The youngsters of Swamp Creek darted in and out of his dwelling in unrestricted freedom.
'Bless their little hearts, they have overturned that medicine chest again,' he would say on looking at the havoc they had made, and then proceed to put matters to rights in his own careless way.
But when there was danger at hand and Dr Tom was called, as he had been to Willie Dennis, to try and save life or relieve suffering, the best part of the man in him came out, and he strove with might and main to conquer death, and he often succeeded.
He was pottering about as usual, with no coat or waistcoat on, when Constable Doonan came in.
'Busy as usual, Dr Tom,' said the constable in a hearty voice.
'No, my boy, I am not busy. I have been sitting down making up a few prescriptions and picking up a few threads of the past.'
'And how do the threads unravel?' asked Doonan.
'Fairly well, my lad. There's a few tangles, but they are not of much account; there's no occasion for any cutting.'
'No, I'll bet there's not,' said Doonan. 'Jim Dennis is mighty proud of the job you have made of that lad of his.'
'Nice little chap,' said Dr Tom. 'He had a narrow squeak, and I don't mind telling you, if it hadn't been for Sal's care he might have gone before we got there. That woman's a marvel. Wonder who her father was.'