Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-04-26
The Power Of Luck.

Copyright. 1900. BY American Press Assoc.
ciaiion.I
had received my medical diploma
and before going home called on one OF
the lecturers, the famous surgeon, Dr
Coleman coyle. to say goodby. had
been quite q favorite with the doctor
and be had occasionally been q help 70
me- Besides. he was an intimate friend
Of my father.
Billy" he said 10 me. II hope you'Il
succeed in the profession, but you
won't unless you have luck"
why, doctor, I'm surprised. Every.
body knows that you have worked
yourself up 70 your present high posi-
tion by your own unaided efforts"
Everybody knows just nothing
about Il. Sit down there, and I'll tell
you a story. You're a man now, and
Il won't inJure you. On the contrary,
Il may teach you not to be too self
reliant and have due respect for luck
And who knows how far luck means
providence. And providence often
works through channels that are sur.
prislng 10 us mortals.
when 1 was where you are now
was obliged to start in a small town.
While ! was studying ! was ambitious
for what l have now. but an soon az
struck that town my heart sank with
In me. And ! hadn't been there a
month before I was glad to attend a
horse with the blind stagRers TO get a
few dollars. ! managed to exc out
enough to pay for a room in a garrett
ana one or two cheap meals a day.
Surgery Why. there never was but
one surgical case in the town.
"0ne day my old friend George Phil
lips came through the town and looked
me up. We had been at the medical
school together ana had a lot to talk
over. George invited me to do the
talking Ia restaurant. and we spent
whole evening there eating and
drinking = after 10 o'clock mostly
drinking. ! was an abstemlous young
man and couldn't stand the liquor /
took in on that one occasion. George.
who was more used to Il, took me to
my room and left me while he ran TO
catch q midnight train.
u tried 70 get or my clothes, but
couldn't remember taking or my
coat and trying to hang 1t on a bed.
post when Il came round to me. for
everything IN the room was clrclIng.
While was vainly trying to find the
shoestring Of my boot l heard a vio-
lent ring at the doorbell below, and
presently my landlady came up in a
wrapper and said something which
startled though II didn't sober me.
John 0veraker. the only rich man In
the town, had been taken violently III
and I was wanted Immediately.
"Here was terrible situation. My
frst chance had come and I was hope.
lessly drunk. caught az my coat
when II came round. managed TO get Il
on, accidentally damned my hand
against my hat. got II on and stag.
gered downstairs. I succeeded IN get.
ting to the overakers, rang the ben
and was admitted by tho only member
Of his family, his daughter Ethel.
"'oh, DOCTOR she said wildly. /
didn't hear what she, said. l learned
Il afterward. 4 fear II IA apoplexy.
Mother died o. apoplexy, aud know
L by the snoring. Father was brought |
home BY two friends. who put him In
HE room and left him. sent for our
regular physician. but he Il out OF |
Town, 20 I sent for you
while she was giving mo this in.
! held on to the wall with
,ne hand and looked at her without
'peaking. When she had finished she
ed me upstairs, knew enough 10
Get her out Of the room, and to do so
ooked at her and put my hand on the
ioor. she understood and left me.
0veraker was snoring heavily. I sat
Town IN a chair 70 try TO steady my.
elf, and-fell asleep. When I avoke
ne patient was still snoring. I re-
member leaving the room and by a
'areful hanging on TO the hanistor get.
Ing downstairs was met by Miss
1veFaker.
oh, doctor. h there any hoper
Il nodded my head affirmatively ana
'ressed her hand without speaking
he understood BY this how deeply i
oft and my sympathy for her.
You WIN cail very early IN the
aornlnaY
again I nodded afArmativOly ana
rent out TITO the street.
The next morning was IN bed
roaming over bad headache. a worse
Conscience and the knowledge that I III
ed ruined my career at the start. 1
rendered II overakor waa dead. There
res one eomfort-nothing can be done
case Of apoplexy. I had prom
I'D 70 ean early. 30 I got up ana by
great effort dressed myself. I was
DING downstairs when I saw IN the
an below. mirablie dictu, my patient.
70 saw me coming and smiled at mo.
Fhen ] reached him he grasped my
and warmly.
Thanks. my boy hs said. you
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