VITAL SIGNS
Alias Smith and Jones – Drena Hills
“Orthodox medicine has not found
an answer to your complaint.
However, luckily for you, I
happen to be a quack.”
-
Groucho Marx
Historical Note: 19th century medical care was a
paradox of great advances and shocking ignorance. On the positive side diseases such as
Hodgkins and Parkinson’s were diagnosed.
The bacteria causing Tuberculosis was discovered by Robert Koch in
1882. Pathology, the scientific study of
disease, showed that all diseases result from the disorders in cells. This doctrine became the cornerstone of
modern medical science. Names like
Pavlov, Pasteur and Lister advanced medical knowledge and treatment. American
author and physician Oliver Wendell Holmes showed that the high rate of
mortality in woman after childbirth was attributable to infectious agents
transmitted by unwashed hands. This
discovery of germs allowed age old problems like anthrax, diphtheria,
tuberculosis, leprosy and plague to be prevented and isolated. Up till then surgeons operated in their
street clothes often without washing their hands. Operating rooms, like other parts of the
hospital, were filthy and half of all surgery patients who survived the actual
surgery died of infection caused during the operation. Rubber gloves and gauze masks did not come
into use until the 1890’s.
Anesthesia made great advances as well. Until the 19th century doctors
used alcohol, opium and other drugs to relieve pain. The discovery of ether in 1842 reduced
surgical mortality and enabled surgeons to perform longer more complicated
operations. X Rays were discovered in
1895 and in 1898 the Currie’s discovered radium which would be used to treat
cancer.
But with all these advances medical
practices were still often barbaric; employing methods that had been used for
centuries. Leaching, purgation, poor
liquid diets, cold water dousing were common practices. Even after newer, more effective methods were
introduced many doctors hesitated fearing loss of reputation,
Early
nineteenth-century medical training was extremely diverse. While some
practitioners held university degrees from the most respected medical colleges
of the world, some were apprenticed to apothecaries where they "spent most
of their time capping bottles and rolling pills" . Still others were
quacks and drug peddlers who practiced freely with no legal sanctions against
them.
But
even worse than the charlatans were those practitioners eager to make their
fortune and their name by medical discovery…
1882
The fog had drifted in sometime during his absence
and a cold, lingering dampness clung to his evening clothes with the same
insistence as the cigar smoke from the room he had just left. It was not the chill alone that motivated
his brisk climb up the steep pathway, but more one of self preservation and the
lure of the soft bed that was waiting for him.
Below
the sounds of ships preparing for high tide and the coming dawn mingled with a
persistent fog horn fighting for attention against the lonely clang of a buoy
rocked to life by the insistent rise of water.
With
light an hour away the streets seemed empty as if all but the unfortunate had
been driven inside against the chill.
But
Hannibal Heyes knew
He
let a small smile escape as he remembered the astonishment on his well heeled
fellow players at his success and his insistence there was no need to call him
a cab for his return ride home from the popular men’s club. Instead he had opted to slip out a side door
sensing that word of his success at gaming had all ready reached the
streets. And to be honest he had
preferred to walk; the pent up excitement of the game and exhilaration in
winning needed an outlet and the cool night air coming in off the sea was just the
ticket.
What
did surprise him was not finding his partner among the shadows waiting for
him. They had split up earlier in the
evening having different views of relaxation.
But Kid Curry always made it a point to be there when Heyes emerged from
a game. He insisted it was to help him
spend his winnings, but Heyes knew better.
His younger cousin knew men did not take well to his skill at the game
and often wished to challenge or bushwhack him to regain what they had
lost. More than once Kid had needed to
make the loser see reason, usually by removing the gun from their hand before they
were aware Kid was even there. Another
man might have been insulted that his partner did not think he could take care
of himself, but Heyes merely considered himself lucky to have such a friend
watching his back, especially as sore losers were generally cowards and didn’t
come alone.
Still
he didn’t feel alarm at his partner’s absence. His blond cousin preferred a lower stake game
not due to lack of skill, but for its relaxing qualities. Kid considered big stake games work and left
them to Heyes who thrived on the challenge.
Not
to mention there were more than several women in the city who would have
happily given Kid a different form of entertainment. Ranging from society widows to high priced
harlots, Kid had more than his fair share of women willing to offer him their
beds when he was in town.
Turning
the corner Heyes smiled as he entered the elite section of town all ready known
as Nob Hill. It had grown since their
last visit as the rich merchants and miners moved up in both the world and
elevation. It was the home of the cream
of society, which Heyes found terribly amusing since one of its oldest
residents had been skimming that cream for years.
