Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-06-08
AROUND
THE DARK
CORNER
% By B. j. wsis6.I

w and put up his feet on the
porch railing Of the Pal
ace hotel at Carter Center.
1.-THE Judge is the last one l ever
thought would be Quitter" COM
mented Ed Strong, with an uncovered
yawn. "Why, he and this here town
grew up together from the time they
both wore rompers."
HE amt to blame" drawled Fatty
Knight, the third member of the group
on the hotel veranda. Its his wife's
doings. Caroline Simpson has the old
man trained to eat out Of her hand
and she declares that all the folks up
and leaving has got on her nerves."
Funny how a black little hole in
the ground keeps things goin'," ruml-
mated Strong. Before the Jumping
Frog shut down-and the drought set
in-Carter Center was as prosperous
a burg as they make 'em. Three
movie theaters, 'leven resorts on
Main street alone and clerks at the
Golden Rule Bazaar fallln' over each
other to wait on the throngin' custo-
mers. It was live town, all right"
well, It's a dead town, all right,
now" grunted Al Frazer, "and as
cheerful for the survivors as sitting
up with any corpse. Hello, doc;
trunk packedT he called In greeting
to a tall, broad-shouldered but wealth
er-beaten looking man with grizzled
hair and close-clipped beard getting
out Of a car that had drawn up at the
curb.
How could leave town with
Knight in his present precarlous con-
ditlon?" answered Doc SandersOp, as
with a sly wink at Fatty's direction
he mounted the veranda steps.
There were outlaws Of laughter,
with Fatty's own plump chpckle on
the outer edges; then, with the eager
ness of the old-maid male gossip, Ed
Strong Importantly announced:
"Well, the Simpsons are leavin' the
first of the month, anyhow"
You're not serlousf" incredulously
exclaimed the doctor.
"Sure, It's straight goods that I'm
glvln' you, and no sand In the sugar
Their Carrie told our Opal"
"Who next?" repeated Al Frazer.
This time Doc Sanderson made nc
jocular reply. Instead, ne stood mo-
ment lost in thought, then, slowly
entered the hotel lobby and began to
climb the stairs to his patient on the
third floor, for the elevator was out OF
order, and as there were only sever
guests, all told, In the house, the ex
pense of having II repaired did no
seem to be justified.
His visit at the Palace and two 9th
err. calls made, Doc Sanderson's tow
cases for the day were disposed Of
and in the chugglng little filvver h
started Off to see sick woman a
Pine Ridge, some fifteen miles beyond
the shutdown mine.
II was a day Of late autumn wher
the earlier glOrified gold and crimson
foliage had passed and the trees by
the roadside rose dark and forblddini
with scar, burnt out leaves falling
to the ground like mans dead hopes
Isabel had been right, thought the
doctor. broodlngly, as he drove under
the lowering sky Of dull gun-metal, a
cutting wind lashIng in his face. He
ought to have left Carter Center nine
years ago when the opening at Glen
brook presented itself. Now II was
too late. In his profession, man
over sixty could not begin to build up
new practice In a new place.
A sudden dynamic change shot
through the sagging figure at the
wheel The dropping shoulders
straightened. Head went up In the
dull eyes gIOwed klndled fires. Doc
Sanderson was fighting mad.
Years ago when he had first come
m Carter Center with his Young wife
and baby. girl he was a comparative
0reenhorn in his profession. But since
then no had been both general prac
titioner and surgeon. with all sorts
~ cases and emergencies TO test his
ability Yet ss keen Of mind as ever.
az skilled Of hand-wIth all that the
wears had brought him of Invaluable
exnerience-now bv an IRONY OF fate
no was ohout To no laid on the shelf
Tho road grow rou0ber. tho wind
rhInned colder
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