Ting-a-ling-ling-ling
el
he doctor'
his res
wanted h
would be out for half an hour and asked me to answer
"I'll just call him up when he gets back
ut that
his morning, leaving the doors ajar behind her that she mi
t is
he doctor'
he res
y to have troubled you, Mrs.
r is out he expects me to be bell-bo
comes that my little boy is sick this morning an
minutes,
ed the message. This was a pleasing contrast to the other; Mr. Owen had v
t she must be true to the trust reposed in her. She went to the 'phone and softly taking down the receiver, listened; perhaps the doctor had got back and would answer it himself. Fervently she hoped so
he said, v
his time, for I looked in the book to see. How does it hap
Mary, patiently, "and when the 'phone rings while
e what good
people do not care to leave a
er deliver my m
r you would. I can at least say ab
d be back in half an hou
s held responsible for the delay.
minutes past the h
ful hurry for him. I'
ut she must go to the 'phone. She listened. Silence. Then the bell pealed sharply fo
ly, "I'm very sorry to hav
et, new voice. "Pardon me for inte
" Mary answered, very gently indeed. She realize
to come at once?" and she
send him
you, go
, the expected ring came in ea
us! hain't he g
Mary, offering
. I'll git some one else." The threat
be a good thing
voice with sof
uther have Dr.
ere yit, M
I am
back in a little
hink
own to Sairey Tucker's? I'm h
me where you liv
s-he's b
," and she
ned. After awhile she went to the 'phone and called the office. No reply. How she longed to deliver those messages. She dreaded any more calls from the waiting o
g-ling-lin
When he got the number and asked, "Is this you, Fanny?" his face took on an expression goo
st now. What
good deal bet
t is
alking
O
o say about it?" his vo
to making love to
help it,
re you,
r. Blank'
s he there? I'll
Fanny
d a mere man know that. He rang
to quit going into people's off
my way is nicer
lexes were
e, Tom, is Dr
e back room busy with anoth
hy, Tom, you're not
circumflexible as Tom's and a thril
t I wis
-committal as the Sphinx, and the young man asked through the 'phone in brisk, c
foolish then. Why,
s the
ned my
! Confound it! H
curlin
telephone and said, "Doctor, a young lady has burn
go?" asked th
u know," an
I'll go pr
o long. Char
ning back to the 'pho
in it the doctor took his case and lef
g-ling-lin
ing room, heard he
t is
es
will. I'll be up there in a little bit." H
said, "This time I h
e dead!" ex
into her coffin. Everybod
hy
her once and could not be sure, but to be on the safe side
you lift the bo
I'd rather minister to the living," said
or you in a most imperious way," announce
d they'll have to take care of her that he's determined to send her home
ng-ling-l
es
e, Vintner.
uman. I tell you you can't send her o
it won't be long-the crisis wi
ten. Don't you attempt it! That girl wi
unds more like it," and
egant in your discourse at times, Jo
rriedly into the dining-room. As he was pass
sked, hastily putt
just given my little girl a teaspoonful
swiftly out. When he came back an hour or two later he said: "The mother got the wrong bottle. A very few minutes w
ith tin cans with a string stretched between them
t may or may not be true
said Mary as she laid her arm in her husband's
Mary sat chatting with a
'phone a minute, p
d in, nodded to the trio, walked to the te
fice," she said. In a
I want you to come out to see him this even
ood-bye." And
said, "a telephone and a sense of humor." Mary laughed merrily, "O, we're so used to
lephones," said the doctor, with the hearty laugh that had he
some poor fellow to put his head in at the door and say he needed me. At last one dark, rainy night came the quick, importunate knock of someone after a
' I answere
and ask Dr. Smithson to come and see him.' I swallowed my astoni
much confusion that she was greatly embarrassed and ashamed. It had no
he had not taken me seriously; i
ee if he needed a doctor," said Mary. The doctor sm
so he sent for me to come and see if he needed a doctor. If I thought he did he'd send for Brown. I chatted with him awhile and he felt better. Next day he sent word t
"You doctors could
id Mary, as the doctor answered the
"I wish you would disconnec
of help to me," pr
laughed. "I know there are people who fancy the doctor's wife enjoying to the utmost her 'sweet privilege' of answering the
ite that way about it, Mary. I
