Omaha daily bee., 1911-12-07


much thumbed, among them. Evidently
people who were waiting for the dentist
did not care for any heavier literature
than that offered by comic paper.
The peculiar odor of mingled drugs and
antiseptics that Is always part OF the
atmosphere Of q dentists office iiheo
the room. In vain Helen tried to force
down that fluttering tremulous 'feeing
that this odor and the nearness to the
dental chair always brought
She dreaded IT so! Her teeth were Pc
culiarly sensitive. The least work on
them hurt her cruelly-and she shranN
from pain with all the horror OF ciniH
And today there were TO be two fhilngs
and one tooth drawn. ~
She was TO take gas FOR the eNtractloh'
and Warren had promised to come up
at 4.3O to be with her then. 1t was
quarter OF four now and the work was
to he done on the Filings untu warren
came, .. ,t.
n From the other room POW came
moan and a woman's voice: IN uo''oi
don't! oh, OILY
Then the Doctors voice.. Hold sui
now-just a second longer There-noW
this won't hurt"
The moan had not helped to sooth
Helen's own quivering nerves. She tried
to keep her mind on the comic paper
but she read one of the jokes three times
without realizing what it said II was
midsummer number. How strange the
Jokes OF. a midsummer magazine seem
in midwlnter! There were the usual squibs
.>aboLt rhe. iceman. the scanty pathlns
\tit and the summer widower,
Now that's all today" came the doc
tors voice IF that cotton films hurts
you-you can take it out But IT'S better
left in."
",Tben Tuesday at 10 l think you said?'
asked the woman.
IIelen's heart beat faster. She knew
now he would soon be ready for her
The woman came through, put on her
wraps, which were lying on chair beside
Helen. and hurried out
Now. AIRS. Curtis" and the doctor
appeared ouce more ut the door Helen
went in, laid aside her wraps, and got
up into the chalr, Just the sight OF the
shining instruments made her sick with
fear. She could hear him washing his
hands behind the screen,
We'll weire getting a real touch OF
winter today" he remarked cheertully.
It's a prevailing belief among dentists
and physicians that some commonplace
remark tends to distract the patient 5
thought, when as a rule II irritates them
by the very ulvlousness OF its intention
Helen leaned back aud closed her eyes,
sswhlle with brisk Indifference he made
ready his Instruments.
Now, just moment, piease,E as he
quickly adjusted a rubber shield In her
mouth, lust a little wider-there!'
For half an hour he worked on the
filing Except for an occasional moan,
Helen made no outcry. But her hands
were clenched tight on the arms OF her
chair and her feet braced rigidly against
the footrest,
Or. Fireman was the most conscientious
and painstaking in his work, and whl7
he made every effort to minimize the
pain, yet his manner was not sympa-
thetic And now as the INSTRUMENT
touched a nerve, with a stifed cry Heller
put up her hand.
Don't 90 that he wsrned her cold,y y
Don't catch my hand or youll make the
instrument slip"
And again Helen clenched the arms OF
the chair. every nerve taut under thi
intense pain. Desperately she tried I,
thing Of something TO help her. Then she
recalled what she had once been tod
Iwas the greatest Of all helps in a denta
4 chair-to try 10 realize how little was
really being done. That il is snly becaus'
the work Is on TIE teeth that II hurts
50. Could he fsme thing be done any
whore eise-it wotyd -rard'y hast az an
nor would ,here be any pain la tha TOO,