Catoctin clarion., 1917-12-06
A Modem
David
By WARREN MILLER
Copyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union. }

completed his medical education when
the Worlds war broke out, and Of
course he Joined the surgeons Of the
French army Doctor Larrabee was
better fitted to give medicines to wom-
en- and children than to attend the
wounded on the battle field. He was
small of stature and delicately Or
ganized.
The young doctor was, moreover,
in love with Louise Rappelier. He was
not successful in his suit, for Louise
admired strength. She looked for
ward to marrying some hero of the
war, some imposing man with fierce
mOustachios.
"GO," she said, "and do your duty
in the field in which you are placed.
A surgeon may win decoration as
well as one in the trenches. hope
you will return safely, and having
shown yourself brave man, I care
not how"
Castor went forth without any hope
of proving that he possessed what he
had no taste for. He would much
rather have remained and fed pellets
to children; but the government did
not propose that he should do so.
Gaston's small stature, his soft
voice, his gentlemanliness, soon
brought down on him the sarcasm Of
his associates That is, some Of his as
soclates. Most of them liked him. 1t
was only the rough-hewn men who
were indelicate enough to twit him
for his delicacy. There was no oc-
casOn for taunting him, for he did his
work cOnscientiously, and If war was
not to his taste, that was no fault Of
his. He could not force his likes or
dislikes.
Captain BOmbarier was Doctor Lar
rabee's opposite. He came Of rough
stock, and had received very little edu-
cation. He hated refinement, and eduS
cation was detestful to him. The lit
tie doctor was to him like q red rag
to mad bull. The two men were Of
the same corps, and were consequent
ly thrown together. BOmbarier never
lost an opportunity to cast slur on
the doctors small hand or foot, or his
soft voice, which latter was as unlike
the captains as the coo Of a dove to
lions roar.
Bombarier's taunts finally reached
insults. Gaston's friends suggested to
him to ask for a transfer to corps
where he would not be subject to the
captains remarks, but the doctor said
that would not avail. The reputation
for having failed to resent an insult
would follow him. Besides, he would
find others disposed to pounce upon
him. No, he preferred death rather
than live an object of contempt. He
would challenge Captain Bombarier.
If he were killed his sufferings would
be ended. However, the matter might
end, it might in future render him
less liable to insult.
The next time BOmbarier cast slur
on the doctor, Castor challenged him
to fight. The captain laughed at the
idea of fighting such delicate little
fellow, and ignored. the challenge. This
would have been well enough had he
ceased his slurs. For a time he was
not quite so contemptuous, but soon
was as irritating as ever. Then the
other officers took the matter up and
insisted that he fight the doctor.
Bombarier reluctantly consented.
stating that he was placed In false
position as the opponent Of such
stripping and meeting was ar
ranged. The seconds, in order that
nothing serious might come of 1t, or to
save the little doctors life, separating
the combatants 800 yards, naming
rifles for weapons. The duelists were
placed as far from the trenches as the
circumstances would admit. but the
distance was not great. When all
was ready, the word "Aim" was given.
and each raised his rifle to his shoul-
der. CASTOR aimed at nothing, shut
ting his eyes. At the word "Fire" two
shots rang out simultaneously. The
doctor was unharmed, but the captain
fell dead.
Doctor Larrabee was sure that he
had not killed his enemy, unless 1t was
by accident, for he had not wished to
have the blood Of anyone upon his con-
science. Be he could not convince the
seconds that he had not done so. They
buried the captain and proclaimed the
doctor man who was not to be trifled
with.
One of the men who buried the body
of Captain Bombarier noted that he
had been shot In the back He In
ferred that he had been killed by
stray bullet that had come from the
enemy's trenches. But being friend
of the doctors he made no mention OF
the discovery, not wishing to mar the
effect of his achievement.
From that time forward Surgeon
Larrabee suffered nothing from his
delicate makeup. Indeed, being a
contrast to his supposed courage, 1t
rendered him an object Of interest. He
was pointed out as the man who had
killed the overbearing Bombarier.
News of his feat reached his friends
at home, and when he was wounded
during service on the battlefield, and
went home on leave, he found him.
self double hero. Louise Rappelier
relented and accepted him, not be-
caues he was hit doing his duty. but
because he had killed man who had
taunted him.
Doctor Larrabee had become used
to fire-men will become used to any
thing-and is marked man In the
army, but he is chi fly admired as that
refined little gentl' man. who. like Da>
vid. killed his GolLsth.
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