"I'll have to get back to the office," he exclaimed, starting up. "I'm expecting a man to pay me some money. Waiting for the 'phone to ring is like watching for the pot to boil." When he had been gone a minute or two, the ring came. With a new step Mary advanced to it. "Has the doctor got there yet?" the voice had lost none of its grouch. "He has. And he waited for your message which did not come. He could not wait longer. He has just gone to the office. If you will 'phone him there in two or three minutes, instead of waiting till he is called out again, you will find him." "Thank you, Mrs. Blank." The man was surprised into courtesy. The clear-cut, distinct sentences were very different from the faltering, apologetic ones, when she had asked for his name or his message twenty minutes before. Mary's receiver clicked with no uncertain sound and a smile illumined her face. * * * * * One day when the snow was flying and the wind was blowing a gale the doctor came hurrying in. "Where is the soapstone?" he asked, with small amenity. His wife flew to get it and laid it on the hearth very close to the coals. "Oh dear! How terrible to go out in such a storm. Do you _have_ to?" she asked. "I certainly do. Do you think I'd choose a day like this for a pleasure trip?" "Aren't you glad you got that galloway?" she asked, hurrying to bring the big, hairy garment from its hook in the closet. She helped her husband into it, turned the broad collar up--then, when the soapstone was hot, she wrapped it up and gave it to him. "This ought to keep your feet from freezing," she said. The doctor took it, hurried out to the buggy, pulled the robes up around him and was gone. "Eight miles in this blizzard!" thought Mary shivering, "and eight miles back--sixteen miles. It will take most of the day." Two hours after the doctor had gone the telephone rang. "Is Dr. Blank there?" "No, he is in the country, about eight miles southwest." "This is Drayton. We want him at John Small's as soon as possible. How soon do you think he will be back?" "Not for several hours, I am afraid." "Well, will you send him down as soon as he comes? We want him _bad_." Mary assured him she would do so. "Poor John," she thought as she put up the receiver. In a few minutes she went hurriedly back. When she had called central, she said, "I am very anxious to get Dr. Blank, central. He is eight miles southwest of here--at the home of Thomas Calhoun. Is there a 'phone there?" Silence for a few seconds then a voice, "No, there is no 'phone at Thomas Calhoun's." Disappointed, Mary stood irresolute, thinking. Then she asked, "Is there a 'phone at Mr. William Huntley's?" "Yes, William Huntley has a 'phone." "Thank you. Please call that house for me." In a minute a man's voice said, "Hello." "Is this Mr. Huntley?" "Yes." "Mr. Huntley, this is Mrs. Blank. You live not far from Thomas Calhoun's, do you not?" "About half a mile."