Westbrook High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Westbrook, ME)

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11 went along. It seemed safe enough, although the water was rushing over the planks. The doctor went hack after his horse. I'll lead him across, he thought to himself, and started off with the horse and buggy following. Presently he stopped, XYhere was the other end of that bridge ? Sud- denly he realized it was gone! VVashed away! llow was he going to get across? There was only a small, narrow channel left to the shore. Ile would have to cross, hut it would be hard with a buggy. Ile unhitched the horse and took his leather bag from the buggy. As he attempted to mount the horse a sharp pain shot across his heart. weakening him for a short second. I'm worn out, I guess, he mumbled, but I'm going through ! The horse wallowed through the water. The doctor could feel the water rushing about his feet -his knees-now it was up to his waist. The horse staggered. then stumbled to his knees. The doctor found himself clinging to the roots of an old tree, the water rushing about his legs, but still he clung on. He tried to pull himself up the bank. but the pain in his heart held him back. lt stabbed, oh. so sharply! l'resently he managed to get his hand into his pocket and get out a tablet. Ile took it and lay back. I must get through, he mused. Louisa is sick and she needs me ! Vtith new courage he stumbled up the bank. llis misty eyes perceived a bulky form in the dis- tance. Could it be? Yes. it was! It was his horse. who had miraculously escaped the raging torrents. Thank heavens, he wouldn't have to walk the rest of the way. He doubted if he could have done it if he had had to. lle could see the lights from a farmhouse gleaming through the trees. and he tried to mount again. It was impossible. he was so worn out. Somehow, half walking and half dragging by hanging to the horse's mane. he made it. Ile opened the door without knocking walked into the small, shabby living room. The door into the bedroom, just off the living room, and was open, and Dr. Stone could see Louisa lying on the bed gasping for breath. Going into the bed- room. he saw a young man with dark circles under his eyes bending over I.ouisag he stumbled strangely toward Dr. Stone. Hello, Doctor. he greeted, you got here! She'll pull through ? asked Dr. Stone. anx- iously. I think so, the young man answered. They brought I.ouisa through and not until then did it dawn on Dr. Stone that it was Dr. Hutchins, who was supposed to be back in the village with a sprained ankle. who had helped him. How did you get here, Hutchins ? he asked, completely overwhelmed with surprise. On a horse, couldnlt make it with my car. I told joe I couldn't make it at all, but I was so' afraid you couldn't get here that I had to coina-. Ile started to speak again but noticed Ur. Stone's face. Ile reached out and caught Dr. Stone or he would have fallen. My heart. Hutchins. Stone muttered. l3on't let me die. I've got to help my people. They need me! Keep me going! Then he lay hack. It seemed cool and sweet and peaceful now. He seemed to be sailing down the stream in a beautiful boat. Suddenly. he sat up straight on the couch. You're a doctor, Hutchins! he said fervently. A true doctor. You'll care for them. Then falling back, he gave one deep breath and went on with the stream. E. s., Was, DEATH Pale and indistinct, the drooping sails Settle themselves in listlessness against the sky, The phantom ship is hopelessly entrapped In hlaekest night, and there is no escape Unless some wayward wind should Swoop its dreadful force against the night .-Xnd blow away its folds. J. K.. 'It MEDICINE You must have that prescription filled as quickly as possible, Mrs. Iohnsonf' said the doctor as he left. I will call again tomorrow. She will be a sick little girl for a few days, but it is nothing serious. Good day,

