Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1942-05-08

"What ABOUT o@Iu IN -
rightly.
"He didn't say" said the voice with
dignity.
Chris went back to his heart, puz-
zled but not excited, and at three O.
clock he found himself in crowded
anteroom in the Municipal Building
If was almost four o'clock before his
turn came to enter the august pres
ance. Chris, with some calls still to
make. stalked into the inner office
uncompromisingly and glared down
at the man behind the desk, heavy
gentleman with an unctuous smile
and a penetrating eye
my names Arden. l believe you
wanted to see me"
The Mayor nodded. "Sit down, Doc
tor. Yes, 1 sent for you. The fact u.s.
we need another city physician, and
you've been suggested for the job"
Chris looked hard at him across
the desk. Ills mind, working quickly,
was analysing both man and offer.
The Mayor, he knew, was largely a
figurehead. The city was run by the
local machine, and the head OF that
machine was Staunton Lewis.
Where does that offer come
from? ?" he inquired.
cts not an offer yet, Doctor. l
sent for you to talk it over
'Well, the suggestion then. II it's
from Staunton Lewis or any of his
crowd"
The Mayor sat forward and lost
some of his JUNCTION. Look here,
Doctor" he said. Il don't know any
thing about you personally. or just
why YOU resent Mr.. Lewis. We need
another city physician. We pay
hundred dollars a month. and if you
don't want to talk about it, there are
about a thousand other young medl-
cal men who will. That's flat, and
that's all"
"All Pm asking" said Chris still
stubbornly, "is how the lightning
came to strike me, Mr.. Mayor. It's
a good offer, of course"
The Mayor was somewhat Modified.
His full name was Barney O'Neill,
and being what he was, he rather lik-
ed fighter.
"Well, l don't mind telling you that.
We hear more things here than may
be YOU think we do, and one of them
was the way you carried on during
the typhoid epidemic If you can
work like that for nothing, you ought
to work like hell for twelve hundred
a year!"
Chris relaxed. He was not being
subsidized by Lewis and his crowd
then, and the money would be god
send. He grinned across the desk.
That's different" he said. Am /
to take it that it is still suggestion,
or is it an Offer"
Its an offer"
"Then I'll take it,
Shortly after Chris left, Beverly
breathlessly entered the Mayors of
flee, to find him there alone, still grin
ming over his cigar. He jumped to
offer her a chair, but she waved it
away.
"Tm not staying(" she said. did
he take it,"
"He did. But l wish l knew what
it is all about. Beverly, 1 can tell
you this: There'd be the devil to pay
if he knew. He's a suspicious young
pup"
Give told you why, Barney"
He reached over and put hand
over hers as it lay on the desk. All
Pm saying, Beverly, is don't get in
terested in him. He's got hate on
your father for some reason or other,
and a mans a fool to do thing like
that"
She colored. 81 like to pay my
debt, Barney"
"Well, if that's all it is, you've done
it. But don't fall in love with him.
A girls fool to marry doctor any
how; out at all hours, sitting by 9th
er women's beds, and holding their
hands"
She laughed Unexpectedly. "You
saw him. Does he look like hand
holder?"
every mans a hand holder when