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irrt ovi thursday january 8 11131 the acton free press q be 3f rrr ihraa luirt ftturu the contract doctor by james paiuckb lono slatsdiartt by hqss fasauhar- aohnson j m d 30 has hod lived up to this agreement to the been awarded the bagshaw letter novir fallod when called and had medal and a fellowship of 5 000 given everyone his moneys worth then for biological research ills published when he went he could if ho wished works are etc tell them what he thought of their selfish judaon t d m d 20 has been intolerant lives jle thought of the appointed staff head for the syrchester ma ln jl f rt l city hospital this is an unusual honor to fall to a man but three years from his intemcahlp in this connection the byrchester herald says etc the college monthly had come before the big snowstorm had blocked all trailla and doctor burke was employing his enforced inactivity by reading of tho triumphs of his classmates ills name was not on the list and what was ho announced worse it was not apt to be tho young est man of lihrilaua lie had graduated third rrom tho top gone through his lntemeshlp with flying colors hired an office and settled down to wait for the practice which must surely come that was two years before the practice had not come and even doctors must eat today ho was contract doctor in the little village of egypt and was paid fif teen hundred dollars annually by fifty families that had chipped in thirty dol lars each for the sake of having a doctor in the neighborhood it was not a bad thing financially because his living expenses were low and there was con siderable income outside the field of the contract from minor operations and the care of families not in the agreement but it was so different from his dreams and the actual achievements of his class mates that each item deepened the cloud of gloom round his head a mighty nicelooking little head it was perliap that was tho trouble sick people have a way of wanting to have absolute faith in their doctors and it is hard to inspire faith when one is ave feat three inches tall weighs one hundred and twenty pounds and has dalpty features and a plnk-and- white com plexion that any girt might envy tho night of his arrival in the village he had been dragged protesting in tern ajjjf to a reception whore ho had been introduced to tho ypkola hlfl term among whom he would have to live and serve for at least a year there ho had seen old dave audet and his farmer brother jabc had heard dave mutter atungl and had scon him lcavo the room with a contemptuous shrug the little doctor had not known it but half the room hod caught the word and tho shrug and since the wealthy and domin eering old storekeeper had most of them on his books they were quick to follow their natural instincts and make plain the fact hint thev wore dissatisfied with their bargain if tho doctor luul been financially free to do w he would have thrown the contract in their faces and gone back to the city as it was he had stayed fall had passod and now it wok winter and such a winter the oldest inhabitants were scratching their ears juid wondering whether they had ever seen such a storm as the one that was raging the doctor had gt down to william j j 10 who hod successo1ffoerfonned m supposedly impossible operation when the telephone rang and as the doctor turned to answer it an unusually heavy gust swept tho house tho street light in front seen through tho unsluuled window was almost hidden by a cloud of the light snow caught up and whirled through tho air yes thu is doctor burke- how long has lie been nick take his temperature and hfs pulse and seo if you can find a centre of the pain then call me again he rang off and turned to his filing case out of which he slipped a card jack audet tho son of jab and the nephew of dave the two men whom he blamed more than any others for his unhapplness in the village diagnosis chronic ap pendicitis recommended operation sep tember 10 asrhe hold tho card and check over thorestof tfiedaxa ho visualised ue con ference at which had made that recom mendation and the sneering way tho blunt old farmer had replied to his sug gestion by implying that he hod wanted the extra money that the operation would give him while he waited he wont to tlie window and looked out into the street heaped with white softness a gleam under the light and showing no mark of passerby it would be a bad situation if tho esse were appendicitis out there at audets six miles of impassavle road would cer tainly give him an excuse if he refused to heed the call the fault was the bigot ed fathers not his he had made the correct recommendation in ample time a man would be risking his life to go out in such a night the bell rang again vte terntopraturtt 102 pulse 100 and tenderness on right side of abdo men low down i am afraid you have an attack of acute appendicitis there ui audet mo 1 am not sure the his tory of the case calls for an immediate operation but since there is ho way i can get there we will have to do the best we can prop his knees up with a pillow and starve him no nothing but a little water and- have that hot