The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-04-17
Virginia of the Air Lanes
By HERBERT QUICK author of Double Trouble


bets as to whether Carson was him
self or Wylie. Two young men,
easily classified as new Matched
physicians, stationed themselves
like sentinels at the desks; the
clock struck; there was jostling
at the rear caused by late corners,
at which the serious young doctors
frowned fiercely; the lines moved
forward; and the men, as they
passed the physicians, seemed to
undergo some sort of operation, per-
formed by means of glittering in
struments of which Theodore
caught glimpses like lightning play
ing about those slitted shirtsleeves.
Once beyond this ordeal the pa
tients threw on their coats and
passed on to an imposing, smooth
shaven man to the left, who gave to
each a handshake, and something
the sort Of audience that the popu-
lace gets at presidential reception
excepting that the president is
not in the habit of looking at the
tongues of his constituents, nor of
feeling their pulse, save in way
purely figurative.
Theodore found himself in the hui
man current, and drifted with it. On
closer view, he saw that the doctors
pricked the patients with little,
glittering weapons; but he reasoned
that it could be nothing very Sc
we're. More than any of the others,
however, Craighead seemed to
shrink from it.
amy locomotor ataxia germs on
that stabber?" he queried, cor can
cer-or any of the extras of the
curriculum"
The doctor frowned as he reached
for syringe.
what did 1 tell your" asked
Craighead as the physician received
his inquiry with professional gloom.
mo more humor than a hearse
drivers union-ouch!
With this sincere protest against
the stab of the needle. Craighead
passed on, and Carson took his
place. The doctor looked search
ingly in his face, seemed puzzled,
and reached to another region of
the tray for a syringe.
you should have rolled up your
sleeve, or cut it," said he sternly.
Roll it up"
Theodore rolled up his sleeve,
whereupon, with an experiences
quite startling, the man of medicine
pinched up bit of the brown flesh,
showed in the needle, pressed down
the piston-and Theodore was
shot" With a singing in his arm,
and wondering as to the why Of 1t
although he knew by this time
that he had dropped out of the
night sky into full membership in
drink cure establishment-he
passed on.
The imposing, smooth shaver
man was the great DR.. Witherspoon
He met each patient with a stand
ardized smile, clasped each hand
and said: Good morning, Mr.. Bias.
com"-or whatever the name might
with a grip of absolute uniformity
be. And how is the appetite this
morning? And the tongue, please
Pulse regular, observe. Have you
| had your constitutional this morn
ing? Improving nicely, Mr.. Bias
com. Good morning." But he met
Mr.. Craighead with a frown instead
of a smile.
please stand aside, Mr.. Craig
head" said he; Il wish to talk with
YOU"
THE bowstring, the scimitar, OF
the grand viziership with the title
of Emeritus Superintendent OF
Dope, o Illustrissimo?" inquired
Craighead COR wasn't my jogfry
done right?"
| Doctor Witherspoon was holding
out his hand to Theodore, smiling
the standardized smile, somewhat
/ hardened at the Craighead irrever
ence.
Good morning, Mr.-Mr.-"
ALLOW me-" said Craighead
sauvely. Let me present Mr.. Car
son-Wylie of 'Yphen Court, 'Yde
Park Terrace, Lon'on. The bets are
even as to whether Mr.. Carson
Wylie came in day coach and g
trance last evening, or dropped
from an airship in the night anC
was freed by old Tige, whose hon
est bark terrifies' all who do not
know that he is a case of vox, et
praeterea nihil Mr.. Carson, DR.
Witherspoon. Tell the doctor the
secrets of your alimentary canal
Dirty, Red and ever redder grew
Mr.. Wylie. Know each other"
Paraphrasing Departmental
the doctors shaver gill;" as he
stood in horror and indignation con
templating this lost creature, so fal
below the ordinary ID. T. victim al
to stand and so brave him, here il
his hold, his vassals near-in the
very laboratory. The patients star
ed in amaZement. The great doc
tor could scarcely credit his owl
impression. he was so outraged anC
upset. Yet, never for moment
did the iron discipline relax. The
doctor looked at Mr. O'Grady. who
like a silent and substantial ghost
floated forward, waited Mr.. Craig
head to an inner door which CLOSED
behind him as the portals of the In
~NMYN N