The bee., 1909-03-25
Bluff and Stuff
BY n. n. HUDSON.

Dr. Blur and DR.. STUFF practiced in
the same city. Progress was slow.
This was another phase OF the sltua-
ton They looked so much alike that
identities we're mixed.
Il 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 so 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 / 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 a practice in town like
that, with country drives thrown In,
would kill one man, anyhow. We CAM
dress alike, do a little acting before
the mirror and work the town. Both
OF US will then make a big toad ia
a small puddle. Besides. Stun. like
you too we'll to work against your in
terests any longer"
And so they agreed 80
The new doctor" was in town Bluff
went at the game with a 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 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 Stun, went to
bed.
Stun took turn. lie went down
and got a shave. The barber nearly
fell in a heap with surprise. but Stun,
realizing the situation. said that he
had made a mistake and had washed
his face with a 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.
lie returned to the office, and after
meeting some callers, went for a drive.
The people awoke to the fact that
a hustler was 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 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 foretelllng
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.
Another thing they couldn't under
stand was the fact that the doctor
kept getting jollier and fatter. The
work didn't seem to wear on him at
all.
The girls thought he was a little
queer. for he frequently took them for
a buggy ride. but often seemed to have
forgotten all about IL a few days or
even hours thereafter. Il was a com.
mon remark that II he was interrupted
by a stranger In the forenoon be would
tell him 10 call at the ONCE in the aft.
ernOon. On the other hand, II he met
a stranger In the afternoon. he would
tell him to call the following forenoon.
His mind seemed to dwell more upoon
professional efficiency than names and
faces.
II was queer how public sentiment
was divided over the doctor. They all
agreed. however, that he was the most
versatile man they ever knew.
One day fire broke out in the
grocery store below. II originated in
the room where oil and gasoline were
kept and spread rapidly. Unfortunate.
ly, Blum and Stun happened to be in
the office above at the same time.
Their egress was cut or
A crowd gathered. The Are depart.
ment rushed to the scene. Anxiety was
intense. The good doctor might be
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 Blum
and Stun descended TO the Joy and
amazement OF all.
The riddle of strange personality
was solved. They were forgiven, for
1t was agreed that they had done more
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
ters t-a ata .'fs