DR. KILDARE GOES HOME

Putaruru Press, Volume XVI, Issue 956, 13 November 1941, Page 2

DR. KILDARE GOES HOME

adapted from the Metro - Goldivyn - Mayer Picture by

Frances Barbour

Copyright 1940 by Loew’a Inc.

Chapter One * There was moral than, the usual {buzz of excitejtnent in the Blair .General Hospital (today for a new batch of hopeful young men were their internes hip and •taking their first uncertain steps into the world as full fledged ‘doctors. , Over in the right wing old Dr. Gillespie, guiding spirit of the ini' stitution was dozing in his wheel j chair. .Actually. though, his mind .was busy with the poesibilties of 'the brand new doctors the hospital was turning out today. There were some good boys among them and some mediocre specimens too. •Ralph Collins, for instance. He could go far but probably wouldn't. .With no backing he was going to find it difficult to start even the 'most meagre kind of ah office. (Karl Bates one could dismiss with<out a second thought. Bates was 'banking on the “way" he had with (women and you could give good odds on the fact that he’d end up as one of those phoney society [doctors. But young Jimmy Kildare now there was a lad. Gillespie had jwatched him, nursed him along, [browbeaten him and loved him .from the first time the boy had [come into the hospital. Kildare ‘was the stuff of which medical genius was made, a born diagnostician. l* : Suddenly, Gillespie’s eyes popped open as he noticed that the orderly who had been cleaning the room {was leaving. The young man’s arm {was oddly contorted and Gillespie 1 barked at him, “You! Orderly! I What’s the matter with your shoulder? Why can’t you straighten up?" ] Startled, the orderly tried to pull "himself erect and all at once a book dropped to the floor from • beneath his arm. Gillespie eyed him coldly. “Oh, jb. thief. Hand me that book." The [orderly looked sick with fear. f“What’s your name?" “Marley, sir." i Gillespie glanced at the booh title. “Marley, this is the only booh sin America that explains the new X*a Place theory.” Shrewdly, he •surveyed -the young man and all Sat once something came back tc 'him. This fellow’s name wasn’l Marley it was Davidson. Let's See, three or four years ago he bad been graduated from the Ruekin Medical College, top man oJ [the class. Now the truth was quite clear. Marley hadn’t been able tc .make a go of private practice anc j—oh sure, it all added up - so he iwas working here as an orderly ir order to keep up with the latesl medical books. Resignedly, Davidson answered each one of Gillespie’s questions Yes, that was why he was here That was why he had the Ls Place book under his arm. In horrified indignation, Gilles Spie roared, “The irony of it (the insanity of it. Ten million peo foie in this country without an? •medical attention whatsoever anc [thousands of good doctors starving {to death." Davidson nodded dully. “And {suppose there’s nothing to do abou Instantly, Gillespie was beaming help yourself to any .‘thing I’ve got around here al .the books you want. I'm going t< ,try and do something for you." The young man perked up. J •door which had slammed in hi; face suddenly • seemed to be opei }to him. “I'm very grateful sir, I—; {suppose you think I’m silly hidin; iunder a falce name.” Gillespie was wheeling himsel •to the door. He turned and sai< [gravely, “No. There’s many a gco< •doctor listed on relief as “Join Smith, Laborer". He made a ges ture. “Never mind washing th windows. Read your book. I neve look outside anyway." Then in tra ditional Gillespie manner, he snort ed, “Funny, isn’t it? Right now I’ve got to go and talk to twent: hopeful young doctors we’re turn ing loose on the world today." The graduating internes wer waiting in one of the lecture room and without preamble, Gillespi plunged into his message to then His sarcasm was knife edged as h told them how his heart bled fo them they wEo were about t engage in the noble profession c practicing medicine. They’d be or c~i many a call at midnight - ti.ey wv.-ldn’t have much famil lifa, and if they were inclined t get swell-headed about their wor they’d come down a peg whe they realized that they weren’t £ hot compared with the mysterit and wo: : vjs ways in whic nature el. :ced her cures. Then ir. conclusion, his voic rose. “But gentlemen, that’s jui one side of it. I want to tell yc this. Nobody has & right to lh •without paying for his existent I with some service to mankin Mr aer'/ic? ia man’s most precioi

