The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-28

mere acquaintance. a few
men had loated together in one eddy
of the city's turbulence. They had ex-
changed names, snapped stories and
organized themselves into a small
community through the promptings of
natural hunger for companionship.
Members of the community drifted
away and were lost. and those remain-
ing behind did not seem to miss them.
Strangers came and were carelessly
received into fellowship. 1t was a
loose sort Of intercourse, and there
was no evidence that any genuine
friendships were growing out Of the
chance meetings.
The humiliating encounter with the
discredit the story Of Ohio politics. and
the freckled boys persistence in talk
ing slangily about himself had helped
to convince Doc Horne that the dentist
was his only friend and that he (Doc)
could be happier in another hotel.
1t is possible that he might have
gone from the Alfalfa had 1t not been
for a slight attack Of ihness which
crumpled him in bed one morning.
The freckled boy heard of Docs illness
from the chambermaid. He went to
the room at once and found Doc curled
under the bedclothes into the shape Of
a letter S and %groaning dismally.
Great heavens. Doc" he exclaimed.
What's the NATTER"
"oh, my dear sir replied Doc with
quavering sigh Of pain. "oh. gee!"
"A fever, Doc?"
"a complication. my boy. Liver
wrong-caught cold on top Of It. I
haven't had anything of this kind
since I was in Washington in 1874.
on, dear"
We'll, Doc, old boy, II there's any
thing I can do for you you bet it's
neil do it. When any friend o. mine
gets laid out on his back there's nothin'
too good for him. Look here. That
dentist has got some new and sassy
nightgowns. I'll go and pinch me for
you, so that you'll look good and swell
when any one comes in to see YOU"
"Oh, never mind" said Doc feebly.
caressing his stomach region.
We'll, I'll do it just the same. That
red flannel you're wearing may be
comfortable, but, on the level. it don
help your looks any"
So he went out n intimidated a
chambermaid, who allowed him to go
into the dentists room. and he returned
with the sassy" garment. Also he
loudly ordered the chambermaid to
bring clean pillow slips.
The gown was a white, starchy gar
ment with red scaIlops around the neck
and down the front. After Do had
put on the gown and propped himself
up against two fat. white pillows he
made a respectable appearance. al
though he insisted that he suffered as
much as ever.
1--WE got TO duck said the freckled
hoy. i've told that kid to come UP
here every little while to see what you
want. I'll see you later"
Don't put yourself out on my ac-
count" said Doc timidly.
Look here" exclaimed the boy,
laying his hand on the old mans
shoulder. You're sick and we're
going 10 AXE care OF you. You bet
If there's anything you want you can
get it,
Doc tried to say something. but
failed. He simply nodded.
When the freckled boy went down.
stairs he met the lush, to whom he
told the news. The lush was on his
way to the bar to try a gin cocktail
as remedy for heartburn. but he forgot
his own malady when he heard about
Doc.
without waiting for the slow ele-
vator to come dow he bounded up
lHe stair way uiIte sNtps l INV anu
dashed into Docs little room at the
end of the hall.
"By George, Doc, you u excuse
me for not coming up sooner, but |
Just heard about this"
II didn't give in until last night"
said Doc. MY physician thinks it's
nothing serious"
We'll, by thunder, you know-can't
take any chances. Did he give you
any medicine?"
Yes, some capsules and drops"
Rats. II you've got a cold and feel
sort OF run down the best thing you
can do is to get a bottle Of good whiskey
and hit it about every half hour.
Now. Doc, I'm goin' to get some that
! know is all right"
Maybe I hadn't better" began
Doc.
"Oh, pshaw. good whiskey can't hurt
you. I've been this way myself two
or three times and whiskey Is the
only thing hat ever helped me. I'll
he back in a little while"