The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-30
DR.. Powell's Curious Book

lips or O wounded soldier. AT the
moment Powell was in the midst OF
his official duties, but forsaking every
thing he rushed to her aid, and lifted
her swOoniug form TO nearby house,
which happened to be her home. The
girls name was Helen Keith. and the
emotion of love which Powell had ex-
perienced as he looked into her pale,
unconscious face was requitted him
when her eyelids finally fiuttered
apart The disparity in their ages
was meaningless and spanned In that
unspoken message of the eyes. And
when Helen. fsws days later, gave
Powell her heart, she also gave him
her hand. 1t was cruel. Powell, him
self. said II was ruthlessly cruel. Thus
once he was known to speak resent
fully OF his surgery. To him the am
putation OF Helen's useless hand was
necessary: but his love for this
stricken girl; his heroine and martyr.
made the operation more painful to
him than it could have possibly been
to her. But Helen did not convalesce
satisfactorily. DR.. Powell despaired
OF the girls life. One day he was over
heard to lament: MY poor, poor
Helen. you are doomed"
Powell was dauntless surgeon
one OF the most successful OF his day
he reckoncd his courage and con-
fidence on the prognosis OF each case
he undertood. unerringly: but 1t was
n dreaded token whenever he shook
his head in certain characteristic
way. that his patient and the latter's
friends might as well give up hope. SO.
in the case of his beloved Helen. he
saw no hope. While her immediate
condition suggested no unfavorable
symptoms In his practised mind, yet
he seemed to always see the out
stretched hand Of fate. Hence. his
opinion was dreaded. yet morbldly
sought: for II had the quality OF in
spring hope or despair. In this way,
he became the apothcosis OF hope to-
ward grateful patients and nemesis
Of evil for certain of his patients who,
in after years, may have aroused his
enmity. Upon the heads Of the latter
he grimly heapcd disaster in divers
forms.
So. In the case OF Helen he had bit
terly acknowledged the inevitable
the end came when fever suddenly
appeared and carried her off after n
few DAYS OF patient suffering. Her last
breath was whisper OF love to the
man who had felt himself powcrless to
save her life for his own.
Shortly after the loss OF the only
woman he had ever loved. DR.. Powell
was notified of an accident to a favor
itc nephew. his namesake. Joseph. The
message said that the boys arm had
been crushed in canc-mill on his
fathers farm. and the doctor lost no
time in reaching the boys side. Upon
his arrival, hasty examination told
him that his surgical skill was In de-
mand. The amputation was success
full and the youthful patient doing
well.-well enough. In fact. to have
warranted DIR. Powell in departing.
hut he chose to stay awhile with his
kinfolks and enjoy daily rambles, OF
which he was fond.
One day during his uncle's absence,
young Joseph complained to his father
- his dismembered arm troubled
~ Father" he said. the skin on
my fingers is peeling off.-come and
see it, The father at once under
stood. and tried TO convince his son
that he merely imagined the annoy
ance. But his assurances were in
effectual. the hoy insisting that he
spoke the truth. His father then de-
cided to examine the member. which
was buried in box down in the field.
recalling the similar experience OF n
friend whose foot had been amputated
and who complained that his toes were
bent into the sole OF his foot In that
case an old man present volunteered
to relieve the sufferer: so. procuring
a lantern, It being night. he went with
a couple of others out into tho lot
back of the house and dug up the box
containing the troublesome foot. The
toes were found on opening the box
TO he turned back toward the sole. as
their former owner had declared. The
old fellow set down the lantern and
Strengthened out the inverted toes.
When. the party returned to the house,
the man said: what did YOU do out
there 10 straghten my toes?"
AS the father approached TIE spot
to unearth the box. DR.. Powell ap-
peared coming across the field. He
seemed to note his relatives purpose.
and held up his hand restrainingly.
Come back to the house." he said,
coming up; "if the boy is complaining,
can ease him."
When DR.. Powell. leading the way,
reached the house. he went forthwith
without word TO his own room. and
after remaining there minute or
two. he emerged and entered his
nephew's chamber. faint smile OF
triumph overspreading his face.
How are the fingers now, my boy p"
he asked.
"All right. Uncle joe" the boy re-
piled: that feeling just left them"
1t was obvious that Powell had kept
his word and relieved the hoy of his
distress-but how? Here was another
phase of the mans mysterious nature,
but experience had taught Powell's
relatives and his acquaintance gen.
orally. that 1t was a waste Of time to
attempt to solve what he himself
would not disclose. The boys father,
however, was much puzzled over the
affair. He wanted to satisfy his GU
riousity concerning the exact condi-
ton Of his sons amputated hand lying
down in the field; so. after dusk, he
stole down to the particular spot and
unearthed the box. BY the aid OF some
matches he examined the member. and
found it simply in natural state of
decomposition. the flesh Of the fingers
being smooth and unabraded. His