The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1904-01-08
DOCTOR JIM'S TEST.
BIZ EDWARD h. CLARK.

flliaSe pdfsol, VINO looked after tne
souls OF the brethren, while the other
Brother Jim. oociored their bodies
The brothers passed every evening Of
their lives together. one night at the
parsonage and the next at the ''coctory g
and they passed every one over their
pipes, for the psrson wasn't pris and
the doctor was wont to say that tobacco
was the only known specific for all hui
man ills.
Tom" said his brother one evening
Il see that old Bill Lamson has died over
at Leeds"
Eyes. Jim" said Father Tom, land
was at his desthbsd."
Il always suspected, Tom, that you
knew all about Bill Lamson's part in the
Johnson Killing years ago. if he hae a
part in it. which | am inclined to be.
lieve. by the way, and that you kept the
whole thing to yourself"
We'll, suppose l did Enow about IL,
Jim. If Lamson told me anything
which | won't grant even nnw--he told
It to me because was a clergyman. and
it's rot in the clerical province to tell on
man who is repcrtant, no matter what
his crime"
Right you are. Tom, and tell you
that a physician ought TO hold secrets
Just as tight II they come from patient
| wouldn't give up wounded murderer
If he had come to me for treatment and
had thrown himself on my mercy and on
my professional care. I'd consider nv.
self sort of father confessor to his |
bodily Ills, as you might to the sins OF |
his SOUL"
You're all wrong, Jim. You can't
class the physician with the priest. This
soul and the body are things apart and
the touch of the sacred doesn 7 enter into
your profession as 1t does into mine
You have no right to claim the clergy
mans exemption from giving evidence
against an evil doer who has trusted in
you. Ir concealment you do the state an
injury"
The brothers separated for the night
DR.. Jim went into the little laboratory
back of the sitting-room musing over the :
talk with his brother.
DR.. Jim sat up late studying He
heard noise outside the door at an hour
after midnight. and, throwing 1t oper, o
man fell into the room and onto the floor :
IT seen your sign, doctor, with the light
behind 1t. | guess I'm done for, but
mebby you can fix me up"
The man gasped and tainted. Sturdy
DR.. Jim picked him up and carried him to z
the laboratory, where he laid his burden
on the lounge and made hasty examina. ,
ton. The man had bullet hole throug'
he thigh, and was weak from the loss OF /,
blood. Beyond that his injury wasn't
serious, DR.. Jim staunched the flow and u
rave the man restoratives.
Where did you get this wound?" he
asked his midnight visitor when he had
consciousness.
Don't you tell on me, Doc trusted
rou. cracked place with pal He 1,
rot away all right and has the swag, but
got shot when the old Teller In the l.
rouse walked up. Maybe done for him
don't know, though. but he didn't shoot )
gain after he hit me, and I let drive
ack." n
'You can't stay here" said Dr. Jim !,
Patients and other people will be here
o-morrow, and you can't travel for
'eek. I'll put you on cot in room
yer the summer Kitchen at the back OF =
he yard, and I'll look after you, though
goes against the grain" And the doc.
or smiled bit grimly as he thought OF
s~conversation with Father Tom few
ours before
An hour later the wounded burglar
as handaged, fed and secreted in the =
pper chamber Of the unused summer n
itchen There was fierce pounding at
ms front door. He opened It, The CT
llage constable and dozen excited -
tizens were there. Father Tom has r.
zen shot," they fairly howled at the W
,ysician. :.
The doctor found his brother suffering -
ON slight scalp wound and lamentine
e loss of $500, nearly all the money he
I'd in the world. ~
DR.. Jim treated his brother, and then Or
rode away toward his home. Senti.
ent was all right, but when a mans ID
other was shot. why. that was differ. eli
t. you shot and robbed my brother"
said. savagely, to the patient tossing
the cot. ~,
WAS he your brother, Doc? I'm sor.
and you've been good to . Teller be
mt give me up, Doc" &c
rhe doctor cositated. Have you got ~
9 $500 you robbed him Off" he asked.
No. honest. Doc, amt. Sam got the
II of It,"
"A man should not do for his brother Wi
at he would not do for mankind nj ~
ge." unused the doctor. He went to %
study. took $500 in bills from recess st(
his desk. put 1t in huge envelope with
lip of paper, on which he wrote in q
guised hand: he
Here's yer money. didn't know you
s a preacher. My father was one dil
ky Sam" ma
he doctor saw to It that his brother
the money the next cay. The patient Cal
r the summer kitchen improved rap to
:. Day bv day he would repeat: $50