The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-11-27
ACountry Doctor S
Story
By carroll H. PIERCE

l doctored Farmer Chubbs' family
for years and knew the constitution Of
every one Of 'em. Billy. the only boy
in the family, was q queer little chap.
never gave him a dose Of medicine
that be didn't ask me just how it was
going to affect him, and. II 1t didn't
act as l said it would, the next time !
was called in he would throw 1t up at
me- We doctors don't like that sort
Of thing. and took dislike to Billy.
The boy grew up and went of some
where, l don't know where, but bis
mother said he was going to settle
there and grow up with the country.
She was sure he would be mayor or
governor or something like that. for he
was so smart.
One day when | was visiting the
house to see some one of them that
was sick Chubb asked me if wouldn't
buy draft for him at the bank in
Rogersvile the next time went there
and drop it into an envelope he gave
me addressed to his son Billy. He
handed me 500 for the purpose. and
consented to oblige him.
This didn't look very well to me for
Billy. He was twentyfour years old
and hearty His father was having
all he could do to get along. and
didn't see why his boy should accept
money from him. But | said nothing
to the old man about what thought.
because it was none Of my business.
He asked me not to say anything to
any one else about it. and l promised
| wouldn't.
1t wasn't long after this, when was
called in again for something, that
Mrs. Chubb gave me $50 and asked
me to buy Il draft when ! went to
Rogersville payable to Billy and send
1t to him in the same way the old
man did But wasn't to say any
thing to her husband about it.
agreed to send the money for her and
promised not to let on to Chubb that
! had done it.
I 1T beats ALL said to myself, what
people will do for their children"
Here was ! doctoring the family with
out sending in any bill because knew
money all the while to man who
ought to have been sending money to
them.
You bet when drove away from the
house | was mad all over | made up
my mind that the next time any of
fn
man, who was either specializing or
gambling or loating, l would let out
what thought about it. And | wasn't
going to make any more promises not
to tell, either.
But when it came to the scratch
couldn't do it. Mrs. Chubb sent an
other draft by me. and when asked
her If she didn't think Billy had better
be sending her money she looked at
me so reproachfully that didn't say
another word. She said that Billy had
invented machine for getting the
seeds out of watermelons. or some
thing like that, and what she was
sending him was the last payment for
his patent right.
One day girl came to my house.
pretending that she came for consulta-
ton. What she really came for was
to ask ME how she could send money.
| told her to buy draft, and she ask
ed me if wouldn't buy one for her,
seeing l went to Rogersville, where
the only bank was, nearly every day.
| asked her what name l should make
it payable to, and she said William
Chubb.
thought l should explode. The
good for nothing chap was taking mon
ey from a girl. Howsomever, If
doctor learns anything it's to conhne
himself to his pills and keep his mouth
shut. So l bottled up my wrath and
told the young woman l would be hap
by to serve her. She gave me $1S, but
as she didn't know that the draft
would cost anything paid the ex-
change myself.
| That was the last draft l was asked
to send to William Chubb. His father
introduced the subject Of his son to
me one day, but cut him short. and
he saw just how felt and didn't press
the subject Mrs. Chubb didn't say
anything. but it seemed to me she look
ed well pleased about something.
Then one day Farmer Chubb astonish-
ed me by calling for my bill. 1t had
been running seven years and amount
ed to $3.50. made it $235. was more
astonished than ever to receive pay
ment.
One day l was just starting out on
my daily round of visits when a well
dressed. prosperous looking young man
stepped up to my buggy and accost-
ed me.
Don't you know me, doctor? I'm
Billy Chubb."
"How de do. Billy?" said. trying to
appear cordial. Where you been all
this while. and what you been doinS!
"Oh, I've been slashing around I've
picked up something since I've been
away. I've come back to be married.
uoD+ Won to rome tO nv wedding.