CHAPTER XI.
It was five o'clock in the morning when the doctor heard the call andmade his way to it. His wife was roused too and was a passive listener.
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Down where? I don't understand you."
"On what street?.... Down near Dyre's? I don't know any such family."Here Mary called out, "Maybe they mean Dye's."
"Dye's? Yes, I know where that is..... Galliver--that's the name is it?Very well, Mrs. Galliver, I'll be down in a little while.... Yes, justas soon as I can dress and get there."
He proceeded to clothe himself very deliberately, but years ofrepression had taught Mary resignation.
Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Three rings.
The doctor went with shoe in hand and again his wife was a listener.
"Yes..... Yes..... I'm just getting ready to go to see a patient......It's a hurry call, is it? All right then, I'll come there first......Yes, right away."
As he put up the receiver he said to his wife, "Somebody else was tryingto get me then, too, but couldn't make it." Mary thought it well hecouldn't since her husband was only one and indivisible.
"But he will probably try again after a little," she thought, "and Johnwill be gone and I won't know just where to find him."
Ting-a-ling-ling-ling-ling-ling. Collar in hand the doctor went.
"Yes..... Who is this?.... Come where?.... Jackson street. Right next toWilson's mill?.... On which side? I say on which side of Wilson'smill?.... West? All right, I'll be down there after awhile...... No, notright away; I have to make two other visits first, but as soon as I canget there."
When at last he was dressed and his hand was on the door-knob the 'phonecalled him back.
"You say I needn't come..... Very well. I'll come if you want me tothough, Mrs. Galliver. I'm just starting now. I have to see anotherpatient first."--
"Why John," interposed Mary from the bedroom, "She called you first."
"It will be about half an hour before I can get there..... All right,I'll be there."
Then Mary remembered that No. 2 was the hurry call and was silent. Whenthe doctor was gone she fell asleep but only for two minutes.
She went to answer the call. "Has the doctor started yet?"
"Yes, he is on his way."
"All right then," and the relief in the tone was a pleasant thing tohear.
"Now, if I go to sleep again I can feel no security from No. 1 or No. 3or both." Nevertheless she did go to sleep and neither No. 1 nor No. 3called her out of it.
* * * * *
"I must be going," said Mary, rising from her chair in a neighbor'shouse.
"Have you something special on hand?" asked her neighbor.
"Yes, it's clock-winding day at our house, for one thing."
"Why, how many clocks do you have to wind?" inquired the little old ladywith mild surprise.
"Only one, thank heaven!" ejaculated Mary as she departed.
When she had sped across the yard and entered her own door she threw offher shawl and made ready to wind the clock. First, she turned off thegas in the grate so that her skirts would not catch fire. Second, shebrought a chair and set it on the hearth in front of the grate. Third,she went into the next room and got the big unabridged dictionary,brought it out and put it on the chair. Fourth, she went back and gotthe oldest and thickest Family Bible and the fat Bible Dictionary,brought them out and deposited them on the unabridged. Fifth, shemounted the chair. Sixth, she mounted the volumes--which brought her upto the height she was seeking to attain. Seventh, she wound the clock;that is, she usually did. Today, when she had inserted the key andturned it twice round--the 'phone rang. Oh, dear! Thank goodness itstopped at two rings. She would take it for granted the doctor was inthe office. She wound on. Then she took the key out and inserted it onthe opposite side. A second peal. That settled it. If it were a lawyer'sor a merchant's or any other man's 'phone she could wind the other sidefirst--but the doctor's is in the imperative mood and the present tense.She must descend. Slowly and cautiously she did so, went to the 'phoneand put the receiver to her ear.
"Hello, is this Dr. Blank's office?"
"This is his--"
"Hello, what is it?" said her husband's voice. "Now why couldn't he havecome a minute sooner," thought Mary, provoked.
"Doctor," said an agitated voice, "my little boy has swallowed a penny."
"Was it a good one?" inquired the doctor, calmly.
"Why--ye-es," said the voice, broken with a laugh, "guess it was."
"Just let him alone. It will be all right after awhile."
"It was worth getting down to hear so comforting an assurance," saidMary as she ascended again the chair and the volumes. She finished herweekly task, then slowly and cautiously descended, carried the big booksback to their places, set the chair in its corner and lighted the gas.She stood for a moment looking up at this clock. The space over themantel-piece was just the place for it and it was only after it had beenfirmly anchored to the wall that the thought had arisen, "How can I everget up there to wind it?"