Silky
O’Sullivan came from old money and made it a point to remark it was several old
men’s money. Retired from the confidence
game he now led a sedentary life composed of cards, reminiscing with old
cronies and complaining about the world to anyone making the mistake to cross
his path.
He
had few people he called friends and even fewer who would return the favor
back, but Heyes had an affection for the old swindler that kept him and Kid
coming back to stay with him whenever they were in the area.
Having
met him during their early days on the run he had done them the favor of
offering sanctuary at a rough time in their lives when they had been young and
green. Neither Kid nor Heyes had ever
forgotten that and had returned the act of kindness a dozen times over. Despite that Silky still railed upon them
when they visited, especially Kid, who he had openly called “that damn boy
gunslinger”.
Kid
and Silky had finally worked out a relationship that appeared cordial, though
both men did it more in deference to Heyes than Heyes liked to consider.
Finally
reaching number 17, Heyes stopped at the ornate gates that led up the long
gravel driveway to Silky’s house (“always have a driveway and gate that take 75
seconds to negotiate” Silky had once said.
“That’s all a good con man needs to make his escape”). Because of this the gates were never left
open, Silky was insistent on that and yet to Heyes’s surprise now they were
thrown open as if abandoned. For the first
time Heyes shivered against something other than the damp fog creeping up the
hill.
Silently
he hurried up the drive, avoiding the gravel that had been chosen just for it
noise factor, and found his gun had entered his hand.
A
figure emerged in the door way as soon as his foot touched the first step of
the porch. Heyes always wondered how Silky’s
butler and valet of 32 years could do that even when Kid had once made great
pains to see if he could arrive without him reaching the door first. But Lionel never faltered in his ability to
have the front door open to great you before you reached it.
“The
gate…” Heyes said conscious of the gun in his hand and knowing Lionel’s
aversion to guns and general dislike of he and Kid in particular.
“I’m
sorry sir…there has been some trouble,” the thin, blue eyed man said
hesitantly. Both the sir and the hesitation alarmed Heyes more than the
gate. Lionel had never called him sir
since they had first been introduced.
“What
happened? Where’s Silky?”
“The
hospital sir, Mr. Curry has been…hurt.
There is a horse saddled along the side for your use. He told me to tell you…”
But
Heyes had all ready turned the animal towards the gate and sending a shower of
gravel flying was gone.
Lionel
frowned at the mess. The gravel was so
difficult to keep tidy. He would need to
get someone on it immediately. The sun
was coming up and Mr. O’Sullivan would not be pleased. Leaping on the chance to do something
productive he went in search of the groundskeeper attempting to keep the
picture of the bleeding young man he had seen crumpled in the street hours
earlier from his mind. He made no secret
of his dislike for the two outlaw’s line of work, but knew in his heart his
employer had no greater friends, tonight being proof of that. He didn’t like to think how Mr. Heyes or Mr.
O’Sullivan would react to bad news about young Mr. Curry. If he was honest he wasn’t sure how he would
react either.
**********************************
Kid
was aware he was bleeding; he could feel the warm sensation of blood spreading
across his shirt and waited for it to cool and the shivering to begin. He tried to sit up but realized he was
strapped down to a bed that appeared to be moving. Around him he heard people shouting orders
and somewhere far away Silky’s voice ordering him not to die. Only Silky he thought and then swore, another
damn bullet hole. Heyes was going to go
through the roof at him being shot again.
He always took it so personal like Kid had done it just to rile
him. Kid had brought up the idea once to
his cousin that maybe Heyes got so upset because he cared about his younger
family member, but Heyes had firmly dismissed this as sentimental
nonsense. It had made them both feel
better.
He
tried to focus and remember how it had ended after the bullet had hit him. He was sure he had gotten all four men and
Silky and Lionel were safe, but he couldn’t be certain. Damn it burned and as the lights got brighter
above him he closed his eyes against their glare. Someone said the word doctor and he felt a
tinge of relief. At least someone with a
little skill would be digging into him for the bullet, that was something,
though he had to admit compared to some surgeons, Heyes had them all beat. Heyes had mentioned once his mother had
wanted him to be a doctor and he could understand why. Hands that deftly worked safe tumblers were a
natural for surgery and had been his savior far too often.
He
found the side of the bed to clench and waited for the familiar cut to
come. With luck he would pass out when
they started digging. It was a hell of a
thing to know what was coming, but then to his surprise he felt something go
over his face and blissful sleep overtook him.
