The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1896-11-26


of being for the most part theoretical. |
Still. she had not begun the journey |
without duly considering its conditions
and, on the whole, they were favorable |
TO n novice. The road was good. though |
here and there very narrow. as is some
times the case with rural highways;
there were no sharp pitches of the kind
to shake unframed nerves; and the
horse, so far as she knew. was utterly
unacquainted with the equine joys of
bolting. Not TO press him at first
that was her plan. for much haste
might mean little speed in the end.
For the first half-mile she drove al
most lcisurely, but when she had
reached the top of the ridge which Dor
dered the lowlands along the shore she
frightened the reins little, and felt in
stantly the roadster's response to the
summons. He settled down to tie
work before him as il he liked il. with
the long telling strides which covered
ground with such deceptive ease. A
quarter of n mile ahead was a buck
board bearing two passengers and
drawn by horse which. she saw as
II surprised her to observe how rapid
ly she overhauled the other conveyance,
even when the driver. after n look over
his shoulder, piled his whip with the
evident intention of giving her II chase.
a few hundred yards showed him the
hopelessncss of the contest. and. with
native courtesy and perhaps n shrewd
guess that his own wheels would be
the safer by allowing the stranger
generous share of the road. he pulled
his vehicle well out of the way as she
sped by him. She caught look of Gu
riosity on his face as she turned in her
seat to watch her swift progress.
There was just the tinge of excite.
ment in the ride to make her forget
for time the sorry cause of it. The
coolnesS of approaching evening was
upon the land, although the sun was
still well above the horizon. and wha.
little breeze was stirring blew in her
face. On she went, now across plain.
now surmounting gentle acclivity,
now winding along valley among the
low hills. but always with the same
smooth motion, as steady as it was
fleet. An old weather-stained farm
house sprang into view on her right.
She remembered that it was counted rs
marking the halfway point of the
road. a glance at her watch showed
that, even with her slow start. she had
covered little more than five miles
in "a minutes. With IL or 16 miles vet
&c be traversed this might be doing too
much; and on the next rising grade
she set herself to the task of slacken-
ing the speed. There was somewhat
of n struggle between horse and driver.
but at last she won. More than once
was the test repeated hefore Bassett-
vile was reached, but when she turned
| into the main street of the town her
watch told her that less than SO min
utes had sufliced to cover the last half
Of the trip.
A pretty little woman was sitting on
DIR. Fowler's doorstep as the fair mes
senger drove up. She came briskly
to the gate. and, leaning upon it. lis
tened intently to the girls brief ac-
count of the accident, and the urgent
need of n surgeons services.
But the doctors away" the little
woman said. HE has gone TO Trent,
and ] don't expect him back before
midnight-Tm Mrs. Fowler, you know"
But can't we catch him by telc-
! graph" Dorothy asked anxiously. as
there no way? The case is so desperate.
Isn't there anything we can do?'
Mrs. Fowler shook her head. NO"
she answered, regretfuly, for she was
proud of her husbands surgical skill,
IL. H.. q. 4
| telegram. and there's no train till the
late one. Who is in charge of the case
now?"
"Dr. Morris-that is DR.. Banks. I
suppose lie is in charge, with DR.. Nor
ris assisting him."
"Umph! DR.. Banks-I know him.
The other | don't"
The lady's tone expressed very little
| confidence in the surgical talent of
Rodneytown.
"Dr. Banks has a sprained wrist. and
DR. Morris is a-a-specialist in a--a--
nervous diseases" Dorothy FASTENED to
explain. They united in sending for
DR.. Fowler"
''Oh, understand" said Dr. Fowler's
wife. amicably. at is dreadfully un-
fortunate that he is away"
Mrs. Fowler, please advise me-" said
Dorothy earnestly. The doctors
argue that an immediate operation Of
fers the only,hope of saving the mans
life. l am sent here for a surgeon. |
ind him gone. What should do?"
There's nobody else here I'd trust
with a eats life. DR.. Morse mean
Morris-must operate, or you will have
to wait for my husbands return. He
can hardly get to Rodneytown before
two or three o'clock in the morning"
A new doubt assailed the girl. How
about instruments? Banks and |
should have them she supposed. but
there was the chance that we were
unprepared with suitable appliances.
As briefly as possible she told Mrs
Fowler what was in her mind
Sure enough" cried the little wom-
an, IL don't believe old DIR. Banks has
anything of the sort. Well not risk |
it, anyway"
She ran into the house, returning in |
IA moment with a case under her arm.
Here's set of instruments" said |
she. Take it; my husband has an
other. Get back to Rodneytown as
quick as you can. II they decide to
wait for DIR. Fowler they can send word |