and apply hot wet packs call me again th an hour or two no medicine might do harm after he had hung up the little doctor stood at the window again this would blacken his record he wanted to be in a condition to be able to say that he contractors hod schemed to got more free service from him than the agree ment called for and had fought among themselves for prior uso of his service iho more unkindly incidents ho recalled tho surer ho was that his cec6rd must be kept faultless ho went bock to tho telephone and called the audet number 1 am going to try to get out there put half a doum white shoots in the oven and boko them have plenty of balling water then ho snapped opon his case to see that it contained o very thing ho needed bundled himself into most of the out door clothes that he owned and started for tho livery stable two squares down the streot it wasn t no cold as he luul thought although the wind made him gasp for breath no nercd was its pressure as ho wont down the steps sinking nnally to his armpits in the dry fluffy stuff hn had a taste of what watt before him three times ho had to slop and rest before ho reached tho middle of tlie street where the wind had hollowed a kind of trough in which the snow was only mid thigh deep those two squares took fifteen minutes to traverse when tho doctor burst in at the door of the hitchbarn office ho was winded red faced and trembling at the knee but his determin ation was undlmlnlsliod want you to toko mo to jabe audet ho ordered not tonight i rhen will you rent mo a horse and lot mo ride him the- horses were black wjth sweat and panting the driver beating his chest with flaiung- arms the little doctor had no consecutive friday well we went to a consort at recollection of tho progress all he knew the chlrch tonlte and ilsaened to 3 girls was that by the sheer will power of the inhabitants or that valley he was being carrlrd irresistibly to the sick boy i and these were tho vann whom h had scorned for the petty scheming against one an other and their narrow outlook on life half of them he knew were not on speakt ing terms with the boys father but their enmity forgotten in his need they were exposing themselves and their stock la tlm worst storm i yars tlie coiiu stopped slngfei a rcclteal of muslck and ect most ect i of tho girls lias a very rltch voice and tho uther girl has a very rltch father so about of the singers wassent so mutch to llsnen at lottiviiratioinanor a v4 saterday- the printers witch wirks on the noose paper wear wlrks quit his job today and went to springfield wear ne is a going to wirk on a bouse organ ant kmmy xed sho have you a horse that you will sell 7 i am going to make tho attempt if i havo to ittart on foot tho man of horses luul begun scratch ing his head and muttrrjrjg wall d know as to that when the talk was cut short by a bewhukered man who had boim sitting by tho glowing stovo tlie doctor ritoognlxud him as jeff hlandiiig a farmer living in anotlier neighborhood who had got caught by the storm and had philosophically settled down to out- walt it leaving tho homo chords to his halfgrown boys dont mind jim doc lie sold climb ing to hii feet he hasnt lived in tho country long enough to orawl under snukns belly 1 have tho best pair of snow horses in tho county woll junt naturally snatch tho htnd shoos ortn them and strike out they ro protty sharp to waller snow taking turns breaking path that way wo vo got somo sort of a chance if tho folks up there turn out i ve got no use of old jabe audet but thats no reason why x wouldnt help get tho doctor for his kid fifteen minutes intrrblandlng hoisted doctor burko on a horse tho precious cose n trapped to his shoulders there you are doc said blandlng you have eighteen hundred pounds of shire buffalo between your knoos hang to liha and woll get some ores yet through the village tho big horses walked eaiily thrusting tho light snow aside with knuos and breast and the doctor began to hope that he could complete the trip as ho folt the powerful surge surge of tho mighty muscles be neath him at the last street light they turned west on to tho htato road into dnrknoss which fought them with hurt ling wind and cutting snow particles then thoy started up over tlie divide at tho top of tho first pitch blondlng reined back and let tho doctor take the lead i be rsrmers mount was panting and the long winter coat was matted with sweat in five minutes tho doctors mount was in the somo condition wrier the changed to lo tho other horse man with a lantern was standing by his bob it was audet ho must bo there he staggered to his feet then half carried by the farmer so stiff was he from the hours of oxnonuro he went up tlie walk which luul been shovelled clear to the grit by audet who had taken that way of work ing on his worry just before he entered the door hn turned back and saw the long lino of steaming horses and silent men already turning to right their way back as supprlsed to lieor that becus she their homes never thot this fellow had mutch musick then jin was within the overheated hi him houio tlie boys motile r a largoframed sunday when blisters cum to sunday rtquaro- faced woman