The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-08

the little doc didn't call on her for
q day or two. and next time he
dropped In jim Moftat was there. hay.
ing apparently been restoredsto favor.
And though Miss Ida was friendly
enough with the little doc, anyone
could have seen that things weren't
quite the same.
For however small a man may be, II
is expected that he will do something
when he gets a hit across the mouth,
instead Of picking himself up and smil.
ing. as the doc had done. And Miss
Ida vas certainly placed in an un-
comfortable position, for no girl likes
going with a coward.
Three days after the episode
.Dutchy's friend Hinkman came run
ming into the docs ONCE.
"Dutchy's got the fever, doc" he
said. You won't remember what he
did to you, doc? He's scared out OF
his wits, doc, and thinks he's going
to die"
~All right" answered the doc. He
got up and went round to, the shack,
in which Dutchy lay upon his bed.
tossing and muttering de~liriously. 1t
was the last case in Sapphire, but It
was the worst. The doc had pulled
the rest through without a single dis
aster, but this seemed hopeless from
the first.
During the next three weeks the
doc put in nearly all his time with
Dutchy. He told Hinkman to call him
any hour of the night when Dutchy
seemed worse. He persuaded Miss
Ida to lend her aid and between
them at last they got Dutchy out OF
the valley OF the shadow.
1t was an awful time, said Hinkman.
Dutchy dimly recognized the doc and
thought he was trying to poison him
Sometimes he fought so hard that II
was all sthey could do t o keep him
from jumping put of the window. The
little doc showed q good deal OF
strength, Hinkman reported, in such
encounters.
Finally Dutchy. out OF danger, and
weighing about one-third as much as
he had done, lay on the bed, conscious
and looking up at the doc with a sort
of dumb dog gratitude expression.
Doc" he had the grace to say, I'm
sorry"
That's all right. Dutchy," the little
doc answered, smiling.
The days passed, and evidently
the doc had succeeded in ~squarine
himself with Miss Ida, for they sal
together on the stoop every afternoon
now. And there was not a man in
camp but vowed the doc was a white
man, and that he would give his life
rather than let anyone say the op
.posite, or lay a finger on the doc
again.
Well. Dutchy went North to con
valesce, and at last the day came
when he stood before the doc, who
was still sitting on Miss Lida's porch
they being now engaged-and spoke
up much less sheepishly, but still sori
of ashamed.
doc, I've come back and I want
to thank you" he began.
That's all right. Dutchy," answered
the doc. Are you ready now?"
Ready? For what?" asked Dutchy
why, for your t%hrashing," an
swered the doc as IL surprised. ant
he went down. PUT 'em up, Dutchy,'
he said. you see, I couldn't strike
a sick man, and I knew by your lool
and your pulse that you were getting
ready for a siege with typhoid. But
now I'm going to lick you"
Which he certainly did. When II
was over Dutchy's face couldn't have
been recognized by his own mother
But then we found out that the doc
had been the featherweight champion
at Princeton.
T. Now come along to the surgery
and I'll sew up your wounds. Nc
charge" said the little doc.
Dutchy was the sort hat couldn't
rest until he got even. He threw the
shoe after the wedding and struck the
doc behind the ear. That settled all
scores.