Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-09-06
T n 9 ID a Ill Y
Short Story
THE DEATH TABLET.
BY Everett McCloud.

DR.. JerneEan, who had acted as
surgeon iu the Spanish American war
was one Of the first medical men to
offer his services to France on the
opening Of The great worlds war
While in Cuba he was very young
man and full of military as we'll as
medical spirit. He had fought a duel
while the army was operating before
Santiago and on one occasion had dis
ltinguishea himself by remaining
among the wounded when all his COM
rades had been driven oil the field
But Jernegan at - was q different
man from the not headed Jernegan at
.. From a man Of impulse he had
developed mtg q man of thought and
we'll considered action, He rose rap
idly in the esteem Of the French med
zeal staff and before long was made
the medical director Of an army d.
vision.
AT a period when the French were
hard pressed by the Germans TIA the
1atter's efforts to capture Ferdun Jer-
negan was directing the distributions
of surgeons upon different parts Of the
/ field, vainly endeaVorIug 70 make the
/ limited number at his command suf-
fee, when a young French surgeon
named DerviouX came In with a hos
complaint against one lie EeEre. q fell
! low surgeon, VINO had ordered him or
the field for what lie Fevre considered
I gross neglect of q wounded man.
Doctor" said DerviOux TO Jerns
i gan, Il Propose to challenge lie Fevrt
/ to fight, and Ii ifs necessary Tor me To
secure your permission In tns mat
ter"
"Go to the front" replied Jerneza1
/ sternIv, where the Germans are nov
/ launching an attack. and If you ar
not killed I viii give lie Fevre
/ chance at you
When the attack was repulsed Der
vieux returned to his superior. Jerue
gan was SO absorbed in his duties an.
esponstbilities that he did not recog
nize him.
Well he said, "what can 7 do for
you ?"
II wish your permission, doctor. 60
/ fight q duel"
Well. YOU can't get 49, There are
enough of cur surgeons killed hy the
enemy without their killing each
other. Dueliug under such circum-
stances is rcprehensible'
But. doctor. j have heard that you
fought 81 duel while in the American
army and at the 'front.'
The doctor was taken fat aback by
lhis He made no reply fog q few mo-
meuts. He was thinking. Finally be
said
Come 10 me with your adversary
tomorrow after we have got some Of
these wounded men off to hospital.
and 7 viii see what I can dc for you
The next afternoon the two antago-
nists reported at JerneFan headquar-
ters and stood before him seowliug at
each other Jeruegan endeavored TO
Impress upon them the folly OF duel
ing, especially when there was plenty
of necessary lighting on hand but the
custom has never been stamped out IN
France though many efforts have been
made To eradicate 1t. Finally recag-
uiZ5ug the futility OF his efforts the
American said to his subordlnates.
France cannot spare amy off her
surgeons now. but since YOU gentle
men must show your pluck sou may
do so under q plan by which only one
VIII die Under the code both may be
killed or at least disabled Under my
plan one VIII surely die while the
other will still he fit for duty"
The doctor pledged both parties l1
- H. 80 5s.L. 49,. , III
5aToro him tho, 1.ara dvza-I,, +Ha
same size shape and color
"0ne Of those pills. said Joruegan,
..,.i. ~. l.,.
- .arsi.,,5a- -,.+t-.,.a4 The
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