The bee., 1909-04-15
Bluff and Stuff
By II. II. HUDSON.


ton. They looked so much alike that
identities were mixed
q say, Stuff" said Bluff one day, Il
have a plan which will bring success.
We will tear up stakes and enter a
town of about 10000 population. |
will go ahead and engage an office.
You will come on later and enter the
town at night. We will then take
turns at the business. We are both
lazy; but II l take the fore part OF
the day and you take the latter portion
Of the day, the town will see the great
est doctor that ever lived.
you know two heads are better
than one, and practice In a town like
that, with country drives thrown il,
would kill one man, anyhow. We can
dress alike, do little acting before
the mirror and work the town. Both
of us will then make big toad in
small puddle. Besides, Stuff, like
you too well to work against your in.
terests any longer"
and so they agreed.
The new doctor" was In town. Bluff
went at the game with smile, backed
up by all the nerve his little fat body
could muster He got a shave, and
then drove about town for awhile to
let people size him up. He then went
to the Office and pretended to be read
ing a medical journal each time a
stranger called. He next went to lunch.
Upon his return he made a few hasty
notes of names and impressions, and,
turning them over to Stuff, went to
bed
Stun took a turn. He went down
and got a shave. The barber nearly
fell in heap with surprise, but Stuff.
realizing the situation, said that he
had made a mistake and had washed
his face with preparation which had
caused the skin to shrink, thus making
another shave necessary. He then
went to lunch, The waiter was aston.
ished, but Stun said he had been fast.
ing and that another meal was in
order.
He returned to the office, and after
meeting some callers, went for drive.
The people awoke to the fact that
a hustler wac in their midst. They
agreed, however, as time wore on, that
the doctor was very much absorbed
in his work-so much so, in fact, that
he often failed to recognize those
whom he had treated a few hours be.
fore.
They forgave him, nevertheless, for
he seemed to be successful in each
undertaking.
Diphtheria struck the town, but the
dismal howl of the dog foretelling
death was not heard during the entire
epidemic. The people failed to realize
that while one was out, the other had
time to read up on line Of proceed
ure. %------~i-4-rr-,
Another thing they couldn't under
stand was the fact that the doctor
kept getting jolller and fatter. The
work didn't seem to wear on him at
all. ass t.
The girls thought he was, little
queer, for he frequently took them for
asbuggy ride, but often seemed to have
forgotten all about it few days OF
even hours thereafter. 1t was a com
mon remark that II he was interrupted
| by stranger in the forenoon he would
tell him to call at the ONCE in the aft
ernoon. On the other hand, II he met
stranger in the afternoon, he would
b tell him to call the following forenoon
His mind seemed to dwell more upooT
professional efficiency than names anC
faces. 44k .4t.,r
1t was queer how public sentiment
was divided over the doctor. They al
agreed, however, that he was the mos
versatile man they ever knew.
One day fire broke out in thu
grocery store below. 1t originated IL
the room where oil and gasoline were
kept and spread rapidly. Unfortunate
ly, Blum and Stuff happened to be II
the office above at the same time
Their egress was cut on.
A crowd gathered. The fire depart
ment rushed to the scene Anxiety wa,
intense. The goo0 doctor might b.
sleeping the sleep OF utter exhaustion
brought about by his zeal for the PEG
pie. The smoke grew dense and was
waited in great puffs from the win
dows. A ladder was run up, and Bluff
and Stun descended to the joy anc
amaEement of all.
The riddle Of strange personality
was solved. They were forgiven. foI
| II was agreed that they had done mors
for the community than any one doc
tor could have done. They still prac
tice in the same place, but Blum wears
a red vest. and Stun wears a blue one
They subsequently married twin sis.
tiers.