Rock Island Argus., 1911-04-22
The Argus Daily Short Story
A Doctors Story-By Edwin T. Martin.
Copyrighted, 1911. by Associated Litera ry Press

pnoned me and been stopped by the
nurse. There was another horrible
view OF the case-that a mysterious
slow murder was being practiced on
one Of my patients. who was trying to
communicate with me and was stop
ped by the murderess.
The next day I started on my round
OF visits determined to note every
case of an invalid woman with a view
to determining her relations with her
nurse. Though / was a young prac
htioner, 1 had fallen into a large prac-
tice and had long list l soon learned
that with the multiplicity of responsi-
bilfties resting upon me It would not
be a difficult matter for q nurse to
keep a patient from communicative
with me if the former were disposed to
do so. 1t was impossible for me to at
tend to my patients and make an in
vesdgation at every house called.
AS soon as 1 had finished my days
calls telephoned TO a detective agen-
cy to send me a young and well dress
ed man who would pass for a physi-
clan. A Mr.. Jernegan called on me
during the evening. 1 told him of my
mysterious calls and asked him 70
make my round Of visits with me the
next day in the glIise OF my assistant
with view to discovering which one
OF my patients was not en- rapport
with her nurse He was genteel
looking young man and listened to all
I said without comment. The next
morning he reported, q beard he had
worn shaved of with the exception
of a pair Of mutton chop whiskers, a
pair Of glasses on his nose and a hand
bag for surgical instruments. We doc
tors have a peculiarly unmistakable
walk when we carry our satchels, and
as Jernegan preceded me down to my
automobile / noticed that he had got
It to perfection. Indeed. think be
looked more like a medical man than l.
! took Jernegan into every house
where there was a woman patient
sick enough TO require trained nurse.
introducing him In some cases az my
assistant. IN others as a consulting
practitioner or specialist whose views
I desired to obtain. While diving
from one house to the next / intended
to VISIT I gave him a hint as 10 what
I should require of him, that he might
be prepared to speak with an ap-
parent show of knowledge Of the sub
1ect, especially when there was a
nurse who had some knowledge of It
herself Though some of my cases
were causes Of anxiety to me, could
not but be amused at the serious,
thoughtful manner he entered upon
each case 1 asked him to consider.
He even knew enough Of a consulting
physicians relations with the doctor
who calls him into the case to defer
to the others judgment while giving
an opinion. And I was SURPRISED at
how adroitly he concealed the fact
that he didn't know what he was talk
'ng about.
We entered one house where the
nurse, Mrs. Webster. g woman rather
older than the average, was a very
motheriy person and evidently devoted
10 her charge. Miss Edwards, down
with typhoid fever Or, rather, the pa
tient was in that weak state which
follows Immediately after the disease.
Jernegan put on more professional i'm
portance than usual. reminding me OF
certain doctors I have known who
conceal their want OF knowledge Of a
case under an appearance OF great
wisdom. Presently he said TO me:
please excuse me. doctor: there are