She smiled as she thought of a social gathering a few days before, whena lady had called to her across the room, "Mrs. Blank, tell us thatclock story again." And she had answered:
"It isn't much of a story, but it serves to show the manner in which wecomputed the time. One night the doctor woke me up. 'Mary,' he said in ahelpless sort of way, 'It struck _seven_--what _time_ is it?' 'Well--letme see,' I said. 'If it struck seven it meant to strike three, for itstrikes four ahead of time. And if it meant to strike three it's just aquarter past two, for it's three quarters of an hour too fast.'"Ting-a-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.
Mary recognized her husband's ring. "Yes, what is it John?"
"I'm going out for twenty minutes, watch the 'phone, please."
She laughed in answer to this most superfluous request, then sat herdown near by.
* * * * *
"John, Mrs. B. said a pretty good thing last night."
"That's good."
"I've a notion not to tell you, now that the good thing was about you."
"That's better still. But are good things about me so rare that you madea note of it?"
"I don't know but what they are," said Mary, reflectively. "There wasMrs. C., you know, who said she didn't see how in the world Doc Blank'swife ever lived with him--he was so mean."
"I wonder about that myself, sometimes."
"The way I manage it is to assert myself when it becomes necessary--andit does. You're a physician to your patients but to me you're a mereman."
"I feel myself shrivelling. But how about Mrs. B.'s compliment?"
"I was over at the church where a social program of some sort was beinggiven and 'between acts' everybody was moving about chatting. An elderlywoman near me asked, 'Mrs. Blank, do you know who the Hammell's are?' Itold her that I did not, and she went on, 'I see by the paper that amember of their family died today, and I thought you, being a doctor'swife, might know something about it.'
"Mrs. B. spoke up promptly, 'Why, Mrs. Blank wouldn't know anythingabout the _dead_ people--her husband gets 'em _well_.'"
The doctor laughed, "And she believes it too," he said.
"No doubt of it. So a compliment like that offsets one of Mrs. C.'skind."
"O, no. The C.'s have it by a big majority. Don't you know I have thereputation of being the meanest man in the county?"
"No, I don't."
"Well, I have. Do you remember that drive we took a week or two ago upnorth?"
"That long drive?"
"Yes. When I went in the man who was a stranger to me, said, 'I'll tellyou why I sent for you. I've had two or three doctors out here,recommended as _good_ doctors, and they haven't done me a darned bit ofgood. Yesterday I heard you was the meanest doctor in this county and Isaid to myself, "He's the man I want."'"
"I heard you laughing and
wondered what it was about. The man's wifecame out to the buggy and talked to me. She said they were strangers anddidn't know anything about the doctors around here--they had thought ofsending down to this town for a doctor but she had spoken to a woman--aneighbor--and she had said there wasn't _any_ of 'em any account downthere. But her husband kept getting worse so they finally sent for Dr.Blank and she hoped he'd cure 'im. Are you doing it? I hope so for Iassured her that the physicians of this town are recognized throughoutthe State as being men of exceptional ability, and she went in,comforted."
"Yes, he got better as soon as he struck the road to health," laughedJohn. He took out his watch. "Jove! I haven't any time to spare if Icatch that train." For several days he had been taking the train to alittle station some miles out of town, where he would get off and walk amile to the home of his patient, make his visit and walk back in time tocatch the train for home.
Just after the doctor left the house the telephone rang twice. His wifeanswered it, knowing he had not yet reached the office.
"Is the doctor there?"
"He left the house just a minute ago."
"Well, he's coming down today isn't he?"
"Is this Mrs. Shortridge?"
"Yes."
"Yes, he just said he must make that train."
"He'll go to the office first won't he?"
"Yes, to get his case, I think."
"Will you please telephone him there to bring a roast with him?"
"To bring what?"
"A roast."
Mary was nonplussed. Her husband had the reputation of "roasting" hispatients and their attendants on occasion. Had an occasion arisen now?
"Why, ye-es," she began, uncertainly, when the voice spoke again.
"I mean a roast of beef, Mrs. Blank. I thought as the doctor was cominghe wouldn't mind stopping at the butcher's and bringing me a roast--tellhim a good-sized one."
