The Story of a Doctor's Telephone Part 5

"But how'll papa get back?" asked the smaller boy.

"He's got a tie-ticket," said his brother.

"Yes, papa would rather walk back on the railroad than drive both ways through this deep mud," said their mother. "I have heard him say so."

Another ring.

"Is the doctor there?"

"He has just gone on the train to Drayton."

"How soon will he be back?"

"In an hour and a half, I should think."

Mary heard the 'phoner say in an aside, "He won't be back for an hour and a half. Do you want to wait that long?"

Another voice replied, "Yes, I'll wait. Tell 'em to tell him to come just as quick as he gets back, though."

This message was transmitted.

"And where is he to go?"

"To Henry Smith's, down by the Big Four depot."

A few minutes later Mary had another idea. She went to the 'phone and asked central to give her Drayton, Mr. Walton's house.

In a minute a voice said, "What is it?" It was restful to Mary to have the usual opening varied. Perhaps eight out of ten began with,

"h.e.l.lo!" The other two began, "Yes," "Well," "What is it?" and very rarely, "Good morning," or "Good evening."

"Is this the home of Mr. Walton at Drayton?"

"Yes."

"Dr. Blank is there just now, isn't he?"

"Yes, but he's just going away."

"Will you please ask him to come to the 'phone?"

In a minute her husband's voice was heard asking what was wanted.

"I want to save you a long walk when you get home, John. You're wanted at Henry Smith's down by the Big Four depot."

"All right. I'll go in to see him when I get there. Much obliged."

"A mile walk saved there," mused the doctor's wife, as she joined the two boys, mildly grumbling because they couldn't have their game, and never could have it just when they wanted it. But a few chapters from Ivanhoe read to them by their mother made all serene again.

The Citizens' 'phone was ringing persistently. The doctor's wife had been upstairs and could not get to it in less than no time! But she got there.

"Do you know where Dr. Blank is?" the words hurled themselves against her ear.

"I don't know just at this minute--but he's here in town. I'm sure of that."

"Why don't he _come_ then!" The sentence came as from a catapult.

"I don't know anything about it. Where was he to go?"

A scornful "_Huh!_" came over the wire--"I guess you forgot to tell 'im."

"I have not been asked to tell him anything this morning."

There was heated silence for an instant, then a voice big with wrath:

"You told me not fifteen minutes ago that you would send him right down."

"You are mistaken," said Mary gently but firmly. "This is the first time I have been at the 'phone this morning."

"Well, what do you think of that!" This was addressed to someone at the other end of the line, but it came clearly to Mary's ear and its intonation said volumes.

"You're the very identical woman that told me when I 'phoned awhile ago that you'd send him right down. It's the very same voice."

"There is a mistake somewhere," reiterated Mary, patiently, "but I'll send the doctor as soon as he gets in if you will give me your name."

"I'll tell ye agin, then, that he's to come to Lige Thornton's."

"Very well. I'll send him," and Mary left the 'phone much mystified.

"She was in dead earnest--and so was I. I can't understand it." Glancing out of the window she saw her 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 others had thought their voices very much alike, especially over the 'phone. "If the woman had not talked in such a cyclonic way I would have thought of it," she reflected.

When the young girl entered the room her mother said, "Gertrude, you answered the 'phone awhile ago, didn't you?"

"About twenty minutes ago. Some woman was so anxious for father to come right away that I just ran down to the office to see that he _went_."

"That was very thoughtful of you, dear, but it's little credit we're getting for it."

She related the dialogue that had just taken place and mother and daughter laughed in sympathy.

"Why, Mamma, we couldn't forget if we wanted to. That telephone is an Old Man of the Sea to both of us--is now and ever shall be, world without end."

"But did you find your father at the office?"

"Yes, and waited till he fixed up some medicine for two patients already waiting, then shooed him out before some more came in. I wanted to get it off _my_ mind."

"I'm glad he is on his way. Now stay within hearing of the 'phone, dearie, till I finish my work up-stairs."