**********************************
Silky
O’Sullivan paced feeling older and sicker by the moment. This had all been his fault. Heyes had warned him, Lionel had cautioned
him and yet despite knowing better he had walked straight in to a set up that
had nearly cost him and Lionel their lives.
He had many enemies and was normally better than cautious, but the
temptation had been too delicious to resist and just when he was certain his
life was over Curry had been there.
He
had made no secret of his disgust with gunplay and gunmen in general and often
shook his head at Heyes’s devotion to his cousin, devotion he was sure was
going to cost him his life one day. How
the boy had found them he didn’t know, but like an avenging angel he had jumped
straight into the middle with his gun blazing shielding both Silky and his
servant. Never had Silky seen anyone
move that quick or be so accurate with a weapon, it was almost inhuman. And only when a gunman moved around to try
and still reach Silky was Kid forced to go on the defensive, saving the old man
by taking the bullet meant for him.
It
was Lionel who had found a carriage and gotten them to the hospital. Once there the little valet had been a flurry
of righteous indignation at anything attempting to stop his cause of securing
the best care for the wounded man.
Silky
was grateful, he usually didn’t fold in an emergency, but this had nearly
destroyed him. Sadly it was less for
concern over the boy and more to do with his cousin and how he would react to
hearing Silky’s foolishness had quite possibly cost his partner his life. Heyes was the closest thing Silky had to
family, the son he never had and he held on to that relationship with more need
than he would ever admit.
But
Heyes’s love for his cousin was far greater than any friendship with him and he
knew when the dark haired outlaw learned of his part in all this any
resemblance of family between them would disappear at the revelation.
“Silky!”
He
turned and swallowed as two brown eyes searched his face for reassurance and
hope.
Unfortunately
he had none to give him.
**********************************
Nurse
Brian Reynoso carefully picked up the surgical instruments and began to prepare
the patient to leave surgery. Things had
changed a lot since his beginnings in nursing back in the last days of the
Civil War and looking around the clean operating room he shook his head amazed
at how far they had come from the dirt floor open air surgeries he had taken
part in.
In
his early 50’s he knew his career was coming to an end. Younger, better trained men and now women
were coming up to take his place and all his experience meant little with
medicine changing so quickly.
He
frowned at a nurse who waited behind to help him. Doctor Prussing only trusted him to see to a
patient after surgery and the young upstart better not think of taking his
place.
“That
is all Jeffrey I will see to him.”
“I’m
afraid Mr. Reynoso that Doctor Prussing specified I help you. It seems he felt
you were a bit forgetful on that Turner woman last night.”
The
words from the young university graduate were meant to cut and they did. Certainly he made mistakes, everyone did, and
perhaps more lately, but he still knew his job and knew it well. He also knew a few things Dr. Prussing would
do well to keep in mind.
“Certainly
Jeffrey,” he said tightly and watched as the man removed the ether mask from
the gunshot victim and froze startled into recognition. It couldn’t be! Why no one had said word about who they were
operating on and the notorious Kid Curry would certainly have been a topic of conversation!
Holding
back his astonishment he let the younger man prepare the patient to return to
his room and realized there was no sign of interest in him. The new wing of the hospital saw a great many
gunshot victims this was just one more…they didn’t know!
Almost
giddy with the revelation he didn’t fight Jeffrey’s taking the lead and
returning the unconscious man to his room.
Once there he checked the chart and nodded understanding. The patient was listed as one Thaddeus
Jones. But that hadn’t been the name the
man had been using when he had brought a wounded gang member in for help in
Startled
he turned as the door opened and Dr. Prussing entered so preoccupied with his
clipboard he didn’t notice.
“Jeffrey…”
he stopped noticing Reynoso. “Brian I thought I told Jeffrey I wanted him to
take care of Mr. Jones!”
“He
did sir, but I was just…”
“Thank
you Jeffrey that will be all,” Prussing said and waited for the younger man to
exit then pulled his spectacles down frowning, “Brian I have been meaning to
talk to you, the Board and I feel that perhaps your age had become an obstacle
in the care of our patients. You have
had a good long career you can be proud of, but we believe its time you thought
about retirement. The Board has been most
generous and can offer you two weeks salary in deference. Come in to my office tomorrow and we’ll work
it all out. For now give the patient
this medication.”
From
out of his pocket he pulled the familiar vial of cloudy liquid. Stunned Brian could do nothing more than nod
and Prussing never expecting anyone to disagree with him reached for the door
only glancing back once at his patient.