The receiver clicked. Mary still held hers. Then she rang the office.
"What _is_ it?" Great haste spoke in the voice.
"John, Mrs. Shortridge wants you to bring her a roast of beef when yougo down."
"The devil she does!"
"The market is right on your way. Hurry. Don't miss the train!" She putup the receiver, then she snatched it and rang again violently.
"_Now_ what!" thundered John's voice.
"She said to get a good-sized one." Standing with the receiver in herhand and shaking with laughter she heard the office-door shut with abang and knew that he was off.
She knew that if he had been going in the buggy he would have been gladto do Mrs. S.'s bidding. He often carried ice and other needful thingsto homes where he visited. Mary pictured her husband picking his wayalong a muddy country road, his case in one hand and the "roast" in theother, and thought within herself, "He'll be in a better mood for aroast when he arrives than when he started."
* * * * *
Mary was out in the kitchen making jelly. At the critical moment whenthe beaded bubbles were "winking at the brim" came the ring. She liftedthe kettle to one side, wiped her hands and went.
"Is this you, Mary?"
"Yes."
"Watch the 'phone a little bit, please. I have to be out about half anhour."
"I'm always watching the 'phone, John, always, _always_!"
She went back to her jelly. She put it back on the fire, an inert masswith all the bubbles died out of it. Scarcely had she done so when the'phone rang--two rings. Surely the doctor had not got beyond hearingdistance. He would answer. But perhaps he had--he was a very swiftwalker. The only way to be sure of it was to go to the telephone andlisten. She went hastily back and as she put the receiver to her earthere came a buzz against it which made her jump.
"Hello," she said.
"I wanted the doctor, Mrs. Blank, do you know where he is?"
"He just 'phoned me that he--" an unmistakable sound arose from thekitchen stove. The jelly was boiling over! Instinct is older than thetelephone. The receiver dangled in air while Mary rushed madly to therescue. "I might have known it," she said to herself, as she pushed thekettle aside and rushed back to the 'phone.
"I guess they cut us off," said the voice.
"I was just saying," said Mary, "that the doctor 'phoned me a fewminutes ago he would be out for half an hour."
"Will you please tell him when he comes in to call up 83?"
The man goes on his way, relieved of further responsibility in thematter. It will be a very easy thing for the doctor's wife to call upher husband and give him the message. Let us see.
When the jelly was done, and Mary had begun to fill the waiting glassesshe thought, "I'd better see if John is back. He may go out again beforeI can deliver that message." So she set the kettle on the back of thestove and went to ascertain if her husband had returned. No answer toher ring. She had better ring again to be sure of it. No answer. Shewent back to the kitchen. When the glasses were all filled and she hadheld first one and then another up to get the sunlight through the clearbeautiful redness of them, she began setting them back to cool. Thetelephone! She hurried in and rang again to see if John had got back.Silence. She sighed and hung up the receiver. "I'd like to get it off mymind." As she started toward the kitchen again the door-bell rang. Shewent to open the door, and wonder of wonders--an old friend she had notseen for years!
"I am passing through town, Mary, and have just three quarters of anhour till my train goes. Now sit down and _talk_."
And the pair of them did talk, oblivious to everything about them. Howthe minutes did fly and the questions too! The 'phone rang in the nextroom--two rings. On Mary's accustomed ear it fell unheeded. She talkedon. Again two rings. She did not notice.
"Isn't that your 'phone?" asked the visitor.
"O, _yes_! You knocked it clean out of my head, Alice. Excuse me aminute," and she vanished.
"Did you give that message to the doctor?"
"He is not back yet."
"I saw him go into the office not ten minutes ago."
"I have 'phoned twice and failed to find him."
"I hoped when I saw him leave the office that he had started down to seemy little boy, but of course he hasn't if he didn't get the message."
"I am sorry. An old friend I had not seen for years came in and ofcourse it went out of my mind for a few minutes, though I 'phoned twicebefore she came. I am sure he will be back in a few minutes and I willsend him right down, Mr. Nelson."
"Why do you do that?" asked her friend, pointedly as she came in. "Whytake upon yourself the responsibility of people's messages beingdelivered."
