The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-16
he HAD THE nerve
And That Is Why the Young lied.
leo Built Up Practice Among
Strangers.
BY MAIZE J. PERKINS.

making his calls no matter what the
weather or the distance. and even Il
he had got to b sixsy-ave yeass Old
he had no night to turn the people
over 70 . young man fresh from col
lege and not yet having . case 70 dag
nose.
"Oh. hen do-hs1l d." was III
Doctors reply to tho srumblers. =
had to start that way. you know.
shall be here to help him out Il b
needs It. I've tried him out and found
him very bright"
Mr.. Royal Preston fully realised
what he had to meet. and that It would
take time to remove the prejudice. He
must do the best he could and hope
to be lucky with his iirst few patients
III you get a call from the Gilberts
the rest Of the people will follow" said
Doctor Bliss. "The Gilberts are rich
and sort o. run things in this com
munity. Have you seen Nina Gilbert
yet?"
"Not to know her"
Charming. handsome girl and an
heiress must get her to champion
your cause. Don't fall in love with
Ter, for she Is not for you. She can
have her choice Of several rich mems
sons"
That evening Doctor Preston attend.
ed lecture in tho town hall In front
VI him sat two Young la les and at
The lecture didnf interest them much
hey presently L4s.A talki.s to eac..
other. leading of with:
"Mollie. have you heard about the
new doctor?"
"Yes, Nina"
Doctor Preston pricked up his ears.
It was possible. but not probable. that
here was the Nina Gilbert the old doc.
tor referred to. Yes. good.looking 20
far - he could Judge. with naughty
poise Of the head.
Isn't It . shame!" she Queried Of
xollie.
'What?"
why. Doctor Bliss stepping out and
leaving 10 to the mercy Of . dedg.
ling"
HE Is pretty young. I understand
he's only about twenty.four."
"And never had q case. He's sure
" some Guack that has deceived the
good old doctor"
But II we are ailing?"
III it's any one in our family. we'll
send to the city for some one that
knows beans from putty. Mrs. Davis
says anybody would know the young
man was quack to look at him"
A doctor must have nerve. Doctor
Preston had 1t. II he had been fail.
ure as to nerve he would have Jumped
out Of one Of the open windows. or at
least stood up and taught those young
ladies how to swear in three different
languages. He may have blushed .
little. but his nerve held him fast. OF
all the 200 people making up the audi.
ence he appeared to be paying the
most attention to the words Of the
lecturer
The young ladies had just ceased to
discuss him when his landlord came
down the aisle and halted and said:
Guess I'll have to take . seat with
you. Doctor Preston"
THAT'S right-sit down."
doctor Preston!" gasped Misc
Nina.
Doctor Preston!" gasped Miss MOI
Ne.
There 10 was right behind them. ~
must have heard their comments and
criticisms. They hadn't nerve. No
young lady has need Of It. Their best
plan was to rise up and walk out doors
- carelessly % II old Doctor Bliss was
only forty years old. Many people
looked at them in surprise. and the
lecturer got so muddled up that he
got It that Eve was created before
Adam. and that she was disagreeably
surprised when he came loafing along
one day.
well. that cooks me-" unused Doc.
tor Preston as he walked home after
the lecture. They were simply dis.
cussing me before Now that they
know I overheard them they can new.
er see any good in me- It's surely
good by to the Gilberts for me-"
Doctor Preston was fit for the best
society in the village. but he did not
seek It. He could accept OF no invita-.
tons without meeting the two young
ladies who had grievance. and II
would be embarrassing to both sides.
He had three or four patients and ef.
fected speedy cures. when there came
q lazy day and he got out the horse
and sulky for q make-believe call to
some farmers house. OF course. you
know that this IL q little trick prac.
ticed BY oh village doctors when work.
ing up . practice They order their
boy 10 harness up with the speed OF
lightning-rush out % II . dozen men
were ct deaths door-climb into the
sully, and with q "g1sng" and q cut
of the whip they ere on like q tor.
nado.
sSome one must be badly hurt or
very sick" remarked . dozen people,
and about the time they were remark.
inc thc horse Is being pulled dovn n