and the sleepy doctor gets ou

el

espo

el

le

llo

s Docto

es

me out to my hous

is

er. Come

in the r

he says "Hello." No answer. He

p the receiver and rings the bell sharply. He takes it

h-ll did you c

bliging, so potent a thing is a man's unveiled wrath. She rings

ow what

ness. All is still. In about five minutes Mary is suddenly, sharply awake. A slight noise in the adjoining room! She listens with accelerated heart-beats. The doctor has failed to put on the night latch. Some thief has been lying in wait watching for his

arth is th

nd blessed i

sitting up in bed, half laughing and half crying. "But

told him

hy didn'

did

me you have been a mile

an hour since I left home," he said. Mary gasped. "Well, it onl

g-ling. Ting-a-

g but Mary hurries a

Dr. Blank

minutes ago that he would be out for half an hour. Call him a

tens. Silence. She waits a minute. Shall she speak? She hesitates. Struggle as she will against the feeling, she can't quite overcome it-it seems like "buttin

me yet?" says a plain

ngs to delay him-if you will give me your n

inflection says plainly, "I don't care to a

e it can't be long n

he message upon herself rather than that the other should be again troubled by it. No use to let her gently understand that she doesn't care for any confidences which belong only to her husband, but Fate has place

rug store probably and would be back in a very few minutes. Often, as she stood explaining, the doctor himself would break into the conversation, having been in another room when the first call came, and getting there a little tardily for th

n her hand a moment. Mary would not have admitted idle curiosity, and perhaps she had as little of it as falls to the lot of women, but sometimes she lingered a moment for t

es

o come out to

iles out, isn't it.

. Og

s the

rep

has she

complaining

ll be out som

away, please

ht," and Mary takes alarm. That tone means sometime in the next few hours. She feels sure he ought to go now. Somebody else can wait better than this patient. There was a ki

el

he 'phone thinking you were out and heard that mes

going after

ou ought to wait. I'

I had better

now they'll be looking

ch the 'phone," today, but that was understood. Occasionally he got an old man who lived next door to the office to come in and stay during his absence. Possibly he migh

d put it to her ear. A lady's

she had asked something before an

e?" announced the old man

ere is th

if wondering that anybody should be calling fo

rtain

hought Mary, "why

he's

re i

to the

t her li

en will h

be back in about

e? Maybe I'll get some in

herself in now it would make her out an eavesdropper. But this was

e over an hour

back. Will you be

ma'

to come up to

rs. W

Dorl

t ketch

's, on Brown

Torr

LAN'S!" shout

h unconsciously. "I will speak," she thoug

Dorl

n's on Brownson street

's, on Brown

ll him just as soon as h

ht-I'll

"but I don't want to go through any more ordeals like that

to dinner. "You got Mrs.

fter dinner." He looked at his

as wanted with me out in

it. Women have ways of understanding each other that men neve

octor placidly, helpi

mbarrassed smile, "I erred on mercy's side, and it migh

mighty little the matter out th

hey go

as old

e are comp

ad 'phoned her he would be out about twenty minutes. But she found no chance

are you

right

Where a

Blank's

e you th

r and to while away the ti

o hang this receiver right up," thought she, but instea

ling better

I'm be

o the show th

'm able

put in, "No, you're not

-" began a p

said Jack, laughing. "H

of the

u eat a

me toast and some

box of candy then pretty soon-I

ill be

candy or the

course." A laugh at

omes the doctor. I've got to hav

od-

"and it's plain to see what this is." The

ctor's wife was glad she had gone

doctor just stepped out for a few minutes. If you will tell

as not in the least surprised to hear the curt reply,

oever he may be, is wondering

npleasant to her to hear so

band came home and ate his supper hastily and then rose to dep

uestion brusquely,

Some man rang the office twice so I went to the 'phone to explain

was

not

hy didn't y

ld feel that way about it myself. For a long time I have dutifully done your bidding in the matter, but now I vow I will not trample my pride under my feet any longer-especi

e doctor, gently, seeing t

from it. Indeed the majority are pleasant and courteous. But it is those who are not who

on, Mary felt almost as free and in

forward was swinging his hat restlessly

ng up. "I'm expecting a man to pay me some money. Waiting f

or two, the ring came. With a

re yet?" the voice had

onger. He has just gone to the office. If you will 'phone him there in two or t

nk." The man was sur

from the faltering, apologetic ones, when she had as

th no uncertain sound and

is the soapstone?" he asked, with small amenity. His wife flew to get it and laid it on the hearth

ink I'd choose a day like

her husband into it, turned the broad collar up-then, when the soapstone was hot, she wrapped it up and gave it to him. "This ought t

