Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-12-16
JUST LUCK
BY kATHERINE NEWELL

g BY kATHERINE NEWELL. q
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ta is2o. hy Neclsre Newspaper Syndicate
Don't you ever get sick of living
In these moUntains?"
Clyde Hanayan contemplated the
questiOner In silence for a moment.
slowly removing a piece of sweet clio
yer he was chewing before he an
swered. mo. there's lots of life in
the oil countfy and you meet with all
sorts Of folks. mostly big-hearted IL
they sometimes amt much in the way
of morals" His clear blue gaze
swept the green foothills of the Al
leghenieS lovingly
ClarenS Ienson WINGED as the lads
eyes rest " bis white arms.
intend to work on
oil you want TO be
some S Clarence asked
"Yep, IL what your father
wants me ie best surgeon in
the count chere's darned lit
tie chance :, the only boy, with
slew of sers to put through
school, Gee rSIt you're a lucky guy!
All, well, | guess there will be money
in this oil game for us after while,
but then maybe I'll be too old for med
ical school,. A fellow should be
trained real young for that work, Ell?
My hands would be spoiled for sur
gery-tOoi 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 a
wistful smile at Clarence Benson idly
watching the float in the sparkling
water "They say that everything
comes to those who wait, but am
inclined to think that it's just luck
with some folks, like you and your
fishing an becoming a 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.
n os.1 hof OF
office this morning. 1t appears that
Clarence had sappendicitis, but Doctor
Benson was afraid to have him oper-
ated on, so he tried treatment. Finally
he gotR b surgeon from New York, bu'
It wa Zoo late, the lad only lived
few h after the operation. Seems
IS though Doctor Benson would go
crazy, they say; he'd set his heart on
hat boy being such a wonderful sur
yeon; he was an only child, too" said
Mrs. Hanavan with thankful sigh as
he looked at her family around her. {
Gosh, al vt I glad I'm alivel But .
feel bad over Clarence Benson J
A few months later Doctor Benson, s
IrOken in health and spirit over the i
eath of his idolized son, came to his S
!ome in the foothills, where he owned II
ONE property adjoining the Hama t
ans lease. 4
A few weeks later a wash out"
yrecked the evening train at the top {
{ the Mountain Gauge, resulting in
lany injured and killed. Doctor
ynch, the nearest medical man, was
lilies off. and could not reach the spot
1r an hour or so. Old doc" With
rs called for Clyde Hanavan to help :.
i'm, but the doctors eyesight was so 81 81
ad that 1t fell to Clydes skilled ii
ngers to bandage and ease the in
lred, to remove and care for the hi
cad. to
Suddenly he thought of Doctor Ben "
N in his loneliness and grief. Here 20
as a man for the job. Why hadn't re
1yone thought Of calling him be- he
re?
Clyde was just completing his first dT
d" to the terribly burned engineer III
ID had given TYPOS to the rest Of or
e injured under Doctor Withers' or K
rs, when Doctor Benson arrived at sa
e scene of the wreck. mi
II don't see that there is anything
t for me to do. You have already ST
ne everything that can be done I'M -
r such God-forsaken conditions
and a little more; why call
!? ! would like to congratulate the
N or men who are responsible for
h wonderfully efficient first aid,
ce was told there was no doctor
,und," Ne said, lifting his lantern
the c ,wd, the light falling on
de HarWvan and the bent form OF
ctor Withers leaning on his arm.
1t was Clyde Hanavan, sir. He
ID 'em all up!" piped small voice
m the darkness.
l fixed AEip, sir. but Doc With
taugk sst aid' and couldn't
e C Maut him, sir, an | al
" ~SG I'd of thing, only for nm
O. ~W -uns X folks not to suf-
kde's face grew red