“I
don’t hold out much hope for him, but if anything can save him that will be
it,” and he was gone.
Enraged
Reynoso slammed his fist against the wall.
After all this time to be cast off like an old shoe! 30 years of nursing and nothing to show for
it! How would he live? He barely made enough to exist now,
especially with his expensive taste for the ladies in the red light district
near the docks.
Suddenly
the man groaned as the ether began to wear off and the nurse smiled. Curry had been worth 5 thousand dollars then,
surely it had possibly doubled by now!
This was his ticket to security!
But even unconscious the outlaw looked dangerous and he could not forget
the cougar like presence the man had radiated standing guard over his fellow
gang member. No it would never do to
take Kid Curry alive, but then the reward didn’t specify he had to!
Smiling
he looked down that vial he had been given.
Dr. Prussing had been experimenting with new drugs for some time now
with shaky results. Brian was certain
the hospital board would be interested in the vials contents and all he could
tell them. Smugly he slipped the liquid into his pocket. If the doctor was right Curry would be dead
by morning leaving him to slip the body away to make a deal with the law.
And
then with the reward money in his pocket he would be in a position to take on
the great Dr. Prussing. Blackmail was
such a reassuring retirement plan!
***************************************
Heyes
had reached the hospital and frustratingly been sent on a wild goose chase
until finally being directed to the Chauncy Beauregard wing, an irony not lost
him. The hospital was quiet and nearly
empty, visiting hours long since passed and it didn’t take him long to find Silky
in a small waiting room.
Silky
had always been old, even 15 years ago the man had seem ancient to him and Kid,
but for the first time he really seemed to reflect time’s effect on him and
when his eyes met Heyes he swallowed terrified.
“Silky,
what is it, what happened? Where’s Kid?”
“It’s
my fault Heyes; he was protecting me and Lionel. There were four of them; I don’t know how he
managed it.”
“Silky
look at me,” Heyes said grabbing his shoulders his voice sharp. “What happened to Kid?”
“Took
a bullet, a bullet meant for me,” the old man sagged at the admission and Heyes
let him fall back into his chair.
Turning
to think he let out a long, ragged breath and ran his hands nervously through
his hair.
“How
bad?” he asked quietly.
“The
chest, bad. He just left surgery. I got him the best Heyes, I swear it, but the
doctor, well he didn’t give much hope.”
“Where
is he?” Heyes said coming to life at such an admission. Kid would be all right, he would make sure of
that. He just needed to see him. Once Kid knew Heyes was there he’d stop
scaring everyone and get well. It was a conceited fantasy at best, but one
Heyes needed almost as much as he needed to see his cousin still breathing.
“Heyes
you can’t,” Silky said his voice dropping a notch. Lionel did some checking. There is U.S. Marshall on this floor
recovering from his own gun battle; he would recognize you in a second.”
“I’m
not planning on visiting him; I’m planning on visiting my partner.”
“I
know, but he has had lawmen visiting him all hours. All it would take is one of them to recognize
you…”
“What
room?” Heyes said quietly.
Surrendering
the older man told him and Heyes reached for the door.
“Heyes
you can’t be here!” Silky tried again.
“Then
I won’t be,” Heyes answered him. “Go home get some rest. I’ll let you know if I need you.”
Silky
watched the door shut. He had every
faith that Heyes would accomplish what he was after, the only problem was at
what cost. Wearily he rose from his
chair still shaking from the reprieve he had been given. He had expected Heyes to rip him to shreds,
but the young man’s thoughts had only been on his cousin. Silky paused considering Jedediah Curry. He had to be honest he had never taken to the
man, the gun strapped to his side coloring his opinion, but tonight, tonight he
had seen what Heyes had always known was there and it wounded him to think he
had been so prejudiced and blinded.
He had
to help them; he had to help them both.
But how?
**********************************
His
first thought entering the room was that Silky had done good. The room was a private one and expensive. Unlike the long dark wards he had witnessed
in his travels this room was spotlessly clean with windows on two walls to let
in air and light. Kid would appreciate
that, but then considering they had paid for this wing nothing less would have
done. He tried to smile imaging Kid’s
face when he told him where he was.
Moving
closer to the bed the smile drained away at the still figure laying there.
Pulling up a chair he moved next to him and tried to think of something to
say.
Disgusted
that his silver tongue had fled he got back up and paced hoping inspiration
would hit. A groan from the bed brought
him instantly to his cousin’s side, but it had been in his sleep and Heyes sunk
down into the chair at a loss.
