The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-09-21
The
$50, 900 Operation
= . = . . . . . . zee



Fo'heringay."
There was Difference even In the
voice u the anesthetist. and In the
way he defcrcntially placed the ether
cone over Mr.. Fothcringay's nose. for
II was 5000 operation. and Mr..
fotherlngay was many times a mil.
lionairc
Yes. that was Mr.. Fotheringsy. that
hulk lying unconscious upon the glass
topped table; that bloated bulk Of a
man. TO operate upon whom Professor
Openhim had been summoned BY spe
clal train from Chicago.
The table containing the inanimats
form Of Professor openhims patient
was wheeled INTO tie OPERATING hsf
ter adjoining The benches YER
packed WITH Iu99sfscsd STUDENTS
and many medical men Of the city.
who had assembled to see something
removed from the stomach Of M.
Fotheringay.
Mr. Fotheringay had swallowed O
small. hard. round metallic object. 80
much the X.ray had revealed. There
II lay. In Mr.. Fotheringay's stomach In.
terfering with the processes Of 81.
other vIsnds such as are prepared for
men ~ Mr.. Fotherinsay's social posi-.
tion.
How did you come 20 swallow
thatf' the surgeon had asked Mr.
Fotheringay
Must have been biting IT," Mr.
Fotheringay responded.
The whItcrob,d nurses were grouped
In solid phalanx about the operating
table. Al least half dozen Of Pro-
lessor Openhim's assistants were
present To assist. one had 10 hold
the forceps. another inserted sponges
In the wound that was TO be inflicted
upon SIR. Fotherlngay. Others were
simply there TO lend prestige TO Pro
fessor openhim and To dignity the day
for II was SiO.UO operation.
Mr.. Fotheringay was we'll known In
the city, not only as the richest man,
but as the biggest skinfInt imagin.
able lie was the sort Of man who
would foreclose on widows mort.
gage and turn a starving child from
his door. Nevertheless. such was the
prestige Of Mr.. Fotheringay that even
his Incredible meannesses vanished into
nothingness before the stupendous fact
OF his wealth.
The surgeon took his scalpel In his
hand. and low sigh Of distress went
up as he made an incision In the body
OF Mr.. Fotheringay.
II seemed sacrilege. Only a mani
with nerves 50 well attuned as Pro
fessor Openhim's could have venturedl
upon the act. Nevertheless. once he
had begun he continued just as II Mr..
Fotheringay had been an ordinary pa.
tient.
Professor Openhim's hand did not
tremble In the least. Nor did the an.
esthetist's fingers shake as he slowly
and methodicslly let the ether drip
upon the cone over Mr.. Fotheringsy's
nose.
The operation was drawing TO an
end. Mr.. Fotheringay had borne the
shock well. lie was still unconscious.
and he had not stirred from first 20
last. Only the stertorous breathing
had Indicated that Mr. Fotheringay's
soul still Inhabited It's earthly tab
ernacle.
one might have wondered what n
was doing while Mr.. Totheringay. look.
ing like a distresxingly fat turkey. wac
being carved. Hut such speculations
ARE sternly discouraged among physl.
clans and surgeons. especially of Pro
fessor Opephim's emlnence. The last
stitches were drawn and the suturins
completed A horrid thought struck
all those about the table simultsne
ously.
suppose a sponge or pair of for
ceps had been left In Mr.. Fotherin.
gays wound!
l. They counted the sponges and tho
forceps eagerly. Nothing had been
left behind. And In his hand the op-
Grating surgeon held the metal disk
that had been taken out Of Mr. Foth.
ingay's body.
Mr.. Fotheringay was wheeled out ot
the operating room. through the anes-
,hetic room into the private room that
had been allotted To him. IL was the
most magnificent private room In the
hospital There lay Mr.. fotherinEay
In bed. looking "A little less fat and
turkey.like. and by his bedside sat q
nurse. waiting for the moment when
Mr. Foihcringay might decide TO open
bis eyes
Mr.. Fo'herinray had not opened his
eyes. but he was speaking. did they
ind ~ hid they md itf' he sshed
In weak whisper.
"Ycs. yes. Mr.. fotheringay," an
swered the nurse.
| Mr. Fotherlngny stretched out his
| hand. Give IL 90 me" he muttered.
The nurse took the metal disk from
the BUREAU and placed II In Mr.. Foth-
erlngay's hand. II was q dime.
Young Solomon.
4