Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-10-05

Shall you come tomorrow?
('Not if l know it," thought Dermott
to himselfl
Aloud, he said:
Il am afraid I shall not have the
pleasure. DR.. Micklethwaite told me to
say he should come himself tomorrow"
Mss Ruby pouted; and her mouth,
when she pouted, looked exceedingly
pretty However, she said no more on
the subject. but proceeded to talk of her
various aches and pains, Dermott say
ing "Ah,'' "Umph," Indeed" or "Quite
So, as he thought the occasion re-
quired.
His demeanor evidently made an i'm
preston on Miss Ruby, who declared that
he seemed to understand her much better
than DIR. Micklethwaite did, and ex
pressed the hope that he would come and
see her again.
When he got back he burst in upon
DR.. NIicklethwaite and gave him a
graphic and agitated description of his
embarrassing experience. The doctor
couldn't help laughing despite the gray
ity of the complications.
You can see, Dermott, what an awk-
ward position it places me in" he said.
When my real partner comes Miss Jelli
coe is bound to find out the truth"
"Shure I've been thinking of that"
interposed Dermott. "Ie can say, now,
can't We, that Pm just medical friend
who've come to assist We temporarily? ?"
"Wel, yes, [ can say that. And 7
suppose [ shall have to say it, answered
Dr. Micklethwaite. "Still, it's rather
dangerous"
Next day DR.. Micklethwaite went over
to the Cedars and returned in anything
but an equable frame of mind.
Hang it all, Dermott," he said, "a
fresh complication has arisen. You've
gone and impressed Miss Ruby so much
that she now insists upon your attending
her instead Of me. Miss Mary told me
that her sister was quite set on it, and, in
view of the patients peculiar tempera-
ment, she felt she ought to be humored.
The worst of it was, too, that | myself
have been impressing on them all the
necessity of humoring the young woman,
from the very beginning.
Il had to say that you should go to-
morrow instead of me. It's a nice mess
you have landed me in, Dermott."
Dermott scratched his head in comical
perplexity. Then he began to smile to
himself, as though he were thinking of
something that pleased him; he was
thinking of Miss Ruby's pretty face and
soft, eloquent eyes. He should uncom-
monty like to see them again.
Perhaps it might be better for your
sake, Jack, old man, that l should go
again." he said, considerably. Il can't
say, personally, of course, that [ much
relish the idea. Still, if it will help to
smooth things out for you bit"
But, [ say, you'll be careful, won't
you, Dermott? 2" DR.. NTicklethwaite eau
toned him, anxiously. Don't do any
thing to expose your ignorance and give
away the show, for heavens sake"
Never fear, my dhear fellow" replied
Dermott, confidently. "But look here,
Jack, you must lend me your stethoscope
and show me how to use the beastly
thing. For she's bang certain to insist
on my sounding her heart, and [ can't
get out of it by making excuses a second
time. you know"
Next morning, Dermott having been
duly drilled in the use of the stethoscope
and having received sundry other useful
hints, set out on his bicycle for the
Cedars. He was looking forward to the
impending ordeal with mingled feelings
of nervousness and anticipation. He
rather dreaded the interview, and yet he
entirely longed for It.
When he was ushered into Ruby Jelli
GOES room and found himself in the pres
ence of his divinity, he was in nervous
tremor. He approached the bedside and
asked the patient how she felt.
Not much BETTER" she replied, looking
up into his face with her eloquent eyes,
which set every pulse in Dermott's body
throbbing MY heart has been jumping
about in the most dreadful way. [ can't
think what is the matter with it. You
have brought your stethoscope with you
today, l hope"
YES" replied Dermott, fumbling in his
pocket for the instrument.
But now. suddenly his great aston
ishment-N[iss Ruby burst out laughing
ooh. you shocking humbug.' she cried
Really, you might confne your habits
Of impersonation to the theater and not
drag them, like this, into private life.
AS if [ hadn't seen you a dozen times on
the stage of the St. Jermyn's, Dermott
O'Blencow, and didn't know perfectly
we'll that you are no more a doctor than
[ ami"
''Phwat! you knew that?" cried out
Dermott, fairly gasping with amazement
ITO be sure l did" she answered, still
laughing merrlly. Il knew you were
horrid imposter from the first"
She looked him full in the face as she
spoke and Dermott saw something in her
ewes that made him tingle and thrill from
head to foot with sudden, wild elation
Then why was it, me darlint,' he ex-
claimed, that you pretended to be de-
ceived by me, and insisted on me coming
to attend We again, instead of me friend,
the real docthor?"
Because" she answered him. demure
ly, you had promised to sound my heart
the next time you came, and-and-I
thought l should like to see how far you
would carry your performance"
"And to think" remarked Dermott
presently (having in the meanwhile
sounded Miss Ruby's cardiac organ and
found its condition entirely to his salts
faction), ito think if it hadn't been for
the accident of your sister, Miss Mary,