The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-12-26
The
Doctors Bill
It Was Settled BY
Christmas
BY MARY A. BOWERS.

"Two dollars visit" cried Dot
in dismay, forgetting entirely that
she had come to look for spool Of
No. 40 in mammals drawer, and
opening her brown eyes wider and
wider as she read the heading Of
an old bill Of DR.. CogswelPs.
"Two dollars visit!'' she repeat
ed. ooh, why doesn't Donnie get
we'll? And where is all the money
to come FROM" she asked herself
sadly. "We will get very poor,'
continued Dot, shaking her little
brown head slowly and going down
stairs.
Mamma and Sister Margie were
sewing. Dot went quietly to Mrs.
Ledyard and whispered:
"We'll feel very poor afterward,
won't we, mamma %
Mamma smiled-a sad smile, Dot
Thoughts she replied: You're
better at guessing than we suppos-
ed. Now, why don't you take your
trimming, little daughter, and go
into the library? There's a nice
fire on the hearth, and you can work
away like bee. Well need it soon,
you know"
"We'n need it soon," repeated
Dot as she climbed up in the big
library chair. "We'n need it soon.
Oh, why didn't they tell me? Why
did they leave me to find it out for
myself? I might have worked
yards and yards by this time and
sold them for ever so much," con-
fessed Dot as she made her little
ivory needle fly in and out of her
work.
Tom went into the barn to clean
his gun. Dot saw him.
S1'll ask him." she decided as she
put her work hurriedly in a little
silk handkerchief and started with
it for the barn.
It was very sad little face that
peered in at the barn door.
"Hellop was Toms greeting.
"Been crying?'
eyes," admitted Dot in voice
that could leave no doubt Of it.
whats up" asked Tom as he
rubbed aWay at his gun. ssWant
any hclp9"
ooh, yes. Tom. That's Just what
I'ye coiNe for"
"All right. Go ahead" said Tom
,cheerfully.
"Well, you know, Tom," began
Dot in her sweet, timid voice,
there's secret in there" pointing
toward the house, "and I never
found it out till this morning" IS
$50 you found it out, did you?
Well, / told 'em you would"
II wouldn't but for the bill"
'SYou wouldn't what?" asked
Tom.
S1'll tell you about that after
ward When / went into the sit
ting room mamma and Margie we're
sewing"
"That certainly didn't surprise
you" laughed Tom.
ooh, Tom! How can you make
fun of it all? Mamma looked lust
ready to cry, and-oh, oh, oh! What
can we ever do about it?" as she
threw herself face downward on the
hay and sobbed as though her little
heart would break, while Tom stood
by in speeches. establishment.
ssDoes she know, after all ?" he
asked himself. II; mustn't forget
my promise to mother, but | must
give the child some comfort" he
thought as he went over to the little
blue cloak on the hay.
"Come, Dot" said he tenderly.
ssDon't cry. You haven't told me
yet what the matter is. Now, we'll
sit right up here while you tell Tom
all about it."
After awhile Dot managed to saw:
ssDoes DR.. Cogswen charge peo-
pie who. are i'll So every time he
goes to see them?"
Something like that, I believe"
answered Tom wonderingly.
cts exactly that, said Dot, feel
ing for the bill. ssOh, Tom. we
must owe him hundreds of dollars =,
There was queer look in Toms
eyes.
sThere, Dot" said Tom soothing
". Don't be SO foolish as to crv.
It will be all right. / can't tell YOU
how just now, but take my word for
it."
Tom," called Mrs. Ledyard.
They're all waiting for you"
"4herboys hare come, Dstx IA
fom, giving hsr : hasty kiss. s.Nov.
reipemh - 6o tp,worry. Irs ,cor..
ing 06t III fifilf.S