Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-07-26

pIoleSSloldl dignity so thoroughly IN
tact that l could not but smile as |
followed his swinging coat tails to the
sickroon. l carried no smile across the
threshold of a darkened chamber which
reeked of drugs and twinkled With
medicine bottles and in the middle of
half light.
Take him to the window. take him
to the window" a thin voice snapped.
land let's have a look at him. Open
the blind Il bit. Not as much as that.
dash you, not as much as that"
The doctor took the oath as though
it had been a fee. I no longer pitied
him. 1t was now very clear to me thai
he had n patient who was a little
practice in himself. l determined there
and then that he should prove Il little
profession to me if we could but keep
him alive between us. Mr.. Maturin.
however, had the whitest face that |
have eve seen, and his teeth cleaned
out through the dusk as though the
withered lips no longer met about
them, nor did they except in speech,
and anything ghastlier than the per-
petual grin of his repose l defy YOU to
Imagine. 1t was with this grin that he
lay regarding me while the doctor held
the blind.
so you think you could look after
me. do you:'
I'm certain l could, sir"
Single handed, mind. l don't keep
another SOU. You would have to cook
your OWN grub and my slops. Do yor
think YOU could do all that?''
Eyes, sir; l think So"
"Why do You? Have you any en-
perience Of the kind?'
NO, sir, none"
"Then why do you pretend Won
have:'
Il only meant that I would do ny
best
Only meant, only meant, Have you
done your best at everything else
then"
l hung my head. This was a faccr.
And there was something in my invalid
which thrust the unspoken lie down
my throat.
no, sir, have not" I told hin,
plainly.
"He, he he" the old wretch Uttered
"And you do well to own it: YOU DO
well. sir, very we'll indeed. :. YOU
hadn't owned up out you would have
gone, out neck and crop. You've saved
your bacon. You may do more. So
you are q public school boy. and q very
good school yours is, but YOU weren't
at either university. Is that correct:'
absolutely"
SCHOOL,
Il came in for money"
"And them"
Il spent my money"
"And since them"
I stood like a mule.
And since then, I saw"
"a relative Of mine will tell YOU if
you ask him. He is an eminent man
and he has promised to speak for me.
| would rather say no more myself"
But you shall. sir. but YOU shall.
DO you suppose that I suppose a pub
lie schoole0 boy would apply for u
berth like this if something or other
hadn't happened? What | want is a
gentleman G sorts, and I don't mucl
care what sort, but you've got to tnl!
me What did happen if You don't tell
anybody else. DIR. Theobald. sir. YOU
can go to the devil if YOU won't
take q hint. This man ina do or he
may not. You have no more to say f.
it Till | send him down to tell YOU one
thing or the other. Clear out. sir. clnn"
out, and if you think you've IN,
thing to complain Of you stick it dow.
in the bill"
In the mild excitement Of our into"
view the thin voice had gatl!crc,
strength, and the last shrill insult was
screamed after the devoted mcdico av
he retired in such order that fc''
certain he was going to take this try
Ing patient ut his word. The bedroom
door closed, then the outer one, nnG
the doctor heels went drumming
down the common stair. vas alone
In the fiat with this highly slneuNa.
and rather terrible Old man.
And u dashed good %rlddance.'
croaked the invalid. raising himself on