The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-07-07
The Doctors
Reward.

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Hillsboro being district of scatter
ed farms and its youngsters all indulg-
ing in measles at once, DR.. Worth had
had a hard days work. Early to bed,
he had just fallen asleep when the
night bell tinkled through his dreams.
Like an engine horse awakened by a
fire alarm, the doctor sprang into mar
ness, and, candle in hand, darted
downstairs.
Peering into the empty darkness at
the opened front door, his thought
was that naughty doy had rung his
bell and hidden, but as he started in
pursuit he stumbled over some obsta-
holding his candle down In front of
him. There stood large basket with
ragged holes in its side and a patch
work quilt tied over Its top. The bas-
ket creaked and he heard a long
drawn sigh. Then he spied scrib-
bled paper fastened to the quilt.
Deer DOCTOR" he read, his forehead
gathering a puzzled frown, "McGin-
tvs the hole wirld to me, but tomorer
we're going to move way off on the
kars and l can't take him long. l no
you'll treet MIN good becaws you was
nice To me when was sick. plees
love McGinty hole lot and he'll love
you back
A smile twitched the doctors
mouth, but the next instant his kind
eyes flashed. Who was this inhuman
mother who would not be bothered
with a baby on a journey? Unknot-
ting a rope and pulling aside the quilt
the doctor eagerly peered down at the
doorstep baby-an ugly, scrubby, yell
low puppy!
The doctor gasped. And he laughed
so loud that the sleeping baby awoke
with squeaky bark.
Now, DR.. Worth likes dogs, sin their
place"-their place being, in his opin-
ion, yard with barn to sleep in
but, as he lived in rooms over his Of
fice and put his horse up at livery
stable, he had no use for dog.
DR.. Worth gently dropped the dog
into the basket, showing it into a cor
ner of the hall. "Of course" he said
grufiy, you may stay until morning.
Good night"
Come back! Come back!" yelped
McGdnty after the vanishing doctor.
You'll soon tire" smiled DR..
Worth, hurrying to bed while the
yelps grew into bowls.
But McGinty did not tire. The doc
tor tossed and fumed; the doctor
arose and shouted threats over the
banisters. All to no purpose. At last
me had an inspiration. Perhaps his
doorstep baby was hungry. Downing
bathrobe and slippers, armed with
candle and a cracker jar, he de-
scended.
Poor pupsy!" he murmured in an
apologize tone, as McGinty ravenous-
ly deyoured his offering. Now he'll
go quietly to Sleep"
The doctor again retired. Howls
tenfold louder than before burst upon
the silence of the night.
"You wretched beast!" yelled DR..
Worth, dashing down two steps at a
time, I'D Just like to thrash you!"
His face crimson, the doctor painted
upstairs, the big basket in both arms,
its occupant bobbing up and down in
delight.
Il wouldn't have believed my best
friend had he told me I'd let dog
sleep in my room!" The doctor vi
ciously kicked the basket under the
bed.
Peace reigned for FIVE minutes, then
McGinty decided that he did not like
the lonely dark under the bed any bet
ter than down in the hall. and as the
doctor was doing off. the most blood
curdling howl made him spring out of
bed.
When the doctor finally went to
sleep in the wee hours of the morn
ing shaggy yellow head lay on the
pillow beside him.
The following day the doctor dill
gently sought home for his doorstep
baby, but although he waxed more and
more eloquent in mis- description of
the dearest, cunningest puppy that
you ever saw" he found the dog mar
ket hopelessly overstocked. And
when he got back to his lonely apart
ments McGinty's enthusiastic well
come pleased him so that he impuls-
lively decided to keep the youngster
himself. But that evening his deter
mination was shaken by a series of
calls from irate neighbors VINO COM
planned against "a pack of Rowling
dogs" shut UP in the building that
day.
There's only one chance for you,
McGinty," sighed the doctor. Folks
may refuse you as gift, but If
homeless dog is thrust upon them
they'll not let him starve. I'll drop
you in front of some hospitable farm
house."
When the doctor started out the
next morning, a scrubby yellow pup
by sat on the buggy seat beside him;
when the doctor returned in the even