The midland journal., 1917-01-26

3
Into an envelope, indorsed 1t 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 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 white
coat, and sterilized things OF which
Doctor Ed did not even know the
names.
Max paused at the Office door.
"At it already" he said. "Or have
you been to bed?"
"It's after nine," protested Ed mild
ly. "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 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 1t meant,
as it would, bettec hours and more
money-would be to submerge his
identity. He could not bring himself
to do it.
ST guess I'll stay where I am" he
said. 'aThey know me around here,
and I know them. By the way, will
you leave this envelope at Mrs. Nc
KEGS? Maggie Rosenfeld is ironing
there today. It's for her."
Max took the envelope absently.
"YouIl go on here to the end Of your
days, working for pittance," he OBJ
jected. "Inside Of ten years there'll
be no general practitioners; then
| where will you be?"
'Tll 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.
81 dare say, If this is the way you
let them pay your prices"
He held out the envelope, and the
older man cOl0red.
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,
a lump of absorbent cotton in a not
overfresh towel; in the bottom, het-
erogeneous collection of instruments, a
roll of adhesive plaster, a bottle or
two Of sugar-of-milk tablets for the
children, 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 a 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.
'sAre you going to the hospital?"
Operating at four-wish you could
come in."
"Pm afraid not, Max. I've promised
Sidney Page to speak about her to
you. She wants to enter the training
school,"
"Too young" said Max briefly.
"Why, she can't be over sixteen"
"She's eighteen"
'Well, even eighteen. Do you think
any girl of that age is responsible
enough to have life and death put in
her hands? Besides, although haven't
noticed her lately, she used to be a
pretty little thing. There is no use
filling up the wards with lot Of
ornaments; it keeps the internes all
stewed up"
"Since when," asked Doctor Ed mild
ly, shave you found good looks in a
girl handicapT
In the end they compromised. Max
would see Sidney at his office. 1t
would be better than having her run
across the Street-wOuld put things
on the right footing. For, If he did
have her admitted, she would have to
i lnnrn nt nnnn that ho HuaS M lnnrer