Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-03-01

only my first assistant in the room. He
was almost as frenZied as [ was. 1t
was the same thing again. When [
told him I was going away, he offered
to take the blame himself, to say he
had closed the incisiOn. He tried to
make me think he was responsible. l
kneW-better."
Its Incredible"
Exactly; but It's true. The last pa
tient was a labOrer. He left a family.
I've sent them money from time to
time 1 used to sit and think about
the children he left, and what would
become Of them. The ironic part of it
was that, for all that had happened, |
was buster all the time. Men were
sending me cases from all over the
country. 1t was either stay and keep
on working, with that chance, Or-quit.
| quit"
But if you had stayed, and taken
extra precautions"
Wed taken every precaution we
knew"
Neither of the men spoke for a time
K. stood, his tall figure outlined against
the window.
That's the worst, is it," Max VIII
son demanded at last.
That's enough"
"Ifs extremely significant. You LA
an enemy somewhere-On your staff,
probably. This profession of ours is a
big one, but you know its jealousies.
Let q man get his shoulders above the
crowd, and the pack is after him." He
laughed a little. Mixed figure, but
you know what I mean"
X. shook his head. He had had that
gift of the big man everywhere, in
every profession, of securing the loyal
ty of his followers. He would have
trusted every one of them with his life.
you're going to do it, of course"
Take up your work?"
''YeS."
He stirred restIessly. To stay on, to
be near Sidney, perhaps to stand by
as Wilson's best man when she was
married-it turned him cold. But he
did not give a decided negative. The
sick man was flushed and growing fret
full; it would not do to irritate him.
Give me another day on it, he said
at last. And so the matter stood.
Max's injury had been productive of
good, in one way. l. had brought the
two brothers closer together. In the
mornings Max was restless until Doc
Tor Ed arrived. When he came. he
brought BOOKS in the shabby bag-his
beloved Burns, although he needed no
book for that, the "Pickwick Papers"
RenanS Lives of the Disciples" Very
often Max would doze off; but at the
cessation of Doctor Eds sOnorous
voice the sick man would stir fretfully
and demand more. 1t pleased the older
man vastly. 1t reminded him of Max's
boyhOod, when he had read to Max at
night. For once in the last dozen
years, he needed him.
Go on, Ed What in blazes makes
you stop every five minutes?" Max pro-
tested, one day.
Doctor Ed, who had only stopped to
bite off the end of stogie to hold In
his cheek, picked up his book in
hurry, and eyed the invalid over it.
Step bullying. I'll read v-hen I'm
ready. Have you any idea what I'm
reading?"
cor course" -
We'll, haven't. For ten minutes I've
been reading across both pages !"
Max laughed, and suddenly put out
his hand. Demonstrations of affection
were so rare with him that for mo-
ment Doctor Ed was puzzled. Then,
rather sheepishly, he took it.
when | get out" Max said, "we1l
have TO go out to the White Springs
again and have supper"
That was all but Ed understood.
On the day when X. had told Max his
reason for giving up his work, Sidney
spent her hour with Max that evening
as usual. His big chair had been
drawn close to a window, and she
found him there, looking out. She
kissed him. But instead of letting her
draw away, he put out his arms and
caught her to him.
Smile at me. You don't smile any
more. You ought to smile; your
mouth"
Il am almost always tired; that's all,
Max"
She eyed him bravely.
aren't you going to let me make
love to you at all? You get away be-
yond my reach"
Il was looking for the paper to read
TO you."
A sudden suspicion famed in his
eyes.
Sidney, you don't like me to touch
you any more. Come here where l can
see you"
The fear of agitating him brought
her quickly. For moment he was ap-
peased.
That's more like it. How lovely you
are, Sidney" He lifted first one hand
and then the other to his lips. "Are
you ever going to forgive me?'
IF you mean about Carlotta, I for
gave that long ago"
He was almost boyishly relieved.
What a wonder she was So lovely,
and SO sane. Many woman would
have held that over him for years-not
that he had done anything really wrong
on that nightmare excursion. But so
many women are exigent about prom
Uses.