The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-10-13
A DOCTORS SON
BY MARY LOUISE CORNER

| 1SS9S9SE5E5E 95CE5t
20 by Mcclure Newspaper sJndicate)
The old Garrick house hts firmly
and impressiyely on the very summit
of Fox Hill. When it was first built
this square, red brick domicile with
the quaint colonial portico was the
show place of Merrimac Mills. Be
meath it's hospitable roof Doctor Gar
rick, then man of twenty eight, and
a distinguished graduate of leading
medical school, introduced his bride
to me tOwnspeOple. There, a few
years la-er, 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 medi.
cal schoOl-the same school that had
given his father 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 a 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, 81 don't want
to become doctor. 1t doesn't appeal
to me. l think I'll try Journalism"
Journalism" echoed the doctor be-
tween his clenched teeth. Hang jour.
nalism! 2"
If Dan did not inherit his fathers
taste for medicine he was heir to
something just as characteristic-a
stubborn will. In vain did the doctor
plead, cajOle, rage and threaten. Dan
was firm. He applied for reporters
| job on the Merrimac News and got it..
| 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.
"You were born to be 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 local" room. Suddenly Carson's
thin metallic summons brought him to
his feet and sent him scurrying into
the editors office.
You're doctor, aren't you, Gar
rick?" questioned Carson, anxiously.
"I-yes, in way" admitted Dan,
reluctantly. 1--WE got a degree, but
not much parctice to speak Of"
"Your father is out on a case in
Hadley. Nick's wife needs a doctor
right away. Think you could"
I'm very sorry" Dan began firmly,
81 can't"
"You can and Wilt" 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 the snow-clotted wind
shield. "The bridge is gone"
"Pve got to get across that river,
Lem" Dan muttered, grimly. "Nick's
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
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 a cot, moaning.
A dozen eternities might have passed
before Dan placed a tiny, red, squall-
ing atom of life at the unconscious
woman's side and went out to find the
troubled father
"Fine boy" he announced, smiling
ly. You're in luck, Nick"
THANK heaven" mumbled Nick.
You're a true son OF your dad, Dan"
you were born to be a DOCTOR" his
fathers words ran through his brain
again. ''Some day heaven is going to
call upon you"
Going to succeed your dad, aren't
your" Nick persisted.
yes" said Dan. And he said 1t
with a thrill of pride that sounded
strange in his ears. Il guess dad was
right. after all" His voice trailed
into choking gasp. He tainted.