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'xi ff to such a rain as this. The small streams would almost be rivers themselves. But here and there wottld be the dim flickering of a light in some lonely farmhouse. For scattered over the whole region were farmers, as each time the river went on a rampage the soil was left more fertile than be fi irc. Ile shivered again as he turned from the window to ptit another log on the tire. That pain in his heart seemed much sharper as he bent, lle shook himself as if to shake away the gloom and dread, dread of a eall. when he was like this. l haven't time to be sick. he mused. My people need me. To be sure. he told himself. there are other doctors, but they're jtist boys fresh from medical school. lYhy, l've been here since this cottntry was tirst settled. nearly sixty years ago. I know these people, They need me Y lior he truly was the peoples doctor and he lired, not for himself. but for his people. lle had been kept busy all winter and all summer- through the wintry blizzarcls-through the spring floods to the distant farmhouses, always battling to save a life. llis hands and feet had frozen last winter bitt his heart had still glowed warm within him. lint now a new winter was ahead and barely before it had begun he was sick! .X bedraggled man on a bedraggled horse stopped at Dr. Stone's house: a few minutes later a step was heard on the porch and the man pottnded on the door. lt's here! sighed llr. Stone. lle had known ii would come. 1 lle let the tuan in himself. for he lived alonel he was without wife or children. lle opened the door and saw one of the farmers from beyond the river standing there dripping with mud and rain. I Joseph l.ane? asked the doctor. holding the lautern. which he had brought to the door with him, up close and peering into the man's face Yes, answered l.ane. half apologetically. lYho is it, joe? asked the doctor. l.ouisa. she's got pneumonia bad. Doe, and l'm scared. Then noticing the pallor and the pained expression on the cloctor's face, he added. Yon're sick, too, ain't you, Doc? XYeIl. admitted llr. Stone, l'm not so very energetic. There was a moment's silence and then l.ane continued, You've got to come. Doc. the other doctor, Dr. llutchins. can't. Says he's got a sprained ankle. lDon't see why he cau't come just the same, though. You've come ottt when you've been worse than that. lle paused a miutite. 1 guess he's scared, lloc Y lt's an awful favor to ask you. lloc, you being sick like you are. he added. The doctor thought to himself but he did not speak aloud. lt's more than a favor. no doubt it will probably mean my death VA' lle was weak and had a pain around his heart. lle knew all the symptoms but he hadn't time to think of himself. These thoughts ran through his mind, but pres- ently he stopped thinking and said. l'll go, Joe! Thanks. Doc. llow you goin'? ..I , I V .- n nu nuggj. 'lie careful, Doc, the river's high tonight and the old bridge may go out, That old iron bridge has seen better days. l've seen it high before, but thanks jttst the same. Neither of the men said a word, but both were thinking of the same thing, of Louisa whom Dr. Stone had pulled through so many previous ills nesses. With a few words of encouragement. Aloe went ottt into the rain again and the doctor pre- pared to put on his coat and to hitch up his hor-te. lu spite of his coat and the blankets which he hatl brought along. he was wet before he was barely ottt of his yard. lt was slow going through the mtid and rain and the doctor felt that his tem- perattire must be rising and he knew that the pain arotind his heart was sharper. Dr. Stone had been traveling for more than an hour and now he eould hear the roaring and rushing of lllaek River. lt was high just as -loe l,ane had said. lle stopped and got ottt. taking the lantern with llllll. lle wanted to see the condition of the nar- row bridge himself. lle walked out a few yards on the bridge, feeling the planks and rails as be

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12 T ' .f Good-bye, doctor, l will have junior take the prescription to the drug store right awayf' Hjunior, please hurry and get dressed, dear, I want you to run down to the drug store for me. Your father left for the oftiee early this morning so you will have to go. All right. Mom, I'll be down in just a minute. sleepily replied the young voiee. :Xs junior came down the stairs, he appeared about eight years old, had brown hair, and was minus three of his upper teeth. The second ones had not yet started. Put on your jacket. junior: it isn't quite warm , . . enough yet to go without it. Give this slip of paper to the druggist, and here is the money for the medicine he will give you. llurry right back. because l must have it for Sister, said his mother. VYell, well. if it isn't Mr. lfrnest johnson. junior, exclaimed the drnggist. as junior came in the door. XVhat are you doing down here this time in the morning? l don't know, replied the boy, My mother told me to give you this. The druggist took the prescription and went into the back room. VVhen he came out he had the little bottle of medicine. which junior took and carelessly put i11to his poeket. lie paid the druggist and left for home. lle was skipping along when a large black car stopped beside him. A short. thiekset man, dressed in a grey suit, opened the door and asked junior to come to the ear a minute. The boy hesi- tated, but the man said he just wanted him to point out a certain house for him. junior ap- proached the ear and said: lt is that house right down there on the Corner of the-Unch! l.et me go. Now. now, be quiet: l'm just going to give you a little ride, drawled the man. Get that door closed quick, snapped the driver, 'Athere's a woman coming down the street, looking at the ear. Get going, calmly said the man, who appeared to be the boss. The twelve-cylinder Comet jumped ahead and gathered speed fast. Slow down. you fool, don't you ever use your ln-all? XXI- don't want any eops stopping us now, 1 l Xthat are you crying for? he addressed junior. Stop it and tell us your name. junior, lfrnest johnson, junior, stamniered the boy. ' lDidn't I tell you. Slug? The banker's son. The oneithat just took over the National. lle ought to be willing to pay plenty. Ry the way, junior. this fella at the wheel is ealled Slug. They eall me jake. XYhy don't you let me go? cried junior. I want to go home. Now you just sit quiet and you'll be all right, growled jake. Well take you home a little later after we get through with you. just then the big car turned left into a side road and traveled slowly for about a mile when it turned right. They were going over a rough road when they came to a set of buildings. .Xs they approached. a man appeared on the piazza and walked to the ear, What did you do in town today? asked the young fellow. Did you get any'-F lle sud- denly stopped as the door opened and jake got out with junior. Gosh. lloss. what did you bring that kid up here for? Do you want to have all the uniforms in town up here Now, George, be calm, drawled jake, There's nothing to get excited over. This is the new banker's son. Ile is going to visit us for a little while. junior. meet the youngest of our group. George. lint what are you going to do with him ? argued George. lDon't you think Nlr. johnson would be willing to exchange. say ten tis, for his boy F asked jake. l don't think he will hesitate. Hut kidnapping. we've never done any of that, said George. XYe'll get into plenty of trouble. The ti-nien handle kidnappings now and they never fail. Oh, shut up, snapped Slug. 'tWe'll be in the dough now, just think, that will he tive thousand for the boss and two thousand live hundred for . I you and me. lloy, could l use that.