The Story of a Doctor's Telephone Part 14

"Very well, thank you."

It was a minute and a half before the doctor got there.

"h.e.l.lo." No answer.

"h.e.l.lo!" Silence.

"_h.e.l.lo!_" Still no reply. The doctor rang sharply for central.

"Who was calling me a minute ago."

"I don't know--we can't keep track of everybody who calls."

The doctor hung up the receiver with an explosive monosyllable. Mary's patience was giving out too. "She couldn't wait one half minute. I told her you would be here in a minute and it took you a minute and a half."

"She may be waiting at the office, I'll go down there."

"I wouldn't do it," said Mary, warmly. "It's much easier for her to stay a half minute at the 'phone than for you to tramp back to the office."

But he went. As his wife went back to the kitchen her daughter called, "Mother, did you take the loaf of bread in there with you?"

"Why, no."

"Well, it's not on the table where I was cutting it when you sent me after father."

"It's on the floor!" shouted the small boy, peering through the window.

"_I_ won't eat any of it!"

"Don't, exquisite child," said his sister, stooping over to recover the loaf, dropped in her haste. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Mary went.

"Isn't the doctor coming?"

"He came. He called repeatedly, but got no reply."

"I was right here with my ear to the 'phone the whole time."

"He concluded it might be someone waiting for him at the office, so he has gone down there."

"I'm not there. I'm here at home."

"h.e.l.lo," broke in the doctor's voice.

"O, here you are!"

"Doctor, I've been taking calomel today and then I took some salts and I thoughtlessly dissolved them in some lemonade I had handy!"

A solemn voice asked, "Have you made your will?"

A little giggle before the patient said "No."

"You'll have plenty of time. You needn't hurry about it."

"You don't think it will hurt me then?"

"No. Not a bit."

"I was afraid the acid might salivate me."

"Yes, that's an old and popular idea. But it won't."

"That sounds good, Doctor. I was awfully scared. Much obliged.

Good-bye."

A week or two after the above incident the doctor was seated at his dinner, a leisurely Sunday dinner. The telephone called and he rose and went to it. The usual hush fell upon the table in order that he might hear.

"Is this Dr. Blank?"

"Yes."

"Well, Doctor, this is Mrs. Abner. Would it be too much trouble for you to step into Hall's and ask them to send me up a quart of ice-cream for dinner?"

"Certainly not. A quart?"

"Yes, please. I'm sorry to bother you with it. They ought to have a 'phone."

"No trouble."

The doctor hung up the receiver and reached for his hat.

"Why, John, you surely can finish your dinner before you go!" exclaimed Mary.

"Then I'd spoil Mrs. Abner's dinner."

"Mrs. Abner!"

"Yes, she wants a quart of ice-cream for dinner."

"I'd like to know what _you've_ got to do with it," said Mary tartly.

"She thinks I'm at the office."

"And the office is next door to Hall's and Hall's have no 'phone," said Mary smiling. "Of course you must go. Wouldn't Mrs. Abner feel mortified though if she knew you had to leave your home in the midst of dinner to order her ice-cream. But do hurry back, John."

"Maybe I'd better stay there till the dinner hour is well over," laughed John. "Every now and then someone wants me to step into Hall's and order up something."

He went good-naturedly away and his wife looked after him marveling, but withal admiring.