The Story of a Doctor's Telephone Part 15

The doctor and his wife had been slumbering peacefully for an hour or two. Then came a loud ring and they were wide awake at once.

"That wasn't the telephone, John, it was the door-bell."

The doctor got into his dressing-gown and went to the door.

His wife heard a man's voice, then her husband reply, then the door shut. She lay back on her pillow but it was evident John was not coming back. She must have dozed, for it seemed to her a long time had gone by when she started to hear a noise in the other room. John had not yet got off.

"You have to go some place, do you?" she called.

"Yes,--just a little way. Look out for the 'phone, Mary. I think I'll have to go down to Hanson's tonight, to meet the stork."

"But how can I get word to you? They have no 'phone or that man wouldn't have come after you."

"Well, I have promised Hanson and I'll have to go there. If he 'phones before I get back tell him he'll have to come down to Stetson's after me. Or, you might wake one of the boys and send him over."

"I'd rather try to wake Rip Van Winkle," said Mary, in a tone that settled it.

In about an hour the doctor was back and snuggling down under the covers.

"They've got a fine boy over to Stetson's," he announced to his sleepy wife.

"They have!" she exclaimed, almost getting awake. Again they slept.

Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling. Ting-a-ling-ling-ling.

"That's Hanson," exclaimed the doctor springing up and groping his way to the 'phone.

"Yes."

"Out where?"

"Smith's on Parks avenue?.... _Not_ Smith's?.... I understand--a little house farther down that street..... Yes, I'll come..... O, as soon as I can dress and get there."

Mary heard, but when he had gone, was soon in a deep sleep.

By and by she found herself flinging off the covers and hurrying guiltily toward the summoning tyrant, her subconscious self telling her that this was the third peal.

"h.e.l.lo."

"Is the doctor there, Mrs. Blank?"

"No, he is over at Stetson's. He said if you 'phoned to tell you you would have to come there as they have no 'phone."

"Wait a minute, Mrs. Blank," said the voice of central, "some one is trying to speak--"

"What have I said!" thought Mary suddenly, thoroughly awake. "He got back from Stetson's and went to another place. But I don't know what place nor where it is."

The kindly voice of central went on:

"It's the doctor who is talking, Mrs. Blank. I understand now. He says if that message comes you are to 'phone him at James Smith's on Parks avenue."

Mary looked at the clock. "So he's been there all this time. That stork is a little too busy tonight," she thought as she went s.h.i.+vering back to bed.

Toward daylight she was roused by the return of her husband, who announced a new daughter in the world and then they went to sleep. The next morning she said, "John, I've just thought of something. Why didn't you have central 'phone you at Smith's if Hanson called and save me all that bother?"

"I guess it's because I'm so used to bothering you Mary, that I didn't think of it."

Mary was upstairs cleaning house most vigorously when the ring came. She stopped and listened. It came again--three. She set the dust pan down and went.

"I'll have to be out for an hour or more, Mary," said the doctor.

"I heard that sigh," he laughed, "but it won't be very hard to sort of keep an ear on the 'phone, will it? Johnson may get in soon and then it won't be necessary."

"Very well, then, John," and she went upstairs, leaving the doors open behind her.

She had just reached the top when she had to turn about and retrace her steps.

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

"Is someone calling Dr. Blank's house or office?"

"I rang your 'phone by mistake," said central. Mary trudged up the stairs again. "This is more tiresome than cleaning house," she said to herself as she went along.

In twenty minutes the summons came. She leaned her broom against the wall and went down.

"O, this is Mrs. Blank. I'm very sorry to have put you to this trouble--I wanted the doctor."

She recognized the voice of her old pastor for whom she had a most kindly regard.

"He is out, but will be back within half an hour now, Mr. Rutledge."

"Thank you, I'll call again, but I wonder that you knew my voice." Mary laughed.

"I haven't heard it for awhile, but maybe I'll be at church next Sunday, if minding the telephone doesn't make me feel too wicked."

"It's the wicked that church is for--come by all means."

"I didn't mean to detain you, Mr. Rutledge. It is restful, though, after dragging one's weary feet down to the 'phone to hear something beside all the ills that flesh is heir to. Come to see us soon--one day next week."

Once more she wended her way upstairs and in about fifteen minutes came the ting-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling. "I surrender!" she declared.

When she had gone down and put the receiver to her ear her husband's voice spoke kindly,

"I'm back, Mary, you're released."