“I
know how much you hate places like this,” he said finally. “Remember when Grandma Curry died in that one
in
Heyes
had made a decision a long time ago not to feel too strongly about anything and
the shock of the sense of loss that gripped him took his breath away. Come on, Kid had been shot before in worse
situations than this, why was this hitting him so hard? And then he realized it was the place. Neither man associated hospitals with a place
of healing.
Standing
up he coughed and straightened. He had
no time for melancholy. Kid was alive
and he was gonna stay that way and God help anyone who said otherwise. “I gotta
go take care of some things Jed, but I’ll be back in a little bit. Sleep tight
cousin.”
Stepping
out into the hall he barely was able to slip into the waiting room door out of
sight as two lawmen made their way down the corridor wearing badges declaring
them
************************************
“I can’t tell you how much this would
have meant to Dr. Beauregard,” the petite dark haired woman said escorting
Heyes down the hall. The woman had
instantly recognized the dark haired man who had visited the hospital six
months earlier in search of Dr. Beauregard.
Explaining he had come to carry on the Doctor’s good work, Dr. Joshua
Smith had graciously accepted the lady’s offer to show him around and he had
forced himself to take interest in the different rooms they passed until at
last they had reached the section that occupied his full attention.
“Thank you Irene, I can’t tell you how
much it comforts me having you to show me around. I can see why Chauncy thought so highly of
you! “
The young woman blushed clearly
pleased by the compliment.
“It’s my pleasure, why Doctor Prussing
have you met Doctor Smith?” the young woman said eagerly stopping an older
looking man with a shock of red hair and inquisitive black eyes.
“Finally, they keep sending us
students. Where did you intern?” he said
dropping his glasses to study Heyes like he was a lab specimen and dismissing
the young man in the disheveled, but expensive suit, tousled hair, beard and
glasses just as quickly.
“
“He was a colleague of Doctor Beauregard!”
Irene piped in eager to please this handsome young doctor. “I met him six
months ago just a short time after we lost the good doctor.”
“The man was a jackass, I hope you
know more about medicine than he did,” the doctor replied gruffly.
“I’ll try not to disappoint,” Heyes
smiled sincerely. “Tell me does San
Francisco General usually have armed guards in their halls?” he asked casually
as a police office walked by.
“No damn lawman got shot and the man
must have 200 friends. You are going see
a lot of gunshot wounds here boy. Had a
tricky one last night, about to check on him, care to join me?”
“Thank you sir, yes I would,” Heyes
said poker faced. So this was Kid’s doctor!
Excusing themselves from Irene the two
men walked into the end room and Heyes fought the urge to sigh relieved. Kid was unconscious, but still breathing and
some how now with the room splashed with sunlight he looked better.
“Alive!” Prussing said under his
breath, but his face was alight with excitement.
Heyes frowned chastised by the instant
dislike he had felt towards the man.
Seeing him clearly so excited that Kid had survived the night was
touching and a clear sign he had been wrong in his first opinion.
“Reynoso!” he barked into the hall and
was instantly joined by the older nurse.
“I’m sorry Doctor I was just coming on
I’ll have the patient removed immediately to the morgue.”
“Morgue! Damn idiot he’s alive! I did it!
I want you to monitor him and let me know of any change. I want to speak
with him the moment he awakes do you understand.”
Reynoso nodded, his eyes never leaving
Kid clearly confused to find him looking so fit.
“Dr. Smith make yourself useful. I
need to check on something, finish my rounds,” Prussing said slapping a handful
of charts against Heyes’s chest and exiting before he could object.
“I’ll tell the students you are making
Dr. Prussing's rounds,” Reynoso said quietly exiting.
“Students?”
*************************************
Bluffing had always been Heyes strong
suit. He had charm, an unreadable poker
face and an instinct about people that was uncanny. He had just never presumed to need it while
pretending to be a doctor.
“This is Mrs. Rosa Brotani,” one of
the three interns assigned to him said at the door of their first room. All were fresh faced, eager and devoutly
serious in their calling. But truth be
told Martin, Kilroy and Samuel, as they had introduced themselves with a great
deal of bowing and scraping, looked no different from a hundred would be
outlaws Heyes had interviewed hoping to join the Devil’s Hole Gang, so he
decided to treat them as such.
“What do we know about her?” Heyes
asked taking her chart.
“She’s 57, Italian immigrant, she arrived with chest
pains, but we can’t find anything wrong with her,” Martin said apologizing.
