The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-04-12

SNSAAto aollS IuSl ana UTMOST lpTBOllcll.
In his hand he held u letter typed oil
a plain white sheet of paper. a bright
fire was cracking merrily in the open
crate, and Or. Jense would read the
letter and then gaze into the leaping
flames and under his breath mutter:
Damn him!"
The letter had neither heading nor
signature, there was no writing TIC iden-
tify the sender. the postmarll on the
envelope was from a remote sub
station away u in the northern
sen knew, as we'll as he knew his own
name. just who had sent that letter.
Knew 1T because 1t referred to a GER
tain event in his past life, spoke of n
compromising photograph and other
things; only one man knew these
things. the knowledge which would be
very disastrous to DIR. Jensen's domes-
lie and financial affairs. The writer of
his letter limited that a money con-
liberation, If sufficiently large. might
purchase the discriminating evidence.
only one man knew these facts, there
lore he must have sent the missive.
To go back n little: When Jensen
was graduated from an important
eastern medical school n had had
two years hospital work he stood on
the threshold of his career. He liked
medicine, had been a good student and
'N'' - w " puI ~
had financial ambition. All his life he
had been poor; he had worked his way
through college. with the heel of pow
erty ever pressing his neck. He
wanted money, but the pathway to
money through practice of medicine
was as a rule slow and uncertain.
Many (doctors) are called but few
are chosen" was only too true, and
Philip Jensen studied the subject of
his future very seriously. The ethical
thing for him to have lone at this
tine would be to open an office, fur
Sign reading, philip Jensen, Physi-
clan and Surgeon" on the door, and
then to sit down in an easy chair and
wait-wait for some person to come
along and be suddenly stricken with
stomach ache. He must wait for his
Peter Stirling" for two years before a
client came along. In doing this he
would be strictly ethical, but two years
OF being ethical wasn't pleasant, espe-
tally when the doctor needed FOOD and
raiment during that time. If he were
reasonably successful In building up a
practice he might after about ten years
be able to pay his office rent and sup
port himself. But he didn't propose to
be Door that long; in ten years he
wanted to accumulate a goodly amount
of money: in twenty he wanted to be
ii' SlONIto CdTtlulIY
over these questions and finally be-
rame an advertising specialist" He
departed from the hewn lines of medi-
cine; through the papers he told of
his skill in his chosen specially; his
charges We're reasonable, and before
very long the credit side of his ledger
Was getting larger l. q the debit.
What DR.. Jensen did he did we'll; he
was not an im~pecunious quack, butte
Skilled and expert physician. y year
later his practice had so increased he
needed help in his accounts and office
work. A bright Irish chap named
OBrien was secured as DIR. Jensen's
secretary. O'Brien was about the same
age as the doctor and the two soon
became fast friends. O'Brien was a
lawyer and was trying to get on his
feet by the old ethical way, but his
funds ran out before clients began to
come In and he was perforce obliged TO
Seek work. Jensen was glad to get
him.; his keen perception of business
affairs and his ready Irish wit were
valuable assets for a private secretary.
and this is what he was.
With the coming of money DIR. Jensen
pranched out. From the comforts of
life he went to the luXuries. His rooms
were beautifully furnished and he and
OBrien lived together. 1t was said tina
these bachelor apartments of DIR. Philip
Jensen became the scene of more than
one little dinner whereat wine, women
and song We're predominant. DIR. Jen-
sen was enjoying life TO the full and
Harold OrBrien was helping him along.
a goodly crop of wild oats was being
sown by both men.
For three years life flowed on un-
eventually for the doctor and his secre-
tary. when one evening DIR. Jensen
said:
Harry. I'm going to surprise
you"
How, Phil?"
Tn going to get married."
Married? Ha. ha! Well, that's a
good one. Phil. Who's the lucky
lady? n how about all our friends
here?"
A dull red color suffused Jensen's face
as he replied:
Never mind who the lady is. I
haven't spoken to her yet and don't
know If She would have me: but I'm
getting sick of living as we do, 1 want
a home; the money question is easy
now and I'm going to have one"
You don't uppos the future Mrs.
Jensen would be proud Of the life we
are leading. do your"
mo, and that's just it. Tonight is
our farewell. After hat 1 quit"
so do 1. then. Since coming with
YOU, Phil, we had a devil of a good
time. You've treated me well and l
have a few thousand OF my own laid
o-' Ao4 AaAoN L AAhS tAiS law d1lO L III
going back to it,
But 1 don't want to lose you"
There, Phil, you and I know too
much of each other to be together af-
ter you're married. You can get an
other secretary"
What you say is probably true.
D'Brien, but I hate to see you go.
Well. anyway. we'll nave one last night
of it," and out they went.
DR.. Jensen would have given a great
deal not to have had that 'one last
night Certain things had happened
which were dangerous. Neither man
referred to these events, but ZACH knew
the other knew. A few months later
DR.. Jensen married, and O'Brien opened
up IA law Office of his own downtown.
In a way O'Brien prospered. He be-
came a political lawyer and some Of
his clients bordered on the underworld.
He made money. but his standing
wasn't very high. After Jensen's mar
riage the two men seldom saw each
other. The doctor built a beautiful
house and was living a very respectable
life. J'Brien geenrally lived at ON
politica:l club.
DR.. Jensen thought of ali these things
as he sat in his den on the day this
story opened.