Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1909 — Her First Cure. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Her First Cure.

By EDNA BRITT.

Copyrighted, 1909, by Associated Literary Press.

There were hoarse cries from the hurrying throng, a groan of horror and then a rush toward the spot where a dusty, huddled heap lay in the roadway. The white faced driver reined in his horses in response to the threatening demand of the cooler headed among the spectators. Presently a blue coated figure pressed through the throng, to emerge again and hurry toward the police box. Then an ambulance came, and the crowd gave three cheers for the doctor when it was seen that it was the new woman interne of the Emergency hospital, and they watched with Interest her handling of her first case. “Women doctors are more sympathetic than men,” commented one man to another as they noted the relief with which the slender white clad woman announced that the man was not badly hurt. “A man doctor would bundle him into the wagon and rush him off to the hospital and cut off his leg soon’s he got him there.” The other nodded wisely, and then as the patient was slipped on the

I S. • ■ ” I stretcher and lifted into the wa*on ’ tney aepartea. to ten tnat tney nao seen that new woman doctor the papers were full of and that she was a "beaut.” In the latter statement they were I eminently correct, for Dr. Katherine Roberts was more than good looking. She was one woman in a thousand, ■ with classical features and a wealth of color that betokened perfect health. In fashionable drawing rooms she could have created a sensation had she elected to become a society bud. But. Katherine Roberts had some very decided notions, and one of these was that she wished to be ,a successful physician. She bad taken the ambulance run that was a part of the duty of every Interne, and she welcomed the experience, though she found it rather disconcerting when her first call was to attend the man she had refused to marry only the night before. They were almost at the hospital before Belknap was restored to consciousness and looked up to encounter Katherine’s eager glance. “You are all right.” she said reassuringly as his glance turned to a question. “You thought you could get across the street in front of a team, but you didn’t quite manage it. There are no bones broken, but you have been pretty badly shaken up, and you had better stay in the hospital for a day or two. You will be better looked after than you can be at your boardr ing house.”

"You bet I’ll stay,” assented Belknap, and Katherine smiled. “You will find the house surgeon a charming fellow,” she went on. “I think I have Introduced you- to him— Dr. Santley?” “I know him,” groaned David. “But I thought that I-was going to have you Tor a physician.” “I am on the ambulance.” she reminded. then, relenting, “I’ll try to drop in now and then.” The stopping of the ambulance brought the talk to a halt, and a couple of orderlies half carried Belknap to the emergency ward, where his cuts were dressed and bandaged, and then he was put to bed, and an opiate was administered. It' was late In the afternoon when he woke up again, and presently Katherine came In to see how he was getting along. With deft fingers she adjusted the bandages, making them easier, and she predicted that by the morrow the patient might leave. “I wish I could stay here forever," said David Impatiently. “Now that you are on the ambulance I don’t suppoise that there will be any chance of seeing you unless I get hurt again.” “Oh, yes, there will be,” she Insisted. “And if I catch you ‘throwing fits’ like •Pete the Fake,’ just to get a few days In the hospital. I shall have to give you the most dreadful medicines.” 1 “I’ll take them if you give them to

me.” declared Belknap, and the pretty doctor frowned. “I think that I shall have to hold you to that.” she said, nodding her head wisely. ‘lf you will promise to fellow my prescription I can guarantee a complete cure.” "Shall I need treatment after I leave the hospital?” he asked hopefully. “Santley said that the cuts were superficial and that he would put some plaster on them in the morning.” "You are in need of other treatment.” “That’s right,” admitted David. “It’s heart trouble, Kathie. and you are the only physician who can cure me, and you do not seem to understand the case.” “I think I do,” she said gravely, “but .it is an affection of the head, not the heart, David. You think that you want me, but it is merely a thought.” “You have the wrong diagnosis,” insisted David. “It is heart trouble. I have no head trouble.” “I will be prepared to admit that—and perhaps change my treatment—when I have proved my own diagnosis wrong,” said Katherine smilingly. “Will you try my treatment for, say, three months, David ?” “If you will admit error at the end of that time,” he agreed promptly, and they shook hands over it in the grave fashion that had been theirs ever since they were children together. Katherine felt much relieved.

When David shook hands on a thing It was his promise that It should be done, and, though he scowled over the scrap of blue paper that Katherine thrust into bis hand as he left the hospital in the morning, he determined to try it. It was one of the hospital prescription blanks and read: “Take Helen Weygant to the theater at least once a week. If she won’t go, take some one else.” “It’s for Kathfe’s sake,” he 'told him- • self as he wrote an Invitation to Miss Weygant and a note to Kathle to report his progress. Both girls smiled, over their notes, but from wholly different causes. In the weeks that followed Katherinewas busy with the ambulance calls, but not too busy to follow the progress of her special patient, and she was not at all surprised when one day the jubilant announcement of an engagement was made over the telephone. “Nell and I are awfully obliged to you for curing me,” explained David jubilantly. “Your first cure was quick and complete, Kathie.” “I’m a homeopathist,” explained the smiling girl. “Like cures like, you know.” “And causes liking,” suggested David as he hung up the receiver and ? turned to the blushing girl who stood beside him.

"I WISH I COULD STAY HERE FOREVRE,” SAID DAVID.