All three students looked up at Heyes
expectantly. Smiling weakly he glanced
at Dr. Prussing’s cryptic notes. It
seemed he could find nothing either and had labeled the woman emotional and
hysterical. Must have a real bed side
manner Heyes thought ruefully and opened the door.
Mrs. Brotani looked up expectantly
from her knitting and he watched as her face fell when she saw it was only
them.
“Good morning ma’am,” Heyes smiled his
sincerest grin, the one Kid always called the ‘why of course I’ll unlock the
bank for you sir’ smile.
“What’s good about it, I’m an old
woman dying.”
“A pretty woman is always an excuse
for it to be a good day,” he smiled again and this time had the audacity to
wink. The woman and his students looked
suitable startled.
“I don’t know you, where is that
horrible Dr. Prussing?”
“I told him he couldn’t have all the
lovely ladies, he had to share,” Heyes told her firmly and pulled out the
stethoscope. “So what part of
“
“Just curious if they all look like
you back home,” he said matter of factly putting the sensor on her back and
pretending to listen. “I may have to
plan a holiday.”
“Ah Doctor her heart is up front,” one
of the students said confused.
“I’m not listening to her heart, I all
ready know it’s broken,” Heyes replied and sitting on the edge of the bed took
her hands. “Who was he?”
“Excuse me?” she said completely lost
now, but he noted she made no effort to remove her hands.
“The cad who broke your heart? Beautiful woman, keeping herself here alone,
the man should be horsewhipped!”
She actually blushed and laughed
softly looking ten years younger, “Oh it’s nothing like that! My husband passed away ten years ago.”
“Ah that kind of broken heart,” he
patted her hand. “What a lucky man to
have the love and devotion of such a woman.” Heyes said managing to make it
come out both envious and longingly.
“Oh he left me well off, my children
they are all married now, very little time what with families of their own.”
“Excellent,” Heyes smiled at her with
a conspiratory wink.
“I don’t understand.”
“Well all the things you can finally
do! A visit to
“Oh I could never!”
“Madame you strike me as too passionate
woman to ever even contemplate nevers,” he said sincerely and kissed her hand.
“Can he do that?” Samuel whispered and
got an elbow in the ribs from Kilroy who was scribbling notes furiously.
“But my children…”
“You have done enough for your
children. I think its time you stopped
worrying about your own heart and went out and broke a few gentlemen’s! In fact the truth is ma’am that the reason
Dr. Prussing isn’t here is well he doesn’t feel it ethical considering his
feelings towards you. Very noble of him,
I hope you won’t hold his desire against him?”
That shaved off at least five more
years as she sat up eyes sparkling and patted her hair.
“I never realized.”
“Ma’am then I suggest you invest in a
mirror. I am checking you out and will
expect a postcard. “He stood up and told her honestly. “Just remember women like you are ageless!”
She was up and demanding her clothes
before they left the room.
“Sir was that….medicine?” Martin asked shocked.
“Is the patient better and going
home?”
“Well yea, but…”
“Then its medicine.”
********************************
“This is Joseph Kane, prognosis isn’t
good, tuberculosis,” Kilroy told him as they stood outside the children’s
wing. “His mother is hoping to take him
to sanitarium in
Heyes frowned. So far he had been able to dance around any
actual doctoring, but this was something he couldn’t take a chance on. He was in the process of creating an excuse
to leave when he caught a glimpse of a sandy haired little boy of about 10 lying
pale against the sheets. His blue eyes
held him, they were sad and yet hopeful, but it was the toy wooden six gun he
was clutching as he lay their breathless that convinced him. Walking over to the child’s bed he glanced at
the notes Prussing had made. One word, incurable
and a note to see to it that the child was transferred to the poor and
destitute clinic due to lack of payment.
Frowning he studied the child’s slender frame not missing the corner of
a dime novel nearly hidden under his covers.
“So Holliday is it?” Heyes said gruffly. “Heard about you. What they say about that OK Corral true?”
“My name is Joseph Kane sir, not
Holliday,” the boy said a little frightened.
“What?” Heyes said disbelieving and
looking at the boy’s chart. “So it is,
saw that gun and figured with tuberculosis you had to be Doc Holliday, he’s got
that too you know.”
“He does! You mean the Doc Holliday that rides with
Wyatt Earp!”
“One and the same should have known
you weren’t him, you look a bit taller.”
The child beamed, “I’m gonna be a
cowboy one day, when I get better!”
“I can see you’ve been reading up on
them,” Heyes said almost swallowing a smile as he pulled out the dime novel and
glanced at the title. Kid it seemed had
been very busy saving the west lately.
