Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-01-25
CHAPTER w.

On the morning after Sidney had in
Vited K. LIE MOyne to take her to walk,
Max Wilson came down to breakfast
rather late. Doctor Ed had breakfast
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 a strip
Of adhesive plaster. "Your neck's irri-
tated from your white collars
Rosenfeld eyed him suspiciously,
but, possessing a sense of humor also,
he grinned.
ut amt my everyday things that
bother me" he replied. TITS my
blankety-blank dress suit. But If a
man wants to be tony"
Mr.. ROsenfeld buttoned up the blue
flannel shirt which, with pair of Doc
tor Eds cast-off trousers, was his only
wear, and fished in his pocket.
'HOw much, Door,
1.-TWO dollars" said Doctor Ed brisk
ly.
Holy catsl For one jab of a. knife
Ny old woman works a day and q
half for two dollars"
81 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 bill.
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 q 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.
AT 1t already" he said. 'Or have
you been to bedW
ITS after nine," protested Ed mild
~. eff don't start early, never get
through"
Max yawned.
Better come with me-" he said. ''It
2hiGgs go on as they've been doing III
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
be if it hadn't been for you? All the
fellows know what you've done"
In spite of himself, Ed WINGED. Il
was one thing to work hard that there
might be one success instead of two
naif successes. 1t was a different thin.
10 advertise ones inferiOrity to the
world. His sphere of the Street anC
the neighborho0d was his own. TC
give it all up and become his younger
brothers aSSistant-eyen if it meant
as it would, better hours and more
mOney-would be to submerge his
identity. He could not bring himself
TO do it.
Il guess I'll stay where / am" he
said. They know me around here
and I know them. BY the way, will
sou leave this envelope at Mrs. Nc
KEGS? Maggie Resented is ironing
there today. It's for her"
Sected. Inside of ten years thereT
be no general practitioners; the'
where will you be-"
I'm manage somehow" said th'
brother placidly. Il guess there vii
always be few that can pay my price
better than what you specialists ask.
Max laughed with genuine amuse
nent
Il dare say. il this is the way yol
iet them pay your prices.
He held out the envelope, and tn
Older man colored.
Very proud of Doctor Max was hi
brother, unSeltishly proud, of his skill
Uf his handsome person. of his cas-,
good manners very humble, too, of hi
own knowledge and experience. If h
ever suspected any lack of finer t1be
in Max, he put the thought away
Probably he was too rigid himself
GIaX was young, a hard worker. 81
had right to play hard.
He prepared his black bag for tn
days eaIls-stethoscope thermometer
eye-cup bandages, case of small walls
a lump of absorbent cotton in q no
uFerfreSh towel; in the bottom, het
erogeneous collection of instruments,
roll of adhesive plaster, a bottle o
two of sugar-of-milk tablets for tn
children, a dog collar that had be
longed TO a dead collie, and had go
in the bag in some curious fashion an
there remained.