The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-07-01

1
husband, especially with his city OK.
perienee, would lust about fiji the bill.
Do you suppose. Mrs. Billiard, that the
doctor would consider an offer Of that
kfnd?"
! Esther dropped her eyes to conceal
the CLEAN Of eagerness In them.
II really don't know" She plated
| her skirt thoughtfuily between her
fingers. "iIow much would the posi-.
ton be WORTH"
I'm afraid not more than twenty.
five hundred dollars" The man spoke
apologe,ically, never dreaming how
narrowly he escaped an ecstatlc hug
from the demure young woman beside
him. George had told her that they
would be extraordinarily lucky II he
took In $1,000 on his first year.
She succeeded In concealing her feel.
ings, however.
THAT seems rather small, don't you
think3" she murmured. and tho upshot
OF It was that she came into the house
with cheeks flushed and eyes dancing
with excitement.
"oh, George! George!" she ex.
claimed. was there ever such q
stroke Of good fortune7 You're going
to be offered the post Of surgeon for
the gas company at salary Of three
thousand dollars year."
Esther was proud and happy WON.
an, and proud and happy woman she
remained throughout the succeeding
five years OF their married life.
The doctors suspicious start proved
no fash in the pan, but the firing Of
q scintillating train which went leap
Ing on from success to success.
Bullard had commenced to special.
lie as surgeon. Even at medical
school he had been noted for the
steadiness OF his hand. and the skill
with which he handled the knife. Yet
no one at tho old P and S-neither his
preceptors nor fellow students-would
ever have dreamed Of predicting an ED.
pecially brilliant career for him.
Steady. dependable. conscientious;
those were the terms they would have
applied to him. How was 1t then. that
at twenty.sight he became known as
the author Of the celebrated Billiard
operation, and chosen as the directing
head Of the great memorial hospital
which Mrs. Sylvia Sands was propos,
Ing to erect to her deceased husband
Again, as the French proverb has It.
"Cherchez 10 femme" In this case,
"Cherchez Esther"
Ever she was on the lookout fol-
some way to further his fortunes and
advance his standing; go. when she
saw In the paper that the great hos
pital for which James L. Sands had
left by will portion Of his millions,
was to be erected at his birthplace
Mortentown. the suggestion at once
came to her that no one was 90 fitted
to take charge of the institution az
her doctor"
Esther had met Mrs. Sands during
one Of the latter's more or less intre,
quent visits to Mortentown; for the
/, Junior Of her late husband by many
years, the restless young woman had
In his lifetime. hardly given the poor
old millionaire chance to draw long
breath. so perpetually did she keep
him on the go. Now, her brief period
Of mourning over. Mrs. Sands frankly
ragged at the harsh necessity which
kept her In staid quiet Mortentown.
She was compelled to remain here for
year or more, and muddle her brains
over droary old hospital.
She was dolefully bewailing the un.
welcome prospect one afternoon when
Mrs. Billiard was announced, and
snatching at any diversion, ordered
her caller to be Immediately shown in.
Esther made no secret Of her mis-.
sion but went directly to the point,
Mrs. Sands" she said with o charm.
ing naivete, Il have the most wonder.
full husband in the world, and the very
man you need to take charge Of this
new hospital Of yours and make It a
tremendous success. He can relieve
you Of all the bother In connection
with the plans. and will give you 0
thousand valuable ideas and sugges.
tions which nobody else would ever
think Of"
Mrs. Sands stirred to q show Of In.
terest- Hitherto she had never thought
Of anyone for the vacant post but
some eminent gray.beard from one
Of the eastern colleges.
She had met Doctor Billiard, and
like everybody else had besn most
fayorably impressed with him. II
might be rather amusing, she rejected,
to be so closely associated with q
young. sood.looking man Of his type.
He has national reputation, you
know, % the author Of the Bullard op.
Grafton" put In Esther with q little
touch Of wifsly pride, and that set
| tied t.
Mrs. Sands rose impulsIvely from
the cou,h whore she sat.
u wonder II no could come here
right away, and talk things over With
mo-" she said. Can you get hold Of
hint" waving her hand toward the
telephone stand,
90 Il happened hat the dsetsF, stt
tins IN bis efaes, was almost beTied