Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-02-19
ss'Os'GFFf0V1E'
IRe Doctors ;
Story.
H ELEM a. COUSINS /:
yr.5..s LII, by .ialca y. Cousins

IA just hung out my sign in u little
ia manufacturing village of about
E ",GG3 Inhabitants. There We're at
this time three other physicians
In the town, and during my four weeks
stay had been favored with but few
patients. l boarded with an elderly
lady whose grandson cared for the gar
den and stable. My boarding mistress
was precise and methodical in every
thing and was model of punctuality,
SO enc day set my watch and the
clock in my little office ten minutes
fast in order to be prompt at meals
when at home. On the evening of that
day, just before the clock struck 10, my
telephone bell rang. had only the day
previous had the instrument put in and
FASTENED to answer my first call. Come
Immediately to Millville, No. 20 High
street. Take the 10 o'clock train"
at is too late for me to catch that
train, but will drive over with my
team, if that will do. What is the
casew asked.
No reply. "Hellov' l called again,
but all was still. Then rang up the
central office.
please connect again with the par
ties who called for DR.. Wildes," l said.
mo one has called for DR.. Wildes,"
answered the voice of the operator in
the central office
"You must be mistaken, for / have
just been talking with some one
through the telephone who wants me-"
was my reply.
1.-THE wires must be crossed some
where. will see If can find out
where the trouble Is, SIR" came In a
sleepy voice from the central.
put on my hat and started toward
the stable, meeting Jimmie, with Ian
tern in hand.
81 was just coming after you, doc
tor" he said. your horse seems to be
dreadfully lame, and can't find out
| what ails her foot"
sent the boy to livery stable near
by to procure team for me and was
bathing and bandaging my own horse
when l heard the whistle of the 10
o'clock train. Then, remembering that
my watch had been too fast, mutter-
ed a very unorthodoX expression as
thought of the 16 mile drive I must
take in the cold March night.
had FASTENED indoors and put on O
heavy ulster when l heard the boy
drive up to my door with the team
Again / went to the telephone, and
ringing up central, l inquired If he had
ascertained who had called for DR.
Wildes.
81 cannot find that any one has called
for you this evening" came the reply
over the wire.
Suspecting that somebody might be
trying to play joke on me, stepped
to the door and had the team returned
TO the livery stable.
seated myself in an easy chair by
the fire, and after reading q short time
fell asleep. l awoke just MS my clocl
was striking -, and as the last strokt
ceased my telephone again rang.
I fastened to reply and received thu
call, "Come to Millville on the midnigh
train to No. 20 High street.
"Who wants me?" asked, as knew
not a soul in Millville.
l received no reply, although rams
several times, and, putting on my over
coat and cap, seized my medicine cast
and hurried to the railroad station, {
few rods away, where the night trail
stopped on being signaled. Before
o'clock had reached Millville ant
found the place to which had beer
summoned.
1t was an old fashioned house, which
had been modernized by the addition
of bay windows in the front, from on
Of which shone faint light l has
tened up the steps, but before my hant
could touch the door 1t was opened
from the inside, and l passed in. 4
very old lady, with pale face and snow!
hair, silently pointed to the next room
l entered and found l was in a goot
sized apartment that seemed to be hal
parlor and half library. A leather GOV
cred lounge was drawn up before al
open fire, and upon it lay man O
perhaps GO years. An ugly cash wa
in the right side Of his head, which
with the partially dried blood upon hl
face, formed a picture at which shud
dered.
bent over him and felt for his pulse
His hand was cold. but in his grasI
he held peculiar shaped key. which
saw plainly in the light of the fire. Hi.
lips moved, and without opening hi!
eyes he said. 1.-THE second bunch O
grapes, the second bunch of grapes"
1.-THE man is delirous," l thought, ii
stepped into the hallway.
Madam" called as peered arount
In the darkness, please bring me {
