The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-11-18
Fiction
HOW THE DOCTOR WON.
BY JEANETTE 8. BENTON.

The Office boy heard the doctor In
the annex and went out. Her face
was buried in basin Of water, and
the formaldehyde bottle stood open.
"How's the smallpox" he asked.
Bad" she replied, emerging rosy
from the towel. "Ts any one wait
ingT
mo one now but Mr.. Doane Aldrlch.
Been three or four, but they got tired
waiting"
every well Tell him 1 will be there
In q minute"
AS the boy closed the door she walk
cd to the mirror and regarded herself
attentively, spraying violet water over
her hands and hair.
II wish had some POWDER" she
murmured. 81 am afraid look blow
~"
To the tall young man In the recep-
ton room she looked discouragingly
cool and unperturbed as he arose at
her entrance.
"It is little matter, DOCTOR" he ex-
planned. II have just been transferred
to the Y mine, and they have smallpox
down there, so 1 suppose 1t Is neces-
sary to be vaccinated."
"It certainly Is IL you haven't been
lately. Things are in bad shape at the
Y. have put in the whole afternoon
there. There's a good deal of small
pox and more dissatisfaction. l sup
pose the dissatisfaction is what sent
you there"
II suppose so. What's at the bot
tom Of the trouble anywayT
"Sickening novels and the company
store. If you can get the company to
do anything before those people mur-
der you as its nearest representative
you will be doing good work. How
ever, come into the Office, and will
vaccinate you"
He followed her in.
'"This is the first time l ever came
here as a subject" he remarked.
He barred his arm and looked dubi-
ously at its white surface.
How could she be a doctor? Still,
he had sometimes wished he could cbe
sick week or two. 1t would be such
good chance to see her every day.
What was she going to do with that
razor looking little knife? 1t had been
30 long since he was vaccinated he
had forgotten all about it. Did she
jab the stuff in at the end Of that? II
she was going to jab he wished she
would and stop that scratching.
He watched the scratching knife,
fascinated. Suddenly 1t began to de-
scribe erratic circles in his vision.
DR.. Richie felt his arm relaxing un-
der her grasp. With q movement as
quiet as 1t was quick she eased his
stalwart body to the floor, then loos-
ened his collar and dashed little wa
ter In his face.
He opened his eyes slowly.
"Oh, say" he gasped, whats the
matter"
The doctor stood a little way of re-
garding him with professional gravity.
II was vaccinating you, and you
tainted" she explained. "You will be
all right in moment"
He got rather uncertainty to his feet
and leaned against q convenient case
of drawers.
Good Lord" he groaned. "What do
you think Of me? l hope you don't
think 1t was because 1t hurt. don't
know what 1t was. was watching
that little knife; then / was here on
the floor. Please finish the job," he
concluded irritably. "I'll try to stand
up under it,
q ohn fad
he thought savagely:
IF I should lift you off your feet,
my sweet doctor, and kiss that dia-
bolical dimple you might at least re-
spect my muscle. How can q fellow
make love to woman doctor any
wayT Aloud he said, "Thank you,
DOCTOR" rather abruptly, hurried into
his coat, settled with the Office boy
and got away with all speed.
The doctor strolled to the window
and watched him go striding of, his
big shoulders squared.
"Poor old felloww she said softly.
Then she flushed and smiled In a
way that little befitted a member of
the medical profession.
He is bashful and stupid, too" she
pouted.
Doane Aldrich squared his shoulders
against his troubles often that winter.
His recognized powers as a pacifica-
tor seemed to have signally failed.
One day he swung into the cart as
the doctor was trotting home.
See here" he said. II must talk
with you. don't know what to do
with those people. Heaven knows
they have reason enough to be sore,
and am helpless. OF course they
can't realize that, but the company
pays no attention to my representa-
tions. I am the nearest thing the poor
brutes have to hate, and they hate me
well. Tomorrow have got to dis
charge Mcguire and Kearney"-
The doctor interrupted: "That means
a strike, to begin with. Then Kate
Mcclure and Dilsey Kearney-why,
they would as soon have a riot as
enough to eat"
"But what can / do? The men have
come on the shift twice within a xuaabr