The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-10-05
A DOCTORS SON
BY MARY LOUISE CORNER


70 by Mcclure Newspaper So ndicate.)
The old Garrick house dts firmly
and impressively on the very summit
Of Fox HILL When 1t was first built,
this square, red brick domlcile with
the quaint colonial portico was the
show place of Merrimac Mills. Be
meath its hospitable roof Doctor Gar
rick, then man Of twenty-eight, and
distinguished graduate Of leading
medical school. introduced his bride
to the townspeOple. There, few
years later, was born his only son.
Dan Garrick.
The doctor, true father that he was,
idOlized that boy. In due course, Dan
graduated with honors from the medl.
cal school-the same school that had
given his father a degree. Bursting
with pride and plans for the future,
the doctor brought out his new road
ster and drove to the station to meet
his son.
"I'm the proudest man in Merrimac
Mills, my boy" he confided, happily,
as they headed for the red house on
! Fox Hill. Ever since you were lit
tie shaver no bigger than Aunt Chloe's
Sam I've dreamed of the day when you
could step into my shoes and carry on
the good work"
Dad" Dan explained, II don't want
to become doctor. It doesn't appeal
to me. think I'll try journalism"
Journalism" echoed the doctor be-
tween his clenched teeth. "Hang jour
nalism! ~
If Dan did not inherit his fathers
taste for medicine he was heir to
something just as characteristics
stubborn will. In vain did the doctor
plead, cajole, rage and threaten. Dan
was firm. He applied for a reporters
| job on the Merrimac News and got 1t.
But he left the Garrick house, and
when he and father met on the street
they did not speak.
These meetings panied Dan almost
as much as they must have panied his
father. He had to struggle with all his
force of mind to keep from surrender
ing to the Doctors wishes, when he
saw the lines of sorrow and disap-
| pOintment in his fathers face. They
recalled to him the doctors parting
words, uttered as the two Of them
faced each other in the study on the
| night of their alteration.
"Y0u were born to be a DOCTOR" he
had declared holly. "Some day heaven
is going to call upon you to do your
duty. Maybe you'll believe that !"
! The words burned themselves into
Dams brain. Often they came between
him and his work. He was thinking of
them on certain stormy night in De-
cember as he waited for an assignment
in the 'locaP' room. Suddenly Carson's
thin metallic summons brought him to
his feet and sent him scurrying into
the editors office.
you're a doctor, aren't you, Gar
rick| questioned Carson, anxiously.
"I-yes, in a way" admitted Dan,
reluctantly. ''Tve got degree, but
not much parctice to speak Of"
"Your father is out on a case in
Hadley. Nick's wife needs doctor
right away. Think you could"
"I'm very sorry Dan began firmly.
II can't"
"You can and will" snapped Car
son. 'This is an assignment I'm Civ.
ing you to help the wife of one Of the
finest men that ever set line of type.
Now get out and don't come back
here until you've covered"
Dan went. He dragged Lem Parks
out Of bed and they drove in LENS
rusty little car to Merrimac Bridge.
"Jingo!" calculated Lem, as he
pulled down tie snow-clotted wind.
shield. "The bridge is gone!"
"Tve got to get across that river,
Lem" Dan muttered, grimly. "Nicks
wife is in agony over there and I've
got to help her."
| "You'll have to swim, then" retorted
Lem, dryly. "A boat couldn't get you
across in water like that"
! "All right. I'll SWIM" said Dan.
"Strap the kit on my back, Lem"
"Strap The kit" repeated Dan. Lem
obeyed him without further protest,
fastening the little black valise to the
4 doctors back.
Dan slipped into the icy waters and
the battle was on. He made straight
for Vicker's Mill, but the force of the
current and the binding snow and
sleet carried him a good mile beyond
his destination. He crawled up the
opposite bank and made his way
!, through the storm. Nick met him at
the door and ushered him into a room
where his wife lay on cot, moaning.
A dozen eternities might have passed
before Dan placed tiny, red, squall-
ing atom Of life at the unconscious
womans side and went out to find the
troubled father.
"Fine boy" he announced, smiling
i ly. you're in luck, Nick"
"Thank heaven" mumbled Nick.
you're true son of your dad, Dam"
"You We're born to be a DOCTOR" his
fathers words ran through his brain
again. Some day heaven is going to
call upon YOU"
i "Going to succeed your dad, aren't
your" Nick persisted.