The Washington times., 1937-01-28
NOW READ ON
By LLOYD G. DOUGLAS
Production Soon to Appear in Warner Bros Theaters

NOW, mere, Mr.. PARKER, pegaL
DR.. Graham, you see what We
have to deal with. See there? Rur
your fingers gently along there
That bone-you'vs probably for
gotten your physiology-is the
tibia. That's the big one. That's
the bad one. Feel that?
New this one-the fibula-you
can't feel the break there quite SC
plainly, but it's broken, too. Both
bones broken above the ankle and
the ends spread apart-so. Under
stand? Now, when you pull the
foot, it will have a tendency to
straighten these fragments out to
their proper position. I shall put
on the plaster bandage while this
tension is on-after I've manipu-
lated the ends of the bones into
place. Got it?"
Sounds like it might hurt q
little" observed Parker.
"WeU give him a few whiffs Of
ctloroform," confided the doctor,
a private announcement that
brought instant relief to the pa
tents face.
"Who will?" Parker inquired,
wide-eyed.
"His father" replied DR.. Gra-
ham, adding, reasSuringly, I'll
show him how"
"But-my God!" exclaim d
Parker impulsively. isn't that a
frightfully risky thing to do?"
DR., Graham shook his head un-
concernedly. "I'Il keep an eye on
him, This doesn't call for deep
anaeSthesia. I mean," he ex-
planned, hell not need very much.
It will be safe enough"
Well, thought Parker, if this
doesn't call for deep anaestheSia,
the Piper boy is going to be a
cripple for life. He began to feel
sorry for everybody connected
with the absurd little tragedy. His
amusement and amazement kept
abreast as he helplesSly watched
the preparations for this strange
surgical phenomenon. Herman,
obedient to instructions, came in
from the barn with the long
leather lines belonging to the
buggy harness and anchored his
brothers shoulders to the head Of
the bed. Mrs. Piper came with a
bread-pan half full Of water and
the rolled-up plaster-filled band
ages were immersed.
soon as it stops bubbling," said
DR.. Graham, sprinkling the swollen
leg with talcum powder, we're
ready"
For q moment, Parker was in
clined to be indignant. What
right had this old man to do such
q Slip-shod piece of work? But,
after all, what else was there left
him to do under the circumstances?
Parker's fingers itched to lay
hold on those young bones that
throbbed for competent attention
-. X-ray? Parker had a picture
of that Potts fracture in his head!
OF all the cruel detainmentS he
had experienced since that fateful
morning at Parkway Hospital, this
moment Of Supine waiting for a
broken old man to finish his feeble
pottering, preparatory to sentenc-
ing a husky youth to hobble
through life, demanded a type of
self-restraint that was an offenSe
to his soul.
There was a code of ethics in
the medical profession. 1t had
been Parker'S religion. 1t was a
built-in fiXation. He would abide
by it. But his nails cut his palms.
DR.. Graham, with very shaky
hands and million tiny gliSten-
ing beads of perspiration on his
aSh-white forehead, was manipu-
lating the fractures.
Now, Mr.. Parker" he said in
a frail treble, take the foot firmly
in both hands and pull steadily
not too hard" There was a strained
look on his face as he turned to
the little marble-topped table for
the first of the plaSter-Saturated
bandages. Parker saw him Stagge1
and clutch at the table for support
Mrs. Piper" commanded Par
ker. "Get DR.. Graham a chail
and a glass of cold water. Her
man, come here and hold this foo
exactly the way I'm doing it..
Mr.. Piper, you're holding tha
much higher than DR.. Graham
told you. Put it doWn-cloSer tt
the face! That's more like it
Don't let it touch his nose, bu
keep it close" He took a shee
they had pulled off the bed anc
threw it over Piper'S forearm, ant
reached into the pan for a ban
dage. After a long minute O
waiting, he muttered into Her
mans ear, Nov, my son, you pull
lust as hard as ever you can!"
The deft. vise-like compression
Of Parker's hands as he manipu
lated the fractures and tightly ar
piled the bandage, together Will