Middletown transcript., 1916-12-02

Very proud of Doctor Max was his
brother, unselfshly proud, of his skill
of his handsome person, Of his easy
good manners; very humble, too, Of his
own knowledge and experience. If he
ever suspected any lack of finer fiber
in Max, he put the thought away
Probably he was too rigid himself
Max was young, hard worker. He
had a right to play hard.
He prepared his black bag for the
days lS-stethoscOpe, thermometer
eye-cup, bandageS, case Of small walls
a lump of absorbent cotton in a not
OverfreSh towel; in the bottom, a het-
erogeneous collection of instruments, q
roll of adhesive plaster, a bottle OF
two of sugar-of-milk tablets for the
children, a dog collar that had be-
lOnged to a dead collie, and had got
in the bag in some curious fashion and
there remained.
He prepared the bag a little nerv-
ously, while Max ate. He felt that
modern methods and the best usage
might not have approved of the bag.
On his way out he paused at the din
ing-roOm door.
"Are you going to the hOspital?"
Operating at fOur-wish you could
come in."
''Tm afraid not, Max. I've promised
Sidney Page to speak about her to
you. She wants to enter the training
school,"
"Too young" said Max briefly.
'Why, she can't be over sixteen"
"She's eighteen"
"Well, even eighteen. Do you think
any girl of that age is responsible
enough to have life and death put in
her hands? Besides, although haven't
noticed her lately, she used to be a
pretty little thing. There is no use
filling up the wards with a lot of
ornaments; it keeps the internes all
/ stewed up"
"Since when," asked Doctor Ed mild
ly, "have you found good looks in a
girl handicap?"
In the end they compromised. Max
would see Sidney at his office. 1t
would be better than having her run
across the Street-would put things
on the right footing. For, if he did
have her admitted, she would have to
learn at once that he was no longer
doctor Max" that, as q matter of
fact, he was now staff, and entitled
to much dignity, to speech without con-
tradictiOn or argument, to clean tow
els, and a deferential inferno at his
elbow.
Down the clean steps went Doctor
Max that morning, a big man, almost
as tall as X. LIE MOyne, eager of life,
strong and a bit reckless, not fine, per-
haps, but not evil. He had the same
zest of living as Sidney, but with this
difference-the girl stood ready to give
herself to life: he knew that life would
come to him. All-dominating male was
| Doctor Max, as he stepped into his car
and made his way to his Office. Here
were people who believed in him, from
the middle-aged nurse in her prim uni
form to the row of patients sitting
stif1ly around the walls of the waiting
room. Doctor Max drew a long breath
This was the real thing-wOrk and
plenty Of it, a chance to show the other
men what he could do, q battle to
win! No humanitarian was he, but
fghter-each day he came to his office
with the same battle lust.
The office nurse had her back to him.
When she turned, he faced an agree
able surprise. Instead of Miss Simp-
son, he faced a young and attractive
girl, family familiar.
"We tried to get you by telephone"
she explained. Il am from the hos
pital. Miss Simpsons father died this
morning, and she knew you would
have to have someone. 1 was just
starting for my vacation, so they sent
me-"
Rather a poor substitute for a va
cation" he commented.
She was a very pretty girl. He had
seen her before IN the hospital, but he
had never really noticed how attrac-
tive she was. Rather stunning she
was, he thought. The combination of
yellow hair and dark eyes was unusual.
He remembered, just in time, to ex-
press regret at Miss Simpsons be-
reavement.
Il am Miss Harrison" explained the
substitute, and held out his long white
coat. The ceremony, purely perfume
tory with Miss Simpson on duty, proved
interesting, Miss Harrison, in spite of
her high heels, being small and the
young surgeon tall. When he was final
ly in the coat, she was rather flushed
and palpitating.
''But I knew your mama Of course"
lied Doctor Max. "And-Tm sorry
about the vacation"
After that came work. Miss Har-
rison was nimble and alert, but the sur
geOn worked quickly and with few
words, was impatient when she could
not find the things he called for, even
broke into restrained profanity now
and then. She went little pale over
her mistakes, but preserved her dig
nifty and her wits. Now and then he
found her dark eyes fixed on him, with
something inscrutable but pleasing in
their depths. The situation was rather
piquant.
Once, during the cleaning up be-
tween cases, he dropped to a person
ality. He was drying his hands, while