The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1908-11-18
OFFICE ASSISTANT

Now, Miss Perkins, salu tne
struggling dentist to the young wo-
man he had engaged to take charge
of his reception room, 81 understand
you were never employed in dental
Office before"
Il never was, DOCTOR" replied Miss
Perkins, with candor, but | hope to
become accustomed to the duties
soon"
We'll. | dare say you will II you
only try hard enough. What you
need is plenty of tact and patience
and power of persuasion. You see, a
dentists Office is in many respects
different from any other office. Many
people don't come here unless they
have to. In that respect it's like a
police station or a justice court. Most
people consider that having a tooth
pulled is a fearful and agonizing ex-
perience. You see, man with sud
den raging pain in his tooth after
the first few pangs will seize his hat
and rush recklessly out to have the
thing pulled or stopped or some
thing. Then when he gets to the
dentists office, so great is the influ-
ence of the mind over the body, that
his awful fear of the operation will
make his toothache leave him, or he
will imagine that 1t has. So he Will
decide to put off his dreaded inter
view with the dentist. Then he
sneaks away, taking with him his
trade and his money. Now, that Is
the kind Of customer you have to
look out for and to secure when he
comes, and he comes often"
"Secure?"
Eyes; detain him until ! am ready
to attend to him. Sympathize with
him, make him feel at home, tell him
there will be no pain in having 1t
out and that he ought to have his
nice, white, valuable teeth examined
and cared for. Anyhow, until | am
ready for him, be sure that you do
not let him escape"
Then the dentist entered his pri-
vate office, where a customer was
waiting.
Before many minutes Miss Per-
kins had a caller in the outer office.
"Is the doctor in, lady?" he asked.
He was young man of gentle,
even deprecating, voice and mein,
and on entering he cast timid and
furtive glance around, as If already
meditating a bolt.
Eyes, sir; he Is in and he will see
you directly. Please take a seat"
Miss Perkins smiled persuasively.
The young man smiled, too, as he
dropped into chair-a sad, forced
and ghastly smile that seemed to
Miss Perkins reflex of physical
agony. In a short time, however, his
face grew set and solemn. He began
to twiddle his hat, move his feet ner-
vously and to glance at the clock.
"Will it take long, LADY," he in
quired.
"Oh, no, not at all; just few sec
onds. Have little patience and
courage. Don't you be bit afraid"
"I amt afraid, lady," he said, re-
proachfully. "No, / amt afraid but
that it'll come out all right"
do you consider 1t hard to ex-
tract?"
Extract? Why, no, lady; don't
think so. However, seeing you're
new to this here office, I'll give you
tip that it's not we'll to allow things
to go too far"
Miss Perkins was puzzled Evil
IDENTIFY the man was a regular custo-
mer and apparently he was suffering
and impatient.
Il hope It does not cause you
much inconvenience, she faltered. .
We'll, as to that" he said rather
gruffly, "all of us know our own
troubles. l came in hopin' to have
the thing out, but-well, I'll let it be
for to-day"
He arose and moved toward the
door, but with cry of protest she
stepped toward him.
"On, no, you must have it out
right now! You can't go in pain like
this. The doctor would be very an
cry II let you"
Just then the dentist emerged
from the inner Office. The young
man stepped forward and presented
him with a slip of paper.
For three months rent, DOCTOR"
he said.
My dear Miss Perkins," re-
marked the dentist, ruefully, as he
fumbled his trousers pocket, 81 see
you've been entertaining one of the
profession unawares. Pulling teeth
and collecting bills are of the same
branch Of art -