The doctor opened the letter, and paused to slap it angrily, from time to time, as he read it.
North poll
Deer Martha
few lines is to let you know on acounts of havin broke me leg cotchin the deer Im sory im in a stat of helth not bein able so as to be out in hevy wether. hopin you is all wel as it leves me
yrs respectful
Sandy Claws
Fish was poor and it would not be much this yere anyways. tel little Sammy
“Ha!” shouted the doctor, as he crushed the letter to a little ball and flung it under the table. “Ha! That’s the kind of thing that happens when one’s away from home. There you have it! Discipline gone to the dogs. System gone to the dogs. Everything gone to the dogs. Now, what do you think of that?”
He scowled, and gritted his teeth, and puffed, and said “Ha!” in a fashion so threatening that one must needs have fled the room had there not been a curiously reassuring twinkle in his eyes.
“What do you think of that?” he repeated, fiercely, at last. “A countermanded order! I’ll attend to him!” he burst out. “I’ll fix that fellow! The lazy dunderhead, I’ll soon fix him! Give me pen and ink. Where’s the paper? Never mind. I’ve some in my pack. One moment, and I’ll——”