the mind clearer and the nerves steadier when sustained by
healthy nutrition than when toned up by stimulants?" asked Doctor
Hillhouse.

"If stimulants have never been taken, yes. But you know that we all use
stimulants in one form or another, and to suddenly remove them is to
leave the nerves partially unstrung."

"Which brings us face to face with the question whether or not
alcoholic stimulants are hurtful to the delicate and wonderfully
complicated machinery of the human body. I say alcoholic, for we know
that all the stimulation we get from wine or beer comes from the
presence of alcohol."

While Doctor Hillhouse was speaking, the office bell rang violently. As
soon as the door was opened a man came in hurriedly and handed him, a
slip of paper on which were written these few words:

"An artery has commenced bleeding. Come quickly! ANGIER"

Doctor Hillhouse started to his feet and gave a quick order for his
carriage. As it drove up to the office-door soon after, he sprang in,
accompanied by Doctor Kline. He had left his case of instruments at the
house with Doctor Angier.

Not a word was spoken by either of the two men as they were whirled
along over the snow, the wheels of the carriage giving back only a
sharp crisping sound, but their faces were very sober.

Mr. Carlton met them, looking greatly alarmed.

"Oh, doctor," he exclaimed as he caught the hand of Doctor Hillhouse,
almost crushing it in his grasp, "I am so glad you are here. I was
afraid she might bleed to death."

"No danger of that," replied Doctor Hillhouse, trying to look assured
and to speak with confidence. "It is only the giving way of some small
artery which will have to be tied again."

On reaching his patient, Doctor Hillhouse found that one of the small
arteries he had been compelled to sever in his work of cutting the
tumor away from the surrounding parts was bleeding freely. Half a dozen
handkerchiefs and napkins had already been saturated with blood; and as
it still came freely, nothing was left but to reopen the wound and
religate the artery.

Ether was promptly given, and as soon as the patient was fairly under
its influence the bandages were removed and the sutures by which the
wound had been drawn together cut. The cavity left by the tumor was, of
course, full of blood. This was taken out with sponges, when at the
lower part of the orifice a thin jet of blood was visible. The
surrounding parts had swollen, thus embeddin