On our arrival at the station the young man appeared as was expected,
and my kindly chaperone presented the case.
"He has been suffering dreadfully, James," she said, "and I told him you
would pull his tooth out for him."
"But, my dear mother," said the young man, "we are in a good deal of a
hurry. We have an engagement for to-night. My office is closed, and we
are not dressed for--"
"Thanks just the same," said I. "I am sure you would help me if you
could--maybe you will do the next best thing. I can't lecture unless I
have this confounded thing out."
"Lecture?" said he. "You are not John Kendrick--"
"Yes--I am," said I.
"Oh," said he, "that's different. You are our engagement. Come up to my
office, and I'll fix you up in a jiffy."
So we marched five long blocks up to his office, where I was soon
stretched out, and the desired operation put through with neatness and
despatch.
"Well, doctor," said I as he held the offending molar up before me
tightly gripped in his forceps, "you have given me the first moment of
relief I have had all day. My debt in gratitude I shall never be able to
repay, but the other I think I can handle. How much do I owe you?"
"Nothing at all, Mr. Bangs," he replied. "Nothing at all."
"Oh, that's nonsense, doctor," I retorted. "You are a professional man,
and I am a stranger to you--you must charge something."
"Oh, no, Mr. Bangs," said he, smilingly. "You are no stranger to me. I
have been reading your books for the past twenty years, and _it's a
positive pleasure to pull your teeth_."
V