The Washington herald., 1916-05-07
FIRST STORY.
PUPPETS OF FATE.

Of the white cottage with Its vine OF
June roses clambering up over the door.
The cottage was new-so new that
the fresh. whSs paint upon It was
hardly dry. Even the doctor was new,
as shown by the touch Of boyish ex-
uberance with which he slipped his arm
about the waist Of his brand-new wife
and drew her to him. But the sign was
the newest Of all.
Isn't IT beautlful?" the young bride
breathed softly.
Bullard made no answer in words, but
oblivious to the inquisitivs neighbors
who might be peering at them from be-
hind closed window blinds, bent down
and kissed her on the lips.
It's like mailing ones color to the
masthead. Isn't it?' She clutched bit
excitedly at his arm "Oh. George, we
simply can't let ourselves fail now.
We've got to make good
Small chances Of failure. with you to
spur me on. This sitting down and wait
ing for patients is going to be deuced
tough on a fellow that was kept as busy
as was at the hospital Perhaps
though"
shriIl cry Of terror caused them
both to turn, startled. and they were hor-
rtfed to see passing touring-car knock
down little golden-haired girl who was
attempting to cross the street.
Almost Immediately the owner Of the
machine had brought it to a halt, and
pNr i'm
IN his arms. He glanced about him
wildly a moment; then as he caught sight
Of the freshly hung sign upon the front
Of the cottage he hurried forward.
Are you the DOCTOR" he questioned
sharply.
Why, yes" Bullard half-hesitated,
but I am just moving in, and hardly
in shape to look after patients yet The
hospital is only about eight blocks far
tner on. and"
He halted as he felt Esthers hand
on his arm ip eager protest.
The doctor means" she interrupted
quickly that It will take too long to
reach the hospital with an emergency
case like this. Here let me have the
poor. little dear" relieving the man OF
mis- pathetic burden, and starting toward
the house.
Almost without knowing how it was
done, the doctor found himself in his
white Jacket, and all that he required
-splints. bandages, cotton, hot water
al hand as he needed them.
The little girl was too shaken and eX-
cited to tell clearly who she was or where
she belonged, but somehow. Esther, amid
all her other services. managed to obtain
the desired informa ton, and then since
the child still refused to be parted from
owner Of the car drove them carefully
across town and permitted her to explain
matters to the frightened mother.
Some doctor, that husband OF yours"
the man responsible for the accident pro-
nOunced gratefully, as he drove her back
home.
Yes" Esther nodded. DIR. Bullard is
fine in an emergency"
You're just moving to Mortentown
aren't you?" the man turned to her as II
struck by a sudden idea. Has your hus-
band practiCed anywhere else?''
In Baltimore" she responded, and
hoped that she was not stretching the
truth too far. George had done some
outside charity work while serving as an
inferno at the hospital. Why"
We'll l was just thinking Of some
thing" the man hesitated' I'm the su-
perintendent Of the gas company, you
know, and we have a physician to look
after our men. The old fellow who's got
the Job has kind Of run to seed, and I've
been wondering for some time If
couldn't find a young chap to act as his
assistant, and really run the show. a
live wire like your husband, especially
with his city experience, would just fiji
the bill. Do you suppose, Mrs. BUllard,
that the doctor would consider an offer
Of that kind?"
Esther dropped her eyes to conceal the
CLEAN Of eagerness in them.
Il really don't know" She plated her
skirt thoughtfully between her fingers
How much would the position be
WORTH"
I'm afraid not more than twenty-five
hundred dollars" The man spoke apollo
geucally, never dreaming how narrowly
he escaped an ecstatic hug from the
demure young woman beside him. George
had told her that they would be ex-
traordinarily lucky If he took in $1,000 on
his first year.
She succeeded in concealing her feel
ings. however.
That seems rather small don't you
think she murmured and the upshot of
1t was that she came into the house with
cheeks flushed and eyes dancing with ex-
citement.
oh, George! George" she exclaimed.
Was there ever such a stroke Of good
fortune? You're going to be offered the
post Of surgeon for the gas company
at a salary Of three thousand dollars a
year
Esther was proud and happy woman.
and a proud and happy woman she
remained throughout the succeeding five
years Of their married life
The doctors auspicious start proved
no flash IN the pan. but the firing Of
a scinullatlng train which went leaning
on from success to success.
Bullard had commenced to specialize az
a 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 the old and
s-neither his preceptors nor Yellow stu
cents-wouid ever have dreamed of nra-
dieting an especially brilliant career for
him. Steady. dependable. conscientious.
those were the terms they would have
applied to him. How was 1t then. that
at twenty-eight he became known as
the author Of the celebrated BuIlard
operation, and chosen as the directing
head OF the great memorial hospital
which Mrs. Sylvia Sands was proposing
to erect to her deceased husband? Again
as the French proverb has it, "Cherchez