"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." "Hello," 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. * * * * * 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."