Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-29
CHAPTER ..
4 ol.. NIau.as


- lege in Ohio and to secure me
four years in medical school in the
east. Why I chose medicine l hardly
know. Possibly the career of sur
igeon attracted the adventurous element
in me. Perhaps. coming of family o,
doctors, merely followed the line OF
least resistance. 1t may be. indirectly
but Inevitably. that might be on the
yacht Ella on that terrible night OF
Aug. IL, more than year ago.
Commencement left me with dipio.
ma. a new dress suit. an out of date
medical library. box of surgical in.
struments of the same date as the
books and an incpient case of typhoid
fever.
l was twenty.four. six feet tall and
forty inches around the chest. Also.
had lived clean and worked and
played hard. got over the fever 6nal-
iy. pretty much all bone and appetite,
but-alive. Thanks to the college, my
hospital care had cost nothing. IT was
a good thing. l had just 81 In the
world.
Z The yacht Ella lay In the river not
far from my hospital windows. She
was not yacht when first saw her,
nor at any time, technically, unless
use the word in the broad sense Of a
pleasure boat. She was two master
and. when saw her first. as dirty and
disreputable as are most coasting yes.
sells. Her regeneration was the history
Of my conyalescence. On the day she
stood forth in her first coat Of white
paint / exchanged my dressing gown
Tor clothing that, however loosely II
hung. was still clothing. Her new
sails marked my promotion to beef.
first independent excursion up and
down the corridor outside my door.
and. incidentally, my return to a collar
and tie.
{ The next day, think 1t was. the
deck furniture was put out on the Ella
numbers Of white wicker chairs and
tables. with bright cushions to match
the awnings. l had pair of ancient
opera glasses, as obsolete as my am.
putating knives and. like them. part
of my heritage. By that time l felt
a proprietary interest in the Ella and
through my glasses. carefully focused
{ with a pair Of scissors. watched the
arrangement Of the deck furnishings
girl was directing the men. l
Judged from the poise with which she
carried herself that she was attractive
and knew it. How beautiful she was
and how well she knew 1t I was to flnd
out before long. McWhirter to the
contrary, she had nothing to do witt
my decision to sign as sailor on tn.
Ella.
One Of the bright spots Of that long
hot summer was McWhirter. We had
graduated together in June, and in
October he was to enter hospital in
Buffalo as resident But he was as
INDECENT as I, and from June to Octo.
Der is four months.
-Four MONTHS" he said to me. even
at two meals day. boy, that's some
thing over $40. And can eat four
times q day without struggle.
wouldn't you think one of these over.
worked for the good of-humanity dubs
would take a vacation and give me
chance to hold down his practice?
Nothing Of the sort developing. Nc.
Whirter went into q drug store and
managed to pull through the summer
with unimpaired cheerfulness, confid'
ing to me that be secured his lunch.
cons free at the soda counter.
McWhirter it was who got me my
berth on the Ella. It must have been
about the Goth Of July. for the Ella
sailed on the 2Sth. Twas strong enough
to leave the hospital, but not yet physi.
cally able for any prolonged exertion.
McWhirter, who was short and stout.
had been alternately flirting with the
nurse as she moved In and out prepar.
ing my room for the night and sizing
me up through narrowed eyes.
mo" he said. evidently following a
private line of thought. you don't be-
long behind a counter. Leslie I'm
darned II l think you belong In the
medical profession, either. The British
afmy'd suit you"
..The-whatY'
.'You know = Kipling idea = riding
OOTScUdChs uco0 VI u
uniform-colonel's wife making eyes at
you-leading last hopes and all that"
1.-THE British army with Kipling
trimmings being out Of the question.
the original issue is still before US.
III have to work. Mac. and work like
tie devil, II I'm to feed myself
There being no answer to this. Nc
Whirter contented himself with eyins
me-
..I'm thinking" l said. ''of going to
Europe. The sea is calling me, Mac"
$50 was the grave a month ago. but
n didn't get you. Don't be an ass.
boy. How are you going to seaI'
.sBefore the mast" This apparently
conveying no meaning to Whirter.
I supplemented '.as common sailor"
He was indignant at f1rst. offering
me his room and part Of his small
yalary until got my strength. Then
ae became dubious. and. finally. 80
well did paint my picture OF long.
idle days on the ocean. Of sweet. cool
nights under tine Stars. with breezes
tkat purred through tlS: sails. rockin: