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