The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-02-10
THE DOCTORS CAT
BY FRANCES GOODRICH.

'WA lsZO. oy Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate. !
Through the stiffness of the night
came deep, mellow roar, and i.!any
Of the occupants of the little fishine
shacks turned une6sily on their beds
and muttered: There goes the doctor
In his devil wagon" They had never
In their lives seen anything like the
mysterious vehicle in which the doc
tor rode, vehicle that had no visible
means Of lOcOmotiOn, yet rOared down
their narrow, crooked streets like the
wind when the doctor was answer
ing sick call.
The people loved the doctor, but
hated his car with all the hatred and
ignorance of superstitious minds, and,
as Tim Barden expressed It, IF only
the doctor didn't have that thing he
would be all right, and the same ss
u.s." Mil.
That remark fell on fertile ground
when Jim Carter heard it. Jim was a
great, uncouth fellow-a giant in physi-
cal strength, but pigmy in mental
growth. He was subject to terrible
fits of rage, but as during these he
harmed but himself, he was allowed
to wander at his own sweet will. He
worshiped the doctor, but hated his
car with equal fervor, and at the first
sound of it's horn he would hide Until
it passed.
Now Tim Barden's words suggested
something to him, and the thought be-
gan to work in his darkened mind
How wonderful 1t would be to lave
the doctor without his car For sew
eral days he pondered this over, then
one dark night Tim crept up to the
door and listened. In his hand he
carried a great sledge hammer.
Not sound came from the shed !;
perhaps the monster was sleeping. AS
quietly as possible he swung the door
open and peered in. A sickening feel
Ing of terror swept over him, and an
almost uncomfortable impulse to shut
the door and dash for safety, but he
must rid them of this thing, no mat
ter if the doctor did like it-some
day 1t would harm the doctor, too.
The big eyes that frightened him
were closed now, and only faint
light showed the outlines Of the big
roadster. He knew that back Of those
eyes was the thing that lived, and
with the rush of rage that suddenly
swept over him, he brought the great
hammer down with all his strength.
There was q. sound of crushing metal.
and splnterlng glass, and Jim felt
that his work was good. AS he stood
there with the hammer poised for an
other downward swing, he might have
been a modern st. George fighting the
dragon. Another blow and he dropped
the hammer and fed.
In the early morning Doctor Gran.
don was awakened by someone pound.
ing at the door. 1t was Tim Barden.
His little daughter, the dearest thing
in Tins heart, was desperately sick.
Hastily the doctor threw on his
clothes and rushed to the shed for the
car. The moon had risen, and as he
threw open the door strange sight
met his eyes. The roadster looked ss
though it had been in head-on col
lision. 1t took but few minutes for
the doctor to ascertain that the car
was beyond use then, SO he thought
Of the best way to get to Tins. Tim
had already started back on foot, but
the doctor, who knew the child's dan
ger, dreaded to think of the precious
time that would be wasted If he must
make it that way.
However, there was no other way
out of it, but he thought Of short
cut over the rocks. Perhaps, with the
bright moonlight he could make 1t safe
ly. He knew that there were many
danger spots to those unused to the
path, but he got his bag and started.
At the first bad place he stood for
minute undecided how best to make
It, then he heard football behind him
and looking back saw Jim Carter max.
ing his way sure footed over the rocks
toward him. Then Jim caught up with
him and without word Of explanation
except TO say: II know this way bet
ter than you do, DOCTOR" he picked the
doctor up as though he had been
child and carried him easily over the
treacherous places. They made the
trip in record time In that manner,
Jim carrying the doctor over the dan
gerous places.
At last TINS old tumbledown shack
was reached, but the doctor saw at
a glance that he was too late. If he
could have reached her sooner there
was no doubt that the child could have
been saved.
AS gently as possible he told them
the truth, and bitter was the wailing
when Tim and his wife understood that
their only child could not live. But
more bitter than all was the terrible
cry that Jim gave as he threw himself
on the floor at the doctors feet. Rose
had been his little chum, and when he
realized that by his own act he had
kept the doctor from reaching her in
time to save her life, his agony was
10 preaf that the. doctor feared he