with sod eyes strip- skool this a jn ho had a offle looking i off his outer thing and shoved him work eyo and when we ast him whut ver tho great register hi tlie middle of the matter was lie kinds laffed and md tho living room floor au this whle wpj1 this whut x got for being faithful audet face twitching was blundering a tho uorhor twtl whut do you mean round in the way babbling thank ood imslcr and he replyed and aed well i you could get here doctor oh thank tiot this block fcyo bocu i beleaved in god i rhe boys bod doctor powerful that old saying about tho mlsseltoe and bad you were right doctor you were larfed nolngly right munday joe hi has sold his little lln up the slieets mrs audet he dog witch was a ukotch terrycr and has ordered ignoring tho fattier make a boughten hlssolf a gray houn so all 6 of little room three sides and the top over the kids can pet him at 1 time tho bed so wo ought to have a sterile tuesday ma is havclng a berthday room but wo will do the best wo can prty tonlte sollabratolng her thirty 2nd into tho dishes of boiling water on berthday thu is the 1st berthday party tho stove ho dumped his gloves and in- he has had for fore yrs when aha struments and with linger still stiff hollahrated her twenty ost berthday she and tinging set out gause and chloroform ya he xpecks sum of tlie wlmen witch pump up those lamps he ordered envited will say sum offle things tho father and keep up tlie fire mrs about her back of iter back when she is audet you should have been a nurse out of fleering next thing is to prepare the patient wonsday ma nays fltlus jones has under his crisp directions sho went changed a oftle lot hi the lost few yrs about her business and lie prepared him- d ant fcmmy ast whut she ment and nolf robe monk gloves as he poured ma sed well she use to marry men witch chloroform on cotton and held it to the he wooden t even play golf with nowa- uiironsciouft hoys face tho father uttered days since they struck oil on her farm a groan and started to leave the room i down in texas recently witch was gave no sir ordered tho doctor pull on to her by her 5th husbond when ho that spare robe and come hero i need otuo his allamoney your help with this chloroform thjrsday went to a boy and girl party humbly tho old fellow working his tonlte and i ast jane if sho wood set out buxliy eyebrows helplessly obeyed and dance with mo and she sed yes if you took his place will promise not to ret fresh and i break troll blondlng sang out above tho roar of the wind now we will catch ltl ill bet there is snow in the cuts there won hardly had they started down into that first hollow when tho big horses sank u so that only their heads showod and lnntead of surging forward they lunged rearing and smash ing into the snow by sheer weight in spite of frequent rests both horses wore tiring font the doctor had it on his lips to say we con never make it lets go back but ha said nothing and moment later was glad that he had not tho moon through a rift in the clouds showod the second valley stretched out across it were dozens of black objects marked clearly against the stiver snow tlie boys are out roared hlondlngi tlie doctor lifted his face from his tum- edout cost collar and made out shovel lers and men on horseback and a pro cession of fouf teams hltclied to bobs wallowing to meet them a moment later they had joined better get on one of those bobs doc youve all right now 1 11 go in here to ponnts and breathe the team a mite before x start back tho words were almost snatched from his mouth by the wind the doctor slid down from his horse stiffly wallowed over to a bob and sat on it wrapping himself in tho proffered horse blanket from the windblown snow clouds tlie proces sion started the sleds creaking and groaning ajt regular intervals the leading team llemrnibcr the exact number of drops promised and when i went to luk for her i tell you not more the doctor caution- found she was setting u out with ptig ed and set to work elevens i bet lie dlddmt promise j when at last the three sheeted figure thing like that so she clioaied him could leave the bedside tlie father and i n it dont pay to be no gntlman mother were whitefaced and aged with the ntraln good workt tlie doctor congratulated them you are boob as u vermicide on excellent prepara- trumpn and you havo your boy agafn tlon is motlusr grave v worm fcxtermln- we were in tlmr oloryl its come tor it has saved tho lives of countless mom ing 1 t gaunt woman with the sod eyes stooped and kissed him ood bless you nho whlipcrod and went out into tlie other room i he father clutched tho doctors hand doc i ho sold doc i if i ever if you ever if thats oil right mr audet that is what doctor ore for then embarrassed by the mans effort to express his gratitude he hurried to answer a call to tho telephone x 11 get there ajt soon as x can he hung up tliat jennings girl is about through at henrys sho can come hero now and shes had experience enough to guide you she is no near that sho con be brought 1 have to start at once for tlie village ho w nt to the telephone and picked off the receiver in his car sounded a dim voice lloforo lie could hang