Bloomington High School - Aepix Yearbook (Bloomington, IL)

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The Aegis 1 920 woman said gloomily. They ain't got none and none of the neighbors have either. Shes got to have some, anyway. Here, take this money and get some good nourishing food for her. She needn't know who paid for it. And, by the way, is there a doctor around here ? No sor, there's not. This ain't a very good paying district, you know. But if you're thinking of settlin' here don't let me discourage you. Goodness knows we need a doctor bad enough. She lingered, following her natural bent for talk- ing, Are you thinkin' of settlin' here ? I might if I could find a place for an office, Madison replied. Right down here bout a 'block there's an empty building you might get. It's just a little shack, but it would rent cheapf' Thank you, Mrsiah-LaiMrs.l Maloney's my name, doctor, Molly Maloney as used to be. t'Yes, yes, thank you for your suggestion and now you'd better go and get the food for Miss Allen. Illl leave it to your good judgment what to buy. I'll come in tonight and see how the sick girl is.', I-Ie left the building and went to investigate the prospective office. This he found to be in a rather run down condition but habitable, and ,as Mrs. Maloney had promised-very cheap. So without pausing to think, he rented it. Only 'when he was on his way back to his room did he consider what he was undertaking. Was he a fool to attempt such a thing? VV hat were his prospects? But how these people needed medical attention and advice. Anyway it was too late to stop now. By night he had some of his belongings moved to his new residence. He found a man to do his papering and painting for him so, by industrious work, he had it looking presentable in two weeks' time. In the meantime Nan had been slowly getting 'back her strength and she, as well as the rest of the people in the neighborhood, were very much interested in the new doctor. She pestered Mrs. Maloney with questions about him until that good lady was almost crazy. One day Mrs. Maloney appeared at the door of the dingy room with an appetizing bowl of soup for Nan. It was then that Nan broached the subject that was troubling her. Mrs, Maloney, where does the money come from to pay for all these good things F she asked. Mrs. Maloney drew herself up, Can't a body do an act of neighborly kind- ness without somebody else buttin' in P she demanded. Nan laughed, But I don't see where you get the money, she persisted. The doctor gave it to me, it slipped out before she thought. y Just what I thought,' Nan groaned. VVhy did you let him? I'd rather starve than take charity, and you know it ! It was at this unpleasant moment that Madison entered. VVhat's the matter here ? he asked in surprise, uhas my patient had a set- back P Nan turned toward him, How dare you, she exclaimed, My mother and I are not looking for charity, proudly. My dear Miss Allen, don't be foolish. It's a well known fact that a person Page !Y'I'lIe'?ll'E?lI

