Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-11-04
JUST LUCK
ay KATHERINE NEWELL.

SSSSSggSSgSgSSggS 800 g ~
ta. 1889. D. Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
/ Don't you ever get sick % living
In these mOuntainsF
Clyde Hanavan contemplated the
ouestioner in silence for a moment,
slowly removing a piece OF sweet clio
Yer he was chewing before he an
swered. NO, there's lots of life In
the oil country and you meet with all
sorts of folks, mostly big-hearted II
they sometimes amt much in the way
of morals" His clear blue gaze
swept the green foothills of the AT
leghenies lovingly.
Clarence Benson WINGED as the lads
eyes rested on his white arms.
do you always intend TO work on
oil leasess Don't you want to be
something dlfrerent?' Clarence asked
after another silence Of watching anX-
iously for bite.
"Yep, | want to be what your father
wants me to be-the best surgeon IN
the country; but there's darned lit
file chance for me, the only boy, with
a slew. of sisters TO put through
/ school. Gee, but you're a lucky guy !
All. well, / guess there win be money
| in this oil game for us after a while,
but then maybe I'll be too old for med
| icaI school. A fellow should be
trained real young for that work, Ell!
NV hands would be spoiled for sur
gery-toOl dressing spreads 'em SO!
CLYDE looked at his work-stained, we'll
shaped hands regretfully; then
stretching out his long, graceful limbs
he got up and, pushing back mop OF
dark red hair, looked down with
wistful smile at Clarence Benson IDLY
watching the float in the sparkling
water. "They say that everything
comes to those who wait but l am
inclined to think that it's just luck
with some folks, like you and your
fishing an becoming surgeon.
Some folks would set around this lake
a whole week and don't git the catches
you get in a day" He STROBE out
toward the oil well on the hilltop
"What do you know about that,
MOTHER Clarence Benson died last
night!" Clyde Hanavan put down
the newspaper, and his lips trembled
for a moment.
Eyes, / heard that down at the post
office this morning. 1t appears that
Clarence had appendicitis, but Doctor
Benson was afraid to have him oper-
ated on, so he tried treatment. Finally
he got a surgeon from New York, bu'
1t was TOO late, the lad only llVed
few hours after the operation. Seems
as though Doctor Benson would go
crazy, they say; he'd set his heart on
that boy being such wonderful sur
geon: he was an only child. too" SAID
Mrs. Hanavan with thankful sign as
she looked at her family around her.
Gosh, aren't / glad I'm alive! But
l feel bad over Clarence Benson!
A few months later Doctor Benson
broken in health and spirit over the
death of his idolized son, came to ms
home in The foothills, where he owned
some property adjoining the Hama
vans lease.
A few weeks later "wash out"
wrecked the evening train at the top |
of the Mountain Gauge, resulting IN
many injured and killed. Doctor
LYNCH. the nearest medical man, was
miles off and could not reach the spot
for an hour or so. Old doc" With
ers called for Clyde Hanavan to help |
him, but the doctors eyesight was so
bad that it fell to Clyde's skilled
fingers to bandage and ease the in
iured, to remove and care for the
dead.
Suddenly he thought of Doctor Ben
son in his loneliness and grief. Here
was a man for the job. Why hadn't
anyone thought of calling him be-
fore?
Clyde vas just completing his first
aid" to the terribly burned engineer
and had given "hypos" to the rest or
the injured under Doctor Withers' or
ders, when Doctor Benson arrived at
the scene of the wreck.
81 don't see that there is anything
left for me to do. You have already
done everything that can be done I'M
der such GOd-fOrsaken conditions
and a little more why call
me? would like to congratulate the
man or men who are responsible for
such wonderfully efficient first ala,
since 1 was told there was no doctor
around" he said, lifting his lantern
on the crowd, the light falling on
Clyde Hanavan and the bent form OF
Doctor Withers leaning on his arm.
ut was Clyde Hanavan, sir lie
fixed 'em all upl" piped small voice
rom the darkness.
81 fixed 'em up, sir, but Doc With
,rs taught me first aid and couldn't
ave done 1t without him, sir, an al
yays loved this kind Of thing, only for
he sake Of helping folks not to sur
or though" Clyde's face grew req
lnder the keen gaze of the big sur
,eon.
ITS TOO bad the lad can't be made
surgeon; he's wonderful at his first
i'd work, Doctor Benson" Doctor