boon. the alleviation of pain, I'm sending you 3ut into the world with a message of hate—hate for, disease and ignor-i ance. Cherish that hatred and you’ll; never quit no matter how toughthe going gets." He turned away abruptly. “Good-bye and good: luck." „ A bit later, he was in his office, with Dr Carew. The moment he had been waiting for arrived. The: door opened and young Dr. Kildare: came in. _ Gillespie barked at him fondly. “Well, doctor, I guess there’ll be; no holding you now.” ' Carew smiled upon them both warmly. The friendship between’ these two, the old and the young; generation of medicine was a,beautiful thing to behold. Jimmy Kildare grinned. I dont feel any different.” ■ “I’ll make you feel different. With gruff pride Gillespie said, “The bulletin board will carry your appointment as staff physi-, cian. You’ll be assigned to mej •body and soul.” He waggled his : finger. “Now upstairs you back to work.” ~ ! “Not so fast,” Jimmy said crisply His smile was bland. “Dr. Gillespie, exactly when does my new appointment go into effect?” ] “Right- now.” “Then,” said Jimmy, “in accordance with the regulations governing staff physicians, I hereby take ten minutes off.” He bowed to the irate Gillespie, gave him a teasing smile and marched from the room. Outside, he hurried down the corridor. Now why couldn't Nurse Mary Lamont be here at a big moment like this? You’d think that when a girl had promised to marry, a man she’d be around when he 1 had something to tell her. All at once, a door opened and Mary, popped out. Her blue eyes were, bright and mischievous. “Dooiling He grabbed her hand. “You know. I am.” He stepped into the room after her and then sndaen.y he, looked around in surpi.se. ‘ wny, what’s this? These are all my things. And there’s ine pic.are of Dad and Mother.” , Mary smiled at him -v-emy. “I hope I put your bhirLs in t..e right drawer.” - Then suddenly he realized v/nat it was all about. “Say, I'd forgotten about that paragraph ‘A starf. physician has a room all to himself'. Ah, thanks darling.” ; Very softly, Mary said, “You re. welcome” but there was a look, on her face that called for something. He drew her close and kissed her gently but soundly. ( She looked up at him. “That’s, the first time I’ve ever been, kissed: by a staff physician. Jimmy, Im; so proud of you and so happy. , Another kiss, a very ti ough one.. Looking rather pink, i..ary broke away. “Oh Doctor,” she said, and rolled her eyes. Then she thought; of something. “Jimmy, have you, told your folks about ycur new i job?” She picked up the telephone.’ “You know staff doctors make j outside calls.” I Jimmy nodded happily as he put through the call to the home ofj Dr. Stephen Kildare, Dartfcrd, Connecticut. “I haven’t told Mother about you yet, Mary,” he said 1; wanted her to meet you first.’ “Oh that’s sweet, Jimmy.” “And if I’m any judge of human j beings, especially feminine ones,! you two are going to fall for each! other like a ton of bricks." Now the telephone operator Sally I spoke to him. “Dr. Ililo.are, no-l body answers at your father’s) house.” ! “What?” Slowly he hung up., . “Say, that’s funny ITary. Yov’dj . think at least my moth orVI bej ■ home at this time of mernmg. I : certainly wanted to toil her about) ■ my. appointment right away.” “Maybe she’s just out doing some; • marketing.” , “Yes —that’s probably true. Even • so, though, I wonder why Da<f) • isn’t home he usually has office hours at this time. Well. 11] . leave the call in. Maybe she’ll : telephone bock.” He planted an- , other kiss on Mary’s lips. 1 Ilavq to see Gillespie now or he’ll tak4 I the hide off me.” r “All right, honey, TO meet you > at seven.” f “No.” She stared at him and hi l grinned. “Half past sir.” He stop* _ ped out into the corridor but im? T mediately a frown appeared on his 3 face. That was funny about t.h4 house not answering. Now, wlial 3 in the world could be up at homel s This is the biggest day of j young Dr. Kildare’s life. He has received a staff appointment and he and Mary com I now malce plans to be marr ried. But is there any trouble r at home to east a shadow over p Ms happiness t Read tome r* • row's dramatis installment* B (.