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1920 The Aegis Dr. Scott appeared at the door and smiled at the two young people. W ell, children, have you fixed everything up ? he asked cheerfully. Dick agrees with me that it would be best to wait, Daddy. Yes, Dr. Scott, I see +Evelyn's point of view perfectly. You are putting me on probation so that I can prove what I'm worthn Well, l'll do my best and now l niust go. I'll keep you informed as to my whereabouts, but I'd rather you'd not try to see me. As you like about that, Richard, must you go so soon P U Have to keep earlier hours, you know, Dick said with a rather bitter smile. Goodnight, sir, goodbye, Evelyn. Oh, not goodbye, Dick, just till we meet again, Evelyn exclaimed. l'erhaps, he returned absent-mindedly, and followed the 'butler to the door. The next morning found him still unsettled as to what he should do. He rose early from habit and decided to take a walk to thresh this out in his mind. With- out noticing, he turned his footsteps toward that part of the city known as the slums. Meanwhile he was busy with his thoughts. What he could do-he didn't know. On and on he wandered lost in a reverie. At last he was startled by a smothered cry at the side of him and turning quickly he saw a young girl fall heavily to the walk. True to his physician's instincts he took out his pocket medi- cine case and bent over the girl. A crowd gathered around, alwiays ready for new excitement. 'tOh, it's the Allen girlf' one muttered. Ye'd better fetch a doctor, quick. l'm a doctor,' Madison said curtly, Get back and give the girl air l Obeying the tone of authority the people stepped back, at the same time asking rather suspiciously, as if doubting his veracity, Wl1at's the matter with her ? Madison, hearing this, replied, It's a case of malnutrition, or if you like the plain truth, the girlls starving to death. VVhere does she live P One stepped forward in answer to his question. list a stip, sor, if ye can carry the pore girl I'll show ye the way, the speaker was a stout Irish lady with a genial countenance. Noticing Madison's hesitation she went on, She ain't very heavy, doctor, jist a mite of a girl. So Dr. Madison lifted the apparently lifeless form in his arms and followed his self-appointed guide. It proved to be quite a few steps to the rickety tene- ment where the girl lived. The woman led him up four Rights of stairs into a poorly lighted room. Here we be, doctor, put her there on the couch while I tell her mother, he was commanded. lie did as he was told and then glanced around the room. It was a breeder of dirt and disease, he decided. How people could live in such a place was beyond him. How they needed someone to help them. His thoughts were interrupted by the reappearance of his guide. Her moth- er's sick too. I don't know what they'll do now that Nan's sick. Is she very had P Not very, he replied, but she must have some good food. She'll be all right in a few days with proper care. XVell, I don't see where the money's coming from for the grub, the Irish Page Eighteen

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1920 The Aegis must eat to live, and l knew you wanted to live, so what else could I do P he smiled down on her. llut l can never pay you, Dr. Madison, Nan protested. Thats what l'm coming to now, he returned. I find that I need a helper in my office and l thought maybe you might like to help me. Your duties would be light and l don't think it would be too hard on you- Nan's eyes were shining. Oh, Doctor! How good you are ! Madison was touched by her gratitude. How little effort it required to make people happy l XVhen do you want me to start ? she asked. Oh, there's no hurry, take your time about getting well,', he replied. 6'Go0d- liye. Goodbye, Mrs. Maloney. Goodbye, they chorused. Aint he the angel ? Mrs. Maloney asked devoutly. You just ought to see his office, Nan. .Xnd he ain't charging people nothin' unless they can afford to pay it. l wonder where he gets his money. He must be rich, Nan replied thoughtfully, 1 wonder if he could operate on mother and make her well. 1 asked him if he ever operated on people and he looked sorta sad like and said he used to, but he didn't any moref' Mrs. Maloney said. I've a notion to ask him, anyway, Nan decided, I want to hurry up and get well now so that l can begin working for him. The next week found Nan settled at her post and very happy with her new position. The ramshackle old building had been transformed into a model office. Madison had accustomed himself to this new state of affairs and was becoming in- tensely interested in this work. The people of this district accepted him gladly and turned to him for advice. On finding out that they were sensitive about ac- cepting charity, he took their money and returned it anonymously. All his ex- penses he paid from the money he had saved and he dreaded to think of the time when this money would be gone. By careful spending he thought it would last a year. l-le found Nan to be most helpful to him and he accepted her worship of him unthinkingly. She was such a child, he thought. One day, having received no calls, he stayed in his office to help Nan straighten out his account books. Then she decided to ask him what she had been waiting to. Dr. Madison, she began timidly, Couldn't you operate on mother and make her well F lrle started, Why, Nan, l'd rather not. XN'hy?', Sometime perhaps, l'll tell you! l have operated on people, it's true, but I'm afraid to try it again, he explained. Oh, l see, she said, although she didn't see at all. Just what is wrong with your mother, Nan? l've never seen her, he asked. 'fShe had a very sad life, Dr. Madison. She was of a very good family, but when she married my father they turned her off. Father died and she had to sup- port me. Une day when I was about sixteen she was struck by a machine. lt in- jured her spine and a doctor said that only an operation would cure her. We Page TTUUII-X'