"It _is_ an awful responsibility. I don't know why I do it--so manypeople seem to expect it as a matter of course--"
"It's a great deal easier for each person to deliver his own messagethan for you to have a half dozen on your mind at once. I wouldn't doit. You'll be a raving lunatic by the next time I see you."
"At least I'll have ample time in which to become one," laughed Mary.
"I'm going," announced her friend, suddenly rising. "I could spare fiveor ten minutes more but if I sit here you'll forget that 'phone again.But take my advice, Mary, and institute a change in the order ofthings."
When she had gone Mary sat for a few minutes lost in thought. Then,remembering, she sprang up and went to the 'phone. No answer to herring. "Dear me! Will I _never_ get that message delivered and off mymind." Soon a ring came.
"Isn't he back _yet_?"
"I 'phoned about three minutes ago and failed to get him. By the way,Mr. Nelson, will you just 'phone the doctor at the office, please? Thatwill be a more direct way to get him as I seem to fail altogether thismorning. I am sure that he can't be gone much longer," she said verypleasantly and hung up the receiver. The responsibility had beengracefully shifted and she was free for a while. Other occasions wouldarise when she could not be free, but in cases of this kind her friend'sclear insight had helped her out.
*
* * * *
Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.
"Hello."
"Is this Dr. Blank?"
"Yes."
"My husband has just started for your office. He says he's going to sendyou down. I don't need a doctor. Will you tell him that?"
"I'll tell him you _said_ so."
"Well, I don't. So don't you come!"
"All right. I haven't got time to be bothered with you anyway. The sickpeople take my time."
In a few minutes the 'phone rang again.
"Dr. Blank, can you come over to the Woolson Hotel?"
"Right away?"
"Yes, if you can. There's a case here I've treated a little that I'm notsatisfied about."
"All right, Doctor, I'll be there in a few minutes."
When he reached the hotel and had examined the patient he said, "He hassmallpox."
"I began to suspect that."
"Not a bit of doubt of it."
"The hotel is full of people--I'm afraid there'll be a panic."
"We must get him out of here. We'll have to improvise a pest-house atonce. I'll go and see about it."
That evening about an hour after supper the doctor's daughter camehurriedly into the room where her mother was sitting.
"Mother," she exclaimed, "there's an awful lot of people in the office,a regular mob and they're as mad as fury."
"What about?" exclaimed her mother, startled.
"They're mad at father for putting the tent for a smallpox patient downin their neighborhood."
"Is he in the office now?"
"He was there when I first went in but he isn't there just now. Fatherwasn't a bit disturbed, but I am. I got out of there. The mayor wentinto the office just as I came out."
Uneasy, in spite of herself, Mary waited her husband's return. Teno'clock, and he had not come. She went to the 'phone and called theoffice. The office man answered.
"Where is the doctor?"
"He was in here a few minutes ago, but there's a big fuss down at thesmallpox tent and I think he's gone down there."
Mary rang off and with nervous haste called the mayor's residence.
"Is this Mr. Felton?"
"Yes."
"This is Mrs. Blank. I am very uneasy about the doctor, Mr. Felton. Ihear he has just started down to the smallpox tent. Won't you please seethat someone goes down at once?"
"Yes, Mrs. Blank. I came from there a little while ago but they're madat the doctor and I'll go right back. I'm not going to bed until I knoweverything's quieted down."
"And you'll take others with you?" she pleaded, but the mayor was gone.Again she waited in great anxiety. The tent was too far away for her togo out into the night in search of him.
Between eleven and twelve o'clock she heard footsteps. She rose and wentto the door. Almost she expected to see her husband brought home on astretcher. But there he came, walking with buoyant step. When he came inhe kissed his anxious wife and then broke into a laugh.
"My! how good that sounds! I heard of the mob and have been frightenedout of my wits."
"They've quieted down now. There wasn't a bit of sense in what theydid."
"Well, I don't know that one can really blame them for not wantingsmallpox brought into the neighborhood. Couldn't you have taken the tentfarther out?"
"Yes, if we had had time. But we had a sick man on our hands--he had tobe got out of the hotel and he had to be taken care of right away. Hehad to have a nurse. There must be water in the tent and the nurse can'tbe running out of a pest-house to get it. Neither can anyone carry it tosuch a place. So we couldn't put it beyond the water- andgas-pipes--there must be heat, too, you know. We have done the very bestwe could without more time. The nearest house is fifty yards away andthere's absolutely no danger if the people down there will just getvaccinated and then keep away from the tent."
