The Irish standard., 1916-12-02
CHAPTER w.

ed an hour before, and had already
attended, with much profanity on the
part Of the patient, to a boil on the
back Of Mr.. Rosenfeld's neck.
"Better change your laundry" cheer
fully advised Doctor Ed, cutting strip
Of adhesive plaster. "Your neck's irri.
tated from your white collars"
Resented eyed him suspiciously.
but, possessing sense Of humor also.
he grinned.
1T amt my everyday things that
bother me-" he replied. "It's my
blankety-blank dress suit. But If q
man wants to be tony"
Mr.. Resented buttoned up the blue
flannel shirt which, with pair Of Doc
tor Eds cast-off trousers, was his only
wear, and fshed in his pocket.
"How much, Doc?"
1.-TWO dollars" said Doctor Ed brisk.
~.
"Holy cats! For one jab Of knife /,
My old woman works day and a
half for two dollars"
Il guess it's worth two dollars to
you to be able to sleep on your back. !"
He was imperturbably Strengthening
his small glass table. He knew Rosen-
field. IF you don't like my price, I'll
lend you the knife next time, and you
can let your wife attend to YOU"
Resented drew out a silver dollar.
and followed it reluctantly with limp
and detected dollar hill.
"There's times" he said, "when, If
you'd put me and the missus and a
knife in the same room, you wouldn't
have much left but the knife"
Doctor Ed waited until he had made
his stiff-necked exit. Then he took the
two dollars, and, putting the money
Into an envelope, Endorsed it in his
illegible hand. He heard his brothers
step on the stairs, and Doctor Ed made
haste to put away the last vestige of
his little operation. Eds lapses from
surgical cleanliness were a sore trial
to the younger man, fresh from the
clinics Of Europe. In his downtown Of
fee, to which he would presently make
his leisurely progress, he wore a white
coat, and sterilized things of which
Doctor Ed did not even know the
names.
Max paused at the office door.
cat it already" he said. "Or have
you been to bed?"
Its after nine," protested Ed mild
~. IF I don't start early, I never get
through"
Max yawned.
"Better come with me-" he said. IF
things go on as they've been doing, I'll
have to have an assistant. I'd rather
have you than anybody, of course"
He put his 1.-THE surgeons hand on his
brothers shoulder. "Where would l
be if it hadn't been for you? All the
fellows know what you've DONE"
In spite Of himself, Ed WINGED. It
was one thing to work hard that there
might be one success instead of two
half successes. 1t was a different thing
to advertise ones inferiority to the
world. His sphere of the Street and
the neighborhood was his own. To
give it all up and become his younger
brothers assistant-even if it meant,
as it would, better hours and more
noney-would be to submerge his
Identity. He could not bring himself
to do it.
Il guess I'll stay where j am" he
said. "They know me around here.
and 1 know them. BY the way. will
you leave this envelope at Mrs. Nc
KEGS? Maggie Resented is ironing
here today. It's for her."
Max took the envelope absently.
you'll go on here to the end of your
uays, working for a pittauce," he OBJ.
.,-clau. Inside OF ten years ,ar,"
De 10 general practitioners; ,ny,.
~here will you pep
"I'll manage somehow" said the
brother placidly. II guess there will
always be few that can pay my prices
better than what you specialists ask"
Max laughed with genuine amuse-
ment.
II dare say, If this is. the way you
let them pay your prices"
He held out the envelope, and the
older man colored.
-
Very proud of Doctor Max was his
brother, unselfishly 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 right to play hard.
He prepared his black bag for the
days calls-stethoscope, thermometer,
eye-cup, bandages, case of small walls,
q lump Of absorbent cotton in not
overfresh towel; in the bottom, het-
erogeneous collection of instruments, a
roll Of adhesive plaster, bottle or
two of sugar-of-1nilk 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 q 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"
I'm afraid not. Max. I've promised