Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-08-06

woman said. "He has gone to Trent,
nnd l dent expect him back before
midnight I'm Mrs. Fowler, you'know.'
but can't we catch him by telc-
graph ?" Dorothy asked anxiously. lis
there no way? The case is so desperate.
Isn't there anything we can do"
Mrs. Fowler shook her head. mo"
she answered. regretful)y, for she was
proud of her husbands surgical skill,
II shouldn't know where to address
telegram, and there's no train till the
late one. Who is in charge OF the case
now?"
"Dr. Morris--that is DR.. Banks. l
suppose lie is in charge, with DR.. Nor
ris assisting him."
"Umph! Dir. Banks-1 know him.
The other don't"
The lady's tone expressed very little
confidence in the surgical talent OF
Rodneytown.
"Dr. Banks has sprained wrist, and
DIR. Morris is a--a--spccialist in a-a--
nervous diseases" Dorothy fastened to
explain. They united in sending for
DR.. Fowler"
ooh, understand" said DR.. Fowler's
wife, amicably. ut is dreadfully UNI
fortunate that he is away"
"Mrs. Fowler, please advise me- said
Dorothy, earnestly. 1.-THE doctors
argue that an immediate operation Of
fers the only hope of saving the mans
life. am sent here for surgeon. l
find him gone. What should do?'
"There's nobody else here Id trust
with cats life. DIR. Morsc-l mean
Morris--must operate, or you will have
to wait for my husbands return. He
can hardly get to Rodncytown before
two or three o'clock in the morning.
A new doubt assailed the girl. How
about instruments? Banks and l
should have them, she supposed, but
there was the chance that we were
unprcparcd with suitable appliances.
AS briefly as possible she told Mrs.
Fowler what was in her mind.
Sure enough cried the little wom-
an, 81 don't believe old DIR. Banks has
anything of the sort. Wen not risk
it, anyway"
She ran into the house, returning in
moment with a case under her arm.
"Ilerc's Il set of instruments" said
she. "Tnkc it; my husband has an
other. Get back to RodncytOwn as
quick rs you can. If they decide to
wait for DIR. Fowler they can send word
over this evening. Oh, don't bother
about thanking me; if you ever marry a
doctor, you'll be sure"
But Dorothy did not wait for the
rest of her sentence. A twitch of her
hand had set the bay in motion, and
she was half dozen yards down the
street, leaving Mrs. Fowler to ponder
over the abruptness of her departure.
Once the town was left behind. the
girl lost no time in calling upon her
nag's powers, and away he went as
readily as if he were fresh from his
stable Mile afirr mile slipped behind
them. Soon the halfway house joined
the procession to the rear. 1t was
growing dusk now, and the air was
chilly. Her wrists were beginning
to ache under the pull of the lines, and
the thought came to her that perhaps
she stood in greater need than her horse
Of a breathing spell. She tried to pull
him in the next rise, but instead of
Stacking his pace he increased it. In
vain she tugged and sawed at the bit;
the bay was out of her control, and
knew it as we'll as she did. He trot-
ting as she had never seen him trot be-
fore, with the blood of a dozen genera
tions of picked roadsters coursing hot
III his veins. just ahead she made
out the dark mass of wood through
which the road passed. An instant
later she was flying along under the
tunncl-like arch where the boughs OF
the trees met above the travelled way.
In the gloom OF this passage she could
make ont little of the road, though
she leaned from the buggy in the effort
to see what might be her course. Then
the wood was left behind, and about
her was the twilight of the open coun-
try, seeming almost bright by com
parison with the tAngle of shadows
through which she had sped. The bay,
untiring, but with tlecks of foam show
ing here and there on his coat, was
trotting with the smooth precision of
machine. It. was glorious to watch
him. to hear the sharp beat of his
hoofs. Powerless as she was, the eN-
lilaration of the race took possession
of her: she caught herself encourage
ing the animal with her voice: she
forgot the pain in her wrists, the very
real danger in which she was placed
She thrilled with delight as she flashed
by wagon whose occupant had pru-
IDENTIFY driven into the ditch to afford
her clear right of way. He called
out warning to her, but, though she
heard his voice, the words We're indis-
tinguishable.
At last she was at the summit of the
ridge looking down upon the beach,
and her destination was close at hand.
Again she sawed and tugged at the
lines. Slowly her efforts told; gradual
ly the bays speed decreased, until, as
he neared the farmhouse. she had him
well in hand. Mrs. Weston, one of her
boys, Mrs. Clark and two or three chill
dren were awaiting her at the gate,
all eager to learn the result of her mis-
sion. DR.. Banks and I were close be-
hind them, and, as the horse came to
q stop, we pushed our way to the side
of the buggy.
you've made wonderful time," I
cried.
"Where's Fowler? Is he following
you?" asked Banks.
"He can't be here for six or eight
hours" she said, quietly. But here
is case of instruments"