"They surely will do that."
"Some of them may. One fool said to me awhile ago when I told them that,'Oh, yes! we see your game. You want to get a lot of money out of us.'"
"What did you say to that ancient charge," asked Mary, smiling.
"I said, 'My man, I'll pay for the virus, and I'll vaccinate everyone ofyou, and everyone in that neighborhood and it won't cost you a cent'."
"Did he look ashamed?"
"I didn't wait to see. I had urgent business out just then."
"Is the patient in the tent now?"
"Yes, all snug and comfortable with a nurse to take care of him. Thatwas my urgent business. I went into the back room of the office in themidst of their jabber, slipped out the door, got into the buggy hitchedback there, drove to the hotel and with Dr. Collins' help, got thepatient down the ladder waiting for us, into the buggy, then got thenurse down the ladder and in, too, then away we drove lickety-cut forthe tent while the mob was away from there. Then I went back to theoffice and attended the meeting," added the doctor, laughing heartily.
His wife laughed too, but rather uneasily. "Were they still there whenyou got back?"
"Every mother's son of 'em. They didn't stay long though. I advised themto go home, that the patient was in the tent and would stay there. Theybroke for the tent--vowed they'd set fire to it with him in it and Ithink they intended to hang _me_," and the doctor laughed again.
"John, don't _ever_ get into such a scrape again. I 'phoned Mr. Feltonand begged him to go down there and take someone with him."
"You did? Well, he came, and it happened there was a member of the StateBoard of Health in town who had got on to the racket. He came, too, andyou ought to have heard him read the riot act to those fellows:
"'We've got a sick man here--a stranger, far from his home. You are inno danger whatever. Every doctor in town has told you so. We're going totake care of this man _and don't you forget it_. We have the whole Stateof Illinois behind us, and if this damned foolishness don't stop righthere, I'll have the militia here in a few hours' time and arrest everyone of you.' That quieted them. They slunk off home and won't bother usany more."
* * * * *
Three or four days after the above conversation Mary stood at the windowlooking out at the storm which was raging. The wind was blowingfearfully and the rain coming down in torrents. "I do hope John will notbe called to the country today," she thought.
Ting-a-ling-ling-ling--three rings.
"Is this Dr. Blank's office?" asked a feminine voice.
"No, his residence."
"Mrs. Blank, this is the nurse at the smallpox tent. Will you 'phone theoffice and tell the doctor it's raining in down here terribly. I'm in ahurry, must spread things over the patient."
"Very well, I'll 'phone him," and she rang twice. No reply. Again. Noreply. "Too bad he isn't in. I'll have to wait a few minutes."
In five minutes she rang again, but got no reply. In another minute shewas called to the 'phone.
"Didn't you get word to the doctor, Mrs. Blank?" asked a voice, full ofanxiety. "I'm afraid we'll drown before he gets here."
"I have been anxiously watching for him, but he must be visiting apatient. Hold the 'phone please till I ring again." This time herhusband answered.
"Doctor, here's the nurse at the tent to speak to you." She waited tohear what he would say.
"Doctor, please come down here and help us. The roof is leaking awfullyand we are about to drown."
"All right, I'll be down after a little."
"Don't wait too long."
Mary's practised ear caught something beginning with a capital D as thereceiver clicked.
"Poor old John," she murmured, "it's awful--the things you have to do."
The doctor got into his rubber coat and set out for his improvisedpest-house.
When he came home Mary asked, "Did you stop the leak?"
"I did. But I had a devil of a time doing it."
"I'm curious to know how you would go about it."
"The roof was double and I had to straighten out and stretch
the uppercanvas with the wind blowing it out of my hands and nobody to help mehold it."
"Was there nobody in sight?"
"That infernal coward of a watchman, but I couldn't get him near thetent--he's _had_ smallpox, too."
"I should think the nurse could have helped a little, that is if sheknew where to take hold of it, and what to do with it when she gothold."
"O, she sputtered around some and imagined she was helping."
"Poor thing," said Mary, laughing, "I know just how bewildered she waswith you storming commands at her which she couldn't understand--womencan't."
Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.
