He was
trying to estimate the effect of silicious matter upon the mucous
membrane of a cow, when he saw Dan, sombrero in hand, bowing low
before him.
"Hello!" said the Professor, his eye resting professionally upon Dan's
splendid proportions. What a "subject" to cut up! What a skeleton to
articulate!
"Perfessor!" said Dan, "I want you to hev a look at me."
The Professor looked at him.
"My young friend," he said genially, "you're worth looking at. Do you
drink water?"
"When I can't git nothing else," replied Dan.
"Water it is, and lots of it, except when I strike town."
"If you must drink water," said the Professor with authority, "have it
distilled."
"Jeeroosalem!" exclaimed Dan. "That's a gilt-edged idea. Perfessor,
ye're a pathologist, ain't yer?"
The Professor nodded. Genius, however exalted, acknowledges
unsolicited testimonials from any source. He saw plainly that in Dan's
eyes he loomed gigantic.
"I am," he replied graciously.
"A path-finder, a seeker-out of noo tracks to knowledge?"
"You might express it worse," said the Professor. "What can I do for
you?"
"I'm a mighty sick man," said Dan solemnly.
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