Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-07-11

l
ing, when he reached home from de-
livering Mrs. Hicks Of boy baby after
an all night vigil Thct all night vigil
wasn't exactly necessary, but Mrs
Hicks was young, and this was her
first, and she lived out in the country
and she was scared. She had had a
hard time. Good Lordl He ought to be
out there now seeing how she was. He
ought to be making the rest Of his
calls.
Then he remembered. Dick was tax
ing care of Mrs. Hicks and the rest
of them. He had left definite written
instructions before he climbed into bed.
He sank back on the pillow with q
I deep sense of satisfaction and relief.
He was pretty lucky to have son
following so closely In his footsteps,
doctor whom he could trust. OF
course, Dick was young. He had been
in actual practice only five months,
since he had completed his intern
ship in Chicago. But already he was
showing signs Of becoming good gen.
eral practitioner. He was careful and
sensible. When he wasn't sure of his
own diagnosis he wasn't afraid to ask
for help.
Downstairs, the front door slammed
and he heard his daughter Pat, come
in singing, Love in Bloom" He lay
there staring at the ceiling and real
lied he was nearing the end of his
road and he had done pretty well. He
was 81. But both Of his children were
educated Pat was safely on her way
to be married to young Bill Haight, an
up-and-coming youngster who, at IS,
owned his own garage and service
station. Dick had already taken up the
had built in Chenille in his "a years
as physician.
He heard Ella, his wife, petulantly
inquiring into Pats morning activities,
and he hastily changed the adjective
comfortable" to large" The large
practice he had built up. Ella always
made him do that. Ella carefully point
ed out about so times day that his
large practice would have also been a
comfortable one if he weren't such a
fool that he couldn't or wouldn't collect
his bills.
She was right, Of course. If he had
all the money owed MIN in Chenille 1
he would have late model car instead 1
Of a wheezy 1923 Durable, an office in
the Professional building on Main |
street instead Of this jumbled, disor-
dered room with its horse-hair furni- !
ture and its one examination table in 1
the wing Of the house. Ella would have
a staff Of servants instead Of one
woman Of all work. Dick would be en-
barking on q genteel practice in Chi
cago or New York, or some other large
city. Pat would be in society. BY now
she would have been tout" three years.
She was 81.
He didn't blame Ella a bit for feel
Ing the way she did. He knew he wasn't
a very good business man. He hated
10 take money from people when he
knew they needed it, even though he
had earned it. He was q fool. But
here he was. You couldn't change peo-
pie and make them different from
what they were.
Ella didn't know that. She never
would know it. She was driving, am
Jitious woman, and life had foiled her.
he knew she would never forgive old (
Mother Nature for trapping her into !
him. She could have mar
led Jim Crum, the banker, because she (
had been beautiful, and Jim had (
wanted her.
Gosh, ne grinned, where she would
,e now If she had married JimI With {
lis money behind her nothing would {
top her. Even as 1t was she was an
inward She was pres 9
dent of the Chenille First Methodist
hurch, the towns one-woman board I
4 censorship, and its last word on 7
morals. It must be pretty hard on her !
0 be married to no-account nonbe- 4
lever like him, who hadn't proven him
elf much better than provider OF Z
he bare necessities. No, he didn't U
lame Ella. II
He went to the bathroom, and as he +
ot out his shaving things he peered
nt0 the glass. A heavy-set man With 6
thinning black hair heavily laced with r
ray looked back at him out OF twink ,
ng blue eyes. The nose was blunt &
nd the mouth ick-lipped and gen. q
rous. He was, he noted, putting on &
Ieight He'd have TO either exercise d
r diet, or both. AS he shaved he
locked out q diet. No potatoes, white
read or other starchy foods. Setting s
D exercises every morning.
Luncheon was on the table when he G
anne downstairs and ne helped him. h
If literally to potatoes and put three s
ices Of white bread on his butter o.
late.
"Dieting again, see, dad" Pat said. v
he was tail and slender, and, her W
lther thought, very beautiful with Il
er blue eyes, turned-up nose and b
Iughing mouth. She must be. She had b
on q newspaper beauty contest last st
eek. A chance to 60 to Hollywood II b
ed had the money to spend ON her Il
expenses al
yes" he said. Cutting down on lie
read. No moro than one loaf per h
eal Dick back YETI"
Dick came in as he spoke. He re-