THE DOCTOR'S BILL.
IT was not till some weeks later that the Doctor consented to explain what he meant by his remark. Then rubbing his hands, which was a habit when he was much pleased, he said:
"Crawson came to me one day and asked for my bill. He took out his pocket-book, and urged that he had a little money by him; and it would be more convenient to settle at once."
"'You don't owe me a cent,' I answered, a good deal astonished, 'though I wish you did.'"
"'I mean for your attendance on little Jimmy Dodge. You know it was I called you, and—and—there, it's no use to mince matters, Doctor. You know it belongs to me to pay it.'"
"'But I haven't given up the case yet,' I said. I couldn't help laughing, it was so odd for the man to be urging his hard-earned money upon me. Upon my word I told him such a thing don't often happen to a Doctor."
"He didn't laugh, though. He drew out a roll of bills and laid them on the table. 'I want you to go on, of course,' he said, 'till he's entirely well. If there isn't enough I'll bring more; and, Doctor, when you want any fish, you've only to say so.'"
"Now," exclaimed the Doctor, bringing his hand down on the table, "That man has a heart which I never gave him credit for. 'Twas worth a hundred dollars to me to see his face as he went off leaving his roll of X's on my table."
"But, Doctor," began Mr. Dodge, his face flushing:
"Don't you interrupt, you haven't heard the rest of the story. I had a little business at the bank; and I found out that Crawson had three hundred dollars there which he'd been gathering by the sale of his fish. One third of the whole he'd drawn out; and this was just the sum he brought me, when, goodness knows, if I'd made a bill it wouldn't have been a quarter of it."