The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1909-05-06
Bluff and Stuff
By n. H. HUDSON.


This was another phase of the situa-
ton. They looked so much alike that
identities we're mixed.
81 say, Stuff" said Bluff one day, II
have 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 ! 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 town like
that, with country drives thrown in,
would kill one man, anyhow. We can
dress alike, do a little acting before
the mirror and work the town. Both
of us will then make a big toad in
a 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 ssao him up. He then went
to the Office and pretended to be read
ing a medical journal each time a
gfran0a- BALLAD IIa navk x,yavf 90 lunch
Upon his return he made a few basty
notes Of names and impressions, and,
turning them over to Stun, went to
bed.
{ Stuff took a turn. He went down
and got a shave. The barber nearly
fell in a 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 STUFF said be 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 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, fol-
he seemed to be successful in each
undertaking.
Diphtheria struck the town, but the
dismal howl Of the dog foretellint
death was not heard during the entire
epidemic. The people failed to realiz,
that while one was out, the other haC
lime TO read up on a line OF proceed
ure.
Another thing they couldn't under
stand was the fact that the doctor
kept getting jollier and fatter. Tn,
work didn't seem to. wear on him a
| all. si csc
The girls thought he was LITTLE
queer, for he frequently took them TO
buggy ride, but often seemed to hav,
forgotten all about 1t q few days O.
even hours thereafter 1t was a com
mon remark that If be was interrupte,
by a stranger In the forenoon he voul,
tell him to call at the office in the aft
ernoon. On the other hand, IL he me
a stranger in the afternoon, he woul
tell him to call the following forenoon
His mind seemed to dwell more upool
professic-=i efficiency than names an
faces.
1t was queer how public sentimen
was divided over the doctor. They a.
agreed, however, that ne was the mos
versatile man they ever knew.
One day a fire broke out in tn
grocery store below. 1t originated 4
the room where oil and gasoline wer
kept and spread rapidly. Unfortunate
ly, Bluff and STUFF happened to be i
the Office above ut the same time
Their egress was cut off.
A c-c%%.@= gathered The fire depar
me~t rusaed to the scene. Anxiety wa
intense. The gooa doctor might b
sleeping the sleep of utter exhaustion
brought about by his zeal for the PEE
pie. The smoke grew dense and wa
waited In great puffs from the wiz
dOws. A ladder was run up, and BLU
and Stun descended TO the Joy an
amazemsnt of ALL
The riddle Of a strange personalit
was solved. They were forgiven, 70
It was agreed that they had done NOR
for the community than any one doc
tor could have done. They still praC
tice In the same place, but BLUM wear
a red vest, and Stun wears a blue one
They subsequently married twin sis
tiers.