announced.
Take it and write me out on a piece
Of paper full directions how to size up
when a party's got appendiseedus, dead
sure thing or not, whichever the case
may be-"
AT quarter to 8 DR.. Fletcher strolled
into the surgical ward jingling silver in
his pocket and humming a tune in a
very fiat key. In his pseudo cheerful,
loud voice he rallied the patients play
fully-miserable wretches who much per-
force seem visibly grateful for this gratis
sick room heartiness-thus performing
the part of the benefactor who con-
descends to relax.
Round the room he went, stopping here
and there, pretending to be unaware Of
a certain bed, as n cat will sometimes
circle, counterfeiting ignorance of a
mouse she has caught and laid. disabled,
a little out of her reach. While on his
round he spoke a word to an attendant,
who put on a big white apron and went
and busted himself in a smaller adjoin-
ing room.
At five minutes to the new nurse
began to hover around Number Nine 8