ary shivering, "and eight miles back-sixt

e doctor had gone

Blank

country, about eig

hn Small's as soon as possible. How

eral hours,

im down as soon as he

o so. "Poor John," she thoug

o get Dr. Blank, central. He is eight miles southwest of here-at the home of Thomas Calhoun. Is there

tood irresolute, thi

one at Mr. Will

m Huntley ha

ease call that

man's voice

s Mr. H

es

lank. You live not far from

half

save him the long drive home first. I find there is no 'phone at Mr. Calhoun's so I have called you hoping y

go, my

k any one to go out

s. Blank. Doc's been

am very deeply obliged to you for your kindness, Mr.

les in all. Four miles from Calhoun's to Drayton, six miles from Drayton home-te

When the voice came she said, "I wanted to tell you that the doctor will be there perhaps

ank you, Mrs. Blank, for findin

s she had taken with her husband which had made her familiar with the homes and names of many farmers. Otherwise she could not h

then he and Mary and the boys would have a game of whist. He had been called in consultation to W., a little

d the small boy wrathfully. "Now

ady there with the

r. Blank's

e here in fifteen

Dray

on as he gets home. I'm afraid that ends the g

papa have t

s to drive

his dark nigh

ailroad on which the doctor was rapidly nearing home-the next sta

el

s the B

es

in which is due now. He is wanted at Drayton

on to D

Alfred

for him and see that

you ver

led. "Just in t

get back?" aske

e-ticket," sai

oad than drive both ways through this deep mud

her

doctor

one on the tra

will he

nd a half, I

e, "He won't be back for an hour and

it. Tell 'em to tell him to come jus

age was t

re is he

's, down by the

. She went to the 'phone and asked centra

as restful to Mary to have the usual opening

"Well," "What is it?" and very rare

ome of Mr. Wal

es

there just n

he's just

ask him to come

nd's voice was heard

ou get home, John. You're wanted at He

to see him when I get

umbling because they couldn't have their game, and never could have it just when they wan

e doctor's wife had been upstairs and could not g

nk is?" the words hurled t

s minute-but he's here in

en!" The sentence cam

thing about it. W

over the wire-"I guess

ked to tell him any

e for an instant, then

minutes ago that you wo

but firmly. "This is the first time I

to someone at the other end of the line, but it came

me when I 'phoned awhile ago that you'd sen

y, patiently, "but I'll send the doctor as soo

hen, that he's to com

r tall, young daughter coming up the walk. The solution came with lightning quickness-strange she didn't think of that, Gertrude had answered. She remembered now that ot

her mother said, "Gertrude, you answe

nxious for father to come right away that I ju

you, dear, but it's little

ad just taken place and mother

That telephone is an Old Man of the Sea to both o

nd your father

wo patients already waiting, then shooed him out befo

within hearing of the 'phone, deari

ake a cake now, but I can hear th

de dusted the flour from her hands and start

e Farmers'," said

mers' 'phone

el

ans

el

le

ver up and hurried to

el

s Dr. B

es

he t

ere a loud ring from t

rude rapidly, then paused, unable

went, I'll just 'phone down

l from the o

hurried apologetically. "The other 'phone is calling, and I'm so confused

tain

o the Farm

s Dr. B

es

answerin'," gr

r but no one

s the d

part of town-will be

st hold the 'phone a minute, wil

rushed back to the waiting man. She could answer him

still

es

name-father went to

a telephone directory handy-c

." She raced through the

I'm still hunting for the number," she thought, lett

el

ld the 'phone. I've had a turr

le time, too," tho

l me up," and he gave h

pped the receiver up lest there mig

unced calmly, "Elijah

d I've put you to a g

at

herself, "Two telephones ringing at onc

ing coals. Snow had fallen all through the previous night an

Ting-a-ling-ling-ling

up and went

is you

es

the office about

y we

hat central, or whoever should chance to hear him make this announcement to her so often, might thin

our the 'phone ran

granted? It would be safer to put the receiver

el

el

you Dr.

s lik

ome down to our

is

s is Mrs.

said the doctor, reco

tter down ther

was slidin' down hill on a board

did,

d, and a bi

there right away. Ha

put the receiver in its place. The next instant she took it down again with twinkling

id her husb

, "for English free and unadorned, com

the wire, then two

all where the Farmers' 'phone had hung. She had heard rumors of a merger of t

id Gertrude, poin

s day! Call

hone is t

tled in

claiming the Jabberwock from morning till night, till its weird strains had

liberty is not for us. That tuneful peal will still ring on