up he heard so ho soys will you soil me ono then and tho little tyke would have bought ono of the old crowbalts and started out it jeff hadnt been there there it tho doc for you no bigger than a pint of cldr but thinks hewejghs a ton it aln t how big they are but what is inside of them that counts ho hung up and said the line is busy you call her mrs audet tell her i said she was to come at once ill come again when tho roads are open tho trip horno was easier the ntraln was gone ruddy faces beamed heavy voices liailed him hoy doc hear you ore going into the horse business x got good one for tho shape sho is in what wljl you give mo for her the doctor realised that never before since ho hail come to town had anyone joked him it had ben doctor burke and stiff dignity now tlie manner of speech allowed that he was regarded as ono of tlie folks now he was proud to belong then ho was in the village the tired team turned in to tlie hitch barn and he took his bag and started up tho riewly shovelled sidewalk at the first corner lie met dave audet tlie old demagogue stepped into the deep snow on one side and took off his hal the doctor nodded and passed hhn then turning glanced round to iwe foe wliom the mark of reipect was intended there was no one on tlie street but himself in spite of children kiik could tlie conjurer was producing eggs from a top hat ifo addruid a boy in the front row your mother cant get eggs without hrns can sho he asked oh yes said tho boy hows that asked tlie conjurer she keeps ducks answered tlie boy slow collections start uw now year with a clean sheet send your slow and bad collections to us and stop your worrying over them kelly aiken colkollm kimlua t it yen okanokviijjb iiimru wih hound no colfaotbn no chn hen lay egg all winter whoyiukltummdahydo of paoltrjr regulate omwobimi is dangerous himself ho flushed and flushed again as i ijsos oil dtolllclcll he remembered thatcveiry man they liad passed on tlie street had uncovered ho hurried into his office for a clean robe and other supplies the college paper was still open on the desk he picked it up and read williams j j is lias been commend ed by the american college of surgery for having successfully etc dropped out and the others crawled past loved business gas pain bloating and sourness after eating almost always mean too much acid in the stomach the condition is dangerous add irritates the stomach i u j i i lng and may lead to ulcers gas forms tau w print wd wtait tho heart the hod blurred and hi its place had come a stomach needs an alkaline blsurated picture of old dave audet standing waist magnesia towder or tablets u the ideal deep in snow bareheaded to let him method of getting safe quick lasting pass relief it neutralises the excess acid there are others he said aloud n u stomach breaks up the gas chucked the magaatne into tlie waste btop the od digests basket and hurried out upon his well- nmturmli j must give prompt relief i or money bark say druggists everywhere who sell it on this iron clad guarantee launched in 1931 j3tainwlauneheliiilo1931r its- a new year full of promise and opportun ity the old year lias gone its errors ean be best used as experience in the new year to a great extent your measure of happiness and prosperity for 1931 de pends on yourself its impossible to secure a marked degree of either just by wishing no matter how sincere that wish may be made every successful business man makes a study of his customers needs strives to anticipate their wants and fulfil tliem promptly that is taken for granted in the average business man of today he doesnt buy something he never expects to be asked to supply or can create a demand for but- no matter how careful the buying no matter how big the stock or how court eous and prompt the service if you dont tell the buyers of the things that make your store outstanding in your estimation they will not become your customers its a long way round waiting for your friends to do your advertising it takes all their help and all the other aid in these days of keen business competition every week you can address between 4000 and 5000 prospective customers allowing an average of three readers for each paper certainly they dont all live in acton but the free press circulates in a wide territory in the country surrounding if you have an attraction for these readers you can get acquainted with them real in timately by your message to them each week prosperity in 1931 will come to a great extent in just tlie proportion you go after it among the sages and spokesmen for big business in terests better times is predicted in many quarters what share will you play as an individual4iihaving4teonietoyotjrxor munily and to you now is the time to f nake your plans for 1931 we have many facilities never was there a bigger field pre sented to serve you in actons paper the free press never were we able to present a better service to you we will be glad to go into detail with you if you will call us and arrange a suitable time may we assist you in your plans for 1931 the acton free press constantly striving to maintain leader- i ship for acton with a representative newspaper al4-