Then hully-gee! won't I be free! You didn't choose the right sort of helpmeet, John. You surely could have se
laughed John, as he kiss
g-ling. Ting-a-
s you,
es
ever to do
d! That's what
job. She's feeling so much b
down for a
answer for tomorrow. She says she fe
an't,
much. Keeping her in bed is easier said than done," and the d
g-ling-ling. John rose, napkin in hand, and went whi
es
do as I told y
you what
ou put them
right away. Have
lf a little curiosity as to what was to be put into hot water. I
t that was," spok
asked hi
re's a family in town th
heria in town, but that the answer for which her
our later he sat down before the fire with his wife. "I remember a night nineteen years ago when I was called to that house-a little boy was born. I used to see the little fellow oc
hey didn't pay me then. I remember that. I menti
ou surel
said she guessed Jake co
husband of hers wi
hat you are going pretty
hy this boy should not pa
t believe he was so keen to ge
w should come into my office one of these days and offe
ry left the room quite unconscious tha
g-ling-lin
s you,
t
ll have to come
is
s Mary
tter out there
er shoulder. I guess she
n from a horse
N
d she run it i
e tone was exasperation itself. "I come purty near havin'
of
etween the rollers and nearly took a piece out of i
e today?" asked the doc
o tell ye. She was
to play it mys
over to see 'er and the first thing I knowed they was
or 'em," annou
very good
ocated. I'll be out in a littl
rl nearly fourteen
s he hung up the receiver, then ordered his horse brought rou
-ling-ling-
is Dr.
es
wn to James Curt
so. What's
d the doctor put up the receiver,
dark as a stack of
r and opened it. It was fearfully dark but John had said it was only a few miles. His faithful steed could find the way if he could not. John always got through somehow. With this c
will he
ck. Nearly three hour
ore this; he will s
r, and Mary went back to bed. But she could not sleep. Soon she was at t
el
s Mr. C
, ma
Blank
e about an hour ago. He oug
He would be home in a little bit th
come aware of it when his hat was brushed off by low branches. He dismounted, and holding the bridle on one arm, got down on hands and knees and began feeling about with both
and the girths had snapped with the strain. John made a few remarks while he was picking it up and a few more while he was getting it on the back of the shying colt. But he finally landed it and managed to get i
ll at once, and not a great way off, he saw a fine sight. It was a
re, my friend, if you p
among the trees. "Why, Doctor!" exclaimed James Curtis, "have you been floundering ar
oller' at. Until that door opened I tho
if you were at our house and I told
o the main road, will you, an
n when the night was so pitch dark, realizing as she made it, the futility of her vow. Then she told
ry. Just in time. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling-ling. By hard work she got him aw
. What
the wron
nati
Mary was awakened by her husban
bout it. I said it was the powder he was to take at two o'clock and he sa
Tell him I say for
istinctly, "I'm afraid he won't do it-he's so stubborn. I wish i
eal of difference in this case, and thinking he was in the right will d
morning was that
ywhere was bloom and beauty, fragrance and song. Long she sat in silent contemplation of the scene. At
ng fell upon
if it was two rings or three-I'd better listen,
?" The voice was f
husband's voice, with
e pronounced r
inflection. Her
ady, Doctor,
a fiercely fal
aid to take those red tablets." Mary caught all the se
ting for what was to follow. She understood. He had heard o
rgot how you told her to
take on
ushions and by and by became oblivious to all about her. Sweetly she slept for awhile then start
hair. "It isn't surprising that I dreamed it." For a few minutes she lay lookin
untry," she thought as she hurried to the 'pho
at gargle must
ple do ask! When a gargler is a-gargling, I
with quick impatience, "Aw-enough to gargle with." T
ayed to hear no more. Again she sank back in her chair hoping fe
so sharply she was on her feet and a
e outfit's drunk
e was making t
octor's voice was c
he street just jumpin' up and d
sn't fa
o and so's her husband
ink I'll come d
will you sen
-I do
h you
try to sen
sweet May Sabbath drove away all thought of day dreams. Poor, miser
es which do not come within a doctor's province at all-he is guide, counse