The doctor helloed gruffly.
"Is this you, Doc?"
"Looks like it."
"We want ye to come down here an' diagnosis these cases."
"_What_ cases!"
"There's two down here."
"Down _where_?"
"Down here at my house."
"Well, who the devil _are_ you?"
"Bill Masters. We're afraid maybe it's smallpox."
"Yes, _yes_!" snarled the doctor, "every _pimple_ around here for thenext three months will be smallpox."
"Well, we want ye to diagnosis it, Doc."
"All right. I'll 'diagnosis' it the first time I'm down that way--maybethis evening or tomorrow," and he slammed the receiver up and went tobed.
* * * * *
One evening the doctor was waiting for the stork at a farmhouse somemiles from home. He concluded to telephone his wife as it might beseveral hours before he got in. He rang and put the receiver to his ear:
"Did you put your washin' out today?"
"No, did you?"
"No, I thought it looked too rainy."
"So did I. I hope it'll clear up by mornin'."
"Have you got your baby to sleep yet?"
"Land! yes. He goes to sleep right after supper."
"Mine's not that kind of a kid. He's wider awake than any of us thisminute."
"Got your dress cut out?"
"No, maybe I'll git around to it tomorrow afternoon, if I don't haveforty other things to do."
"Did ye hear about--"
Seeing no chance to get in the doctor retreated. Half an hour later herang again. A giggle and a loud girlish voice in his ear asking, "Isthis you, Nettie?"
"This is me."
"Do you know who this is?"
"Course I do."
"Bet ye don't."
"Bet I do."
"Who?"
"It's Mollie, of course."
"You've guessed it. I tried to change my voice so you wouldn't know me."
"What fer?"
"Oh, cat-fur to make kitten breeches."
Mild laughter.
"I heard that you gave Jake the mitten last night."
"Who told ye?"
"Oh, a little bird."
"Say! Who _did_ tell ye?"
"You'll never, never tell if I do?"
The clock near the patiently waiting doctor struck nine quick shortstrokes.
"Did you hear that?" asked the first voice, startled.
"Whose clock _is_ that?"
"Johnson's haven't got one like that."
"Miller's haven't neither."
"I'll tell you--it's Gray's--their clock strikes quick like that."
"Then there's somebody at their 'phone listenin'!"
"Goodness! Maybe it's Jake, just like him!"
"Jake Gray, if that's you, you're a mean eavesdroppin' sneak an' that'swhat I think of _you_! Good-bye, Nettie." And as the receiver slammedinto its place the doctor shook with laughter.
"This seems to be my opportunity," he thought, then rang and deliveredthe message to his wife. Often these dialogues kept him from hearing ordelivering some important message and then he fumed inwardly, buttonight he had time to spare and to laugh.
* * * * *
After a little the 'phone rang. "It's someone wanting you, Doctor," saidthe man of the house who answered it. The doctor went.
"Is this you, Doctor Blank?"
"Yes."
"I want you--"
The doctor heard no more. This was a party line and every receiver on itcame down. A dozen people were listening to find out who wanted thedoctor and what for. All on the line knew that Doctor Blank had been atthe Gray farmhouse for hours. The message being private, there wassilence. The doctor waited a minute then his wrath burst forth.
"Damn it! Hang up your receivers, all you eavesdroppers, so I can getthis message!"
Click, click, click, click, and lots of people mad, but the doctor gotthe message.
* * * * *
Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.
"Is this Mrs. Blank?"
"Yes."
"I telephoned the office and couldn't get the doctor so I'll tell youwhat I wanted and you can tell him. His patient down here in thecountry, Mrs. Miller, is out of powders and she wants him to send somedown by Mrs. Richards, if he can find her."
"Where is Mrs. Richards?"
"She's up there in town somewhere."
"Does she know that the powders are to be sent by her and will she callat the office?"
"No, I don't think she knows anything about it. Mrs. Miller didn't knowshe was out till after she left. That's all," and she was gone.
"All!" echoed Mary.
In a few minutes when she thought her husband had had time to return shewent to the 'phone and told him he must go out and hunt up Mrs.Richards.
"What for?"
"Because Mrs. Miller wants you to find her and send some powders down byher."
An explosion came and Mary retired laughing and marvelling to whatstrange uses telephones--and doctors--are put.