The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-07-07
BY EMERSON HoUeH.

remain home alone quietly, whose af-
fair was it but his own? If one found
it necessary to consult a doctor for a
little nervousness, whose affair was
that unless his own? Arnold was a
specialist. He did not really require a
specialist, he assured himself, but Ar
mold was d member of one of his clubs,
and-well. he would drop in on Arnold
casually.
But DR.. Arnold, the celebrated spe-
eialist, was not at home, neither was
Billings, on the second block, nor Is
mOnd, nor Joachim.
''Why don't these fellows stay at
home ?" protested HaFreIl TO himself
ENORMOUSLY. why, one might be real
ly i'll, you knOw-a man obliged to go
to work on Monday morning"
In a half daze Harreli found him
self wandering away from the wide,
clean, paved avenue with rows of man
siOns like his own. He found himself
far 10 one side, upon a street he had
never seen. There were apartments
fats, he supposed they called them
long rows Of them, dingy, dreary, hope
less. Blurred lights began to shine as
the twilight fell. Harrell had always
hated November and the twilight. He
looked about him now and there came
upon him sudden horror, and impulse
to flee, 1t seemed to him that the eyes
of some threatening creature were fast
ened upon him. The city seemed to
him a great unclean beast of prey,
ready to spring upon him, licking it's
chops now in the anticipated taste of
human blood. He thought he had con-
quered the city, but the cynicism of
the city now lay plain before him.
Again there came to his ears the low
moaning of some suffering creature
he did not know whether of his voice
or anOtheT's. His pace quickened to a
half run, and he fed down the street
without purpose, seeking only escape.
When he came more to his proper
senses he found himself within the
doorway of a dingy apartment build
ing, over whose entrance was a simple
sign: DIR. WallingfOrd. Harrell
found himself pushing on up the stairs,
pausing at length in front Of a door
with the same name upon a smaller
sign. He knocked and was received by
a gray-haired man of middle age, who
looked inquiringly at him and asked
him in.
4 would like TO see the doctor-Doc-
tor WaIlingford," began HarreH
Il am Dr. Wallingford. Walk into
my office. please" replied the other.
The office" was simply the hall bed
room of the apartment, its single Win
dow facing upon the street. It's walls
showed a few books, a case or so of
bottles, glasses and the like.
Take this chair. if you please" said
the doctor, mOtioning his visitor to a
we'll worn rocker near the window.
HaTreU seated himself as he did so
looking keenly, almost defiantly. into
the face of the other man. 1t was a
face trihe lined-old, if one cared
so TO phase it-yet the eyes were bright
and steady, and the whole expression
less one of professional solicitude than
Of genuine kindness. There was no
apology in DIR. WaIlingford's attitude.
nor any feeling of inadequacy apparent
in his demeanOr. Might 1 ask your
name?" he inquired
My name is Willard HarTeI I live
over on the avenue, a block or so"
Yes, / thought as much"
How did you know?" The doctor
smiled.
zone does not reach the station VIII
lard HarTell has attained in life with
out being known. even in the city"
said he; but there was no ffattery in
his speech. "Why did you come here,
Mr.. Harrell?" he continued
Because I needed you-that is. be-
cause 1 needed some doctor very much.
1 ATflOlQ-OInGTS
know In some way I got over here
am in a bad way, doctor"
The physician nodded silently. You
need not explain" said he gently.
THAT is you need not explain your
coming here. The main question is
whether or not 1 can be of help TO
you"
ooh, then. there can be help, YOU
think? And, doctor, do you feel-that
is-are you competent in a case like
this?"
Il am not a specialist" said DR..
Wallingford quietly. Il am not a great
man. But, without making any off
hand diagnosis, l think perhaps L can
be of use TO you. I do not wholly need
to be told, frem the look of your eye,
the color of your skin, your general ex-
preston, your actions, that you are in
a very nervous condition. Perhaps you
suffer from a touch of neurasthenia-
that is as good a word as any for it.
You see, l have told you l am not a
specialist"
HarrelI sat and stared at him, but
could find no immediate comment. The
speech of the other was simple and free
from any egotism, yet in some way it
seemed 10 carry conviction. The agony
on Harrel's face carried no less con-
victiOn in turn.
you are probably living in hell, sir"
said Wallingford, looking at him again
How did you know2" blurted out
Harrell. who told you. and why
should it be so? 1 have done nothing
besides. what DO you know about it?"
DIR. Wallingford smiled. No one
can know anything about st..ssaid he
"who has not died and wk .ad un-
buried as you do now"
And do you K3Aan to tell me"