Bloomington High School - Aepix Yearbook (Bloomington, IL)

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1 920 The Aegis On Probation JOSEPHINE DAVIS Winner of Merwin Cup, Short Story Contest This is absolutely final, Dr. Madison, you are growing careless in your work and innocent victims have paid for this. Our hospital wants careful surgeons. Vl'e warned you once and you disregarded our warning and now, on behalf of the staff, I am forced to request your resignation. The speaker paused and, dropping his business-like tone, said gently, Richard, I've known you since you were a small boy. l've watched you grow and I know there is good in you. But son, you're burying it so deep that none of our strongest microscopes could ever find it. The younger man lifted his eyes and exclaimed, I don't merit this treat- ment, sir, l know my business-I can operate well-it was just an accident that I lost those cases-'l No, Richard, it wasnt an accident-it was criminal carelessness. If it had just been one case-but you've lost case after case. I'll tell you what's wrong with you, my boy. You're trying to burn the candle at both ends. You stay out late and come back, tumble into bed and get a couple of hours sleep and get up the next morning 'all in.' No one can stand a strain like that and it's gotten your nerves. There's only one thing for you to do and that is to get out and start over again. Go somewhere where they've never heard of Dr. Madison and remember this- you can't expect to be a good surgeon unless you safeguard your own health. I thank you for your advice, Dr. Scott. I believe it's good and I'll try it. If i make a success at it-is there a chance that I get my position back ? I'm not making any promises, Richard, but I'll say this much-when you have proven to your own satisfaction that you are a man-look me up. VVhat about Evelyn, sir, does she know of this P Madison asked hesitat- ingly. Yes, she knows, and she thinks it would be best for both of you not to an- nounce your engagement right away. Understand Richard, l didnlt try to influ- ence her one way or the other. This is her decisionf' The young man was silent and Dr. Scott went on. She wants you to come out and talk over your plans with her. Of course she's very interested in what you're going to do. Come out, tonight, Richard, and perhaps Evelyn and I can help you decide on something. You know how sorry I am to have to do this but things may turn out for the best after all. I3ut l'll see you tonight. Be sure to come early. Goodbye. Goodbye, Dr. Scottf Madison replied, apathetically. The door of his office closed and he was alone with his thoughts. He looked around his office sadly. Everything that meant the most in his life was taken away-all because of a few careless mistakes. For three years he had been hold- ing down an important position in the hospital-but of late he had lost his grasp on his nerves-somehow or other the people he operated on died and now he was down and out. He rose abruptly and taking his hat and coat left the office. It was disconcerting to be alone with one's thoughts. That evening he dined at a cheap restaurant up town. He had a vague idea that he should begin to cconomize and too, he did not wish to meet any of his Page Sirteezz

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The Aegis ' 1920 friends who haunted the more expensive restaurants. Usually at this time he was the center of a gay and riotous party. VVhat a change twenty-four hours could make in a man! Then he started in the direction of the Scott residence. Eventually he arrived and was met by an imposing personage who announced that the master was waiting for him in the library. Evelyn met him at the door. NVhy, Richard, I'm so glad to see you, she exclaimed affectedly. Isn't it lovely out? Come right in 'here-Daddy's waiting for you. She ushered him into the library where 'her father sat reading. Here's Dick, Daddy, all ready to talk to you. You go on and discuss what you want to and then l want to talk to him. 'All right, Dr. Scott replied, then, Well, Richard, have you decided what you want to do P V Not yetf' Madison replied soberly. UI haven't had much time to adjust my- self to this new state of affairs. XVell then, listen to my proposition. There's a small town in Vermont' that has only one physician in it, and he is getting old. He happens to be a friend of mine and he wrote to me and asked if there was a young doctor that I knew of who would like a partnership with him-and of course I thought of youf, Dr. Scott-could you lzonvstly give me a recommendation to that friend of yours? XVould your conscience permit you to vouch for a careless physician ? Dr. Scott paused for a moment. UNO, Richard, truthfully, I donlt believe it would. Cf course I could recommend you anyway, but it wouldn't be right-now would it PM No-I don't think so, sir. I guess the best thing for me to do would be to drop the medical profession altogether. Perhaps I would be more successful at something else. ' . That's a question you must decide for yourself. Hut I shall watch with in- terest anything you do. If you'll excuse me there is some work I must see to, so I'll leave you to Evelyn. I'll see you again before you go, and Dr. Scott tact- fully left the room. The two young people were silent for a few minutes. Then Richard said life- lcssly, VVell P I hope you won't be unreasonable about this, Dick. Of course you see it would be impossible for me to announce our engagement under such circum- stances. Oh yes! Richard agreed bitterly. You want to be quite free to have as good a time as ever regardless of me lu You misunderstand me, Dick,' Evelyn said with an air of injured innocence. That certainly wasn't my motive at all. However, if you're going' to act stub- born and horrid we just won't discuss this. lim sorry I said that, Evelyn, Richard said more amiably. I am beginning to see that it would be a great mistake to announce our engagement. I'll just drop entirely out of your life for a while. That would be bestf, Perhaps that would be best, Evelyn agreed sweetly. But aren't you going to tell me your plans PU I have none, Dick replied shortly, but I shan't starve-for a while at least. Page Sc'z'e1zte'eu