“That’s about Kid Curry! Did you know he’s the fastest gun in the
west?”
“World,” Heyes said with great
authority. “Seen him draw, why he can get off six shots, reload, take a sip of
beer and fire six more before the other fellow even finds his gun!”
“Really!?”
“Absolute truth,” Heyes said and moved
in to whisper to him softly. “Know what
is the strangest thing about that?”
“No, what?” the child whispered back his
face flushed with excitement.
“He was once a little skinny fella
like you, looked a lot like you too, but he ate what his momma gave him and got
lots of sleep and now, well you know the rest.”
“I heard he saved a wagon train from
50 Apaches!”
“100,” Heyes corrected.
“Wow!”
“Now from your chart I see you haven’t
been eating very well lately why is that?”
The boy’s eyes were suddenly
downcast. “Well my momma spends all her
money so I can be here and I… I was kinda hoping if I didn’t eat the food she
would.” He looked up worried speaking
man to man. “My pa died on one of the
ships and I’m the man of the house. He
told me to look after her.”
Heyes nodded and glancing over saw a
distraught young woman in the doorway watching them. “That your momma?”
“Yes sir. Don’t tell her I said nothing!”
“Well if you are going to grow up to
take over from Kid Curry I reckon we better look after her, what do you say?”
“Yes sir!”
“Mrs. Kane? I’m Doctor Smith. I have good news we have found a sponsor who
wishes to send you and your son to a sanitarium, Kilroy where is that top one
in
“You mean the one in Glenwood
Springs?”
“That’s the one!” Heyes said.
“We’ll give you and Joey here a few days to build up your energy and
then we’ll have you on your way.”
“Oh that is so wonderful!”
“Martin!”
“Yes sir!”
“Go over to the
“Fried chicken sir! I like it too!”
“Fried chicken and tell them they are
feeding a future legend so send a couple!” and tossing the student a 20 dollar
gold piece he headed for the door as fast as he could.
“Doctor you never told me the name of
Joseph’s benefactor?” the mother said catching his arm tears in her eyes.
Heyes smiled enjoying this, “A Mr.
O’Sullivan ma’am, kindest man that ever walked the earth!”
***************************************
“I don’t think that’s real doctoring,”
Samuel went on as he and Kilroy stood outside the last room waiting on Dr.
Smith.
“You are just jealous you didn’t think
of it,” Kilroy laughed.
“Do you students have somewhere to
be?” Reynoso said walking up.
“Dr. Smith told us to wait here, he
had to send a message,” Kilroy explained.
“Well I have to give this patient his
laudanum,” Reynoso said pulling out the
vial he had been given earlier and moving towards Kid’s room.
Entering
the room he frowned to see the outlaw was not only still alive, but his
breathing was less labored.
“Should
have known this wouldn’t cure him; I should have gave it to him last night and
saved myself the trouble. But we can
soon remedy that!” Reynoso said coldly opening the vial and leaning over moved
to pour its contents down Curry’s throat.
A
hand caught him in a vise like grip pulling the vial free.
“What
are you doing?” Heyes asked dangerously.
“A
pain killer, the doctor…”
“Well
I’m his doctor now, what is this?”
“Just
laudanum sir.”
“Were
you aware that the patient is allergic to laudanum?” Heyes said angrily taking
the vial’s lid and corking it put it in his pocket.
“No
sir! There was nothing on his chart…how
did you know?” Reynoso asked almost suspicious.
“I’m
a doctor I know everything,” Heyes glared at the man slowly realizing medicine
was a lot like outlawing, a good percentage of it being attitude.
“That
was amazing sir!” Kilroy said as Reynoso
left the room in a huff. “You saved this man’s life!”
“I
sure hope sir,” Heyes said wistfully.
*************************************
Jedediah
Curry regained consciousness slowly and considered it warily as his mind raced
to remember how and what he had done to feel this bad. He had learned from experience that admitting
to consciousness immediately was not always the wisest choice, at least not
until he was sure just what had caused it in the first place.
Around
him he heard soft voices talking and despite the dull pain in his side he was
reassured as he realized he was warm and relatively comfortable.
Strangely
he felt safe and realized Heyes must be near by. He didn’t know how he knew, but ever since
childhood his senses had never been wrong.
Or perhaps it was more that Heyes had never failed him when he had been
hurt and he could not imagine him not being there.
Swallowing
and deciding the need for a drink of water was worth the risk of letting those
around him know he was conscious Kid opened his eyes just as the voices moved
closer.
“Tell
us Doctor what is your opinion on this case?” a young man’s voice asked as Kid
tried to focus.
“I,” said the doctor unable
to keep the smile from his voice as his dark brown eyes met two startled blue
ones. “Think he’s going to live.”
************************************
“How…” Kid said a minute later when Heyes had
cleared the room.
“Here
take it easy,” Heyes smiled pouring him a drink of water and helping him up to
take a sip. “Though I doubt it will stay
you have enough holes in you to be sieve.”
“Silky,
Lionel?”
“Are
fine, you saved them both, what the hell happened?” Heyes said worriedly
watching his cousin sink back against the pillow.
“Remember
Silky told us about that scheme of his with the real estate?”
“Yea
I told him he was being conned and something wasn’t right.”
“Yea
well he didn’t listen, I caught him and Lionel sneaking out after you left, I
guess they figured I had gone with you so I followed them right into an
ambush.”
“You
saved his life.”
“Which
is really gonna annoy him,” Kid sighed.
“Where am I anyway, this isn’t his house.”
“Hospital.”
“A
WHAT!” Kid yelled jerking up so fast he winced in pain and with a groan Heyes
set him back in disgust.
“You
trying to stay here longer?” Heyes yelled back at him checking the bandage for
bleeding.
“Heyes
get me out of here; you know I hate these places. People die in hospitals!”
“Yea
well this one saved your life so you’re gonna stay here until I can figure out
a way to get you out of it without being recognized by the marshal healing up
down the hall.”
“Marshal?”
Kid asked worried.
“Yea
and he’s got about a hundred lawmen friends who love coming to check up on him
so you need to keep a low profile.”
“Wait
a minute I just realized something, did they call you doctor?” Kid asked and
then tried to laugh when Heyes nodded and stopped quickly with a wince.
“Oh
it gets better than that, guess what hospital you’re in?”
Kid
frowned, “
“Yup
you are seeing our gold dust at work!”
Kid
closed his eyes and managed a small chuckle. “Little
ironic don’t you think?” he said and then winced again in pain.
“Look
I stopped them about to give you laudanum, but if you need it,” Heyes said
pulling out the vial.
“Hell
no! That stuff makes me sick as dog.”
“I
know, I told them you are allergic to it so they shouldn’t bother you again,
anything I can get you?”
“Food? I never got supper last night.”
“How
do you feel about fried chicken?”
“This
place serves fried chicken?”
“Only
to my patients.”
******************************************
“Doctor
the patient in Room 12 is asking to see you,” a nurse said stopping Heyes as he
wearily made his way past the receiving desk.
“12?”
Heyes asked confused. “Is he one of Dr.
Prussing’s patients?”
“No
sir, but he seemed quite anxious.”
Unable
to escape Heyes let out a small groan and realized he had no choice but to see
what the man wanted.
“Mr.
Broughton?” Heyes said coming into the room surprised to see a rather healthy
looking young man of about 25 eagerly waiting for him.
“Dr.
Smith, I understand you were a friend of Dr. Beauragard’s?”
“We
shared lodging for a time.”
“Excellent
you are just the man I need!”
“Excuse
me?” Heyes said worried.
“My
name is Charles Broughton, I am a Bannerman Detective!”
“Oh
you are.” Heyes said deciding life could not possibly get any more complicated.
“Your
friend contacted us right before his death.”
“He
did?” Heyes said now truly confused. A
fake doctor who stole a $100,000 in gold rarely sought out the law, even the
law for hire.
“He
had uncovered a medical scheme that had cost the life of two patients and he
wanted us to investigate. He didn’t give
us much detail, but did say he was in fear for his life. Before we could send a man to investigate he
died of an apparent heart attack.”
“I
know,” Heyes said painfully. “Playing
“I
was skeptical at first too, but then I did some checking. This hospital has an unusually high fatality
rate for patients with gun shot wounds or severe bleeding. Twelve in the last six months have died.”
“Well
you don’t have to be a doctor to know people bleed to death,” Heyes said but
against his better judgment was becoming interested.
“Yes,
but they didn’t die of blood loss, they died of heart failure.”
“Well
they are sort of linked together,” Heyes said.
“Dr.
Prussing was the attending physician on every case. And we did some checking. He left two other hospitals, one in
“But
I just saw a patient of his that had a gunshot wound and he’s doing fine,”
Heyes said worried.
“So
far.”
Heyes
was instantly on his feet, “Excuse me Mr. Broughton I need to go check on a
patient.”
“Doctor
I need you help, if not for the patients, then for Dr. Beauregard.”