"There's the first inspecting doctor," said Hamilton's conductor,
pointing to a man standing just at the angle and watching carefully each
immigrant as he walked up. After a moment Hamilton turned to his
companion in surprise:
"But he isn't doing anything!" he said.
"Doctor," said the chief of the division, with a laugh, "I am afraid we
shall have to investigate this matter. Here is a lad who says that
you're doing nothing. He's watched you for a couple of minutes and you
haven't made a move."
Hamilton began to protest, but the big doctor only laughed in reply,
without taking his eyes, however, from the procession of figures which
one by one walked up to him and made the turn round the angle.
"If he'll wait a minute or two more," he said, "perhaps I'll have a
chance to do something, and save my reputation."
There was a pause; then the doctor continued:
"I think there's something doing now; watch this man coming up."
"He seems to limp just the merest trifle, that's all I can see," the boy
replied.
"Bone disease of some kind, or maybe joint," the doctor said,
"tuberculous hip, like as not," and as the man passed by he leaned
forward and chalked a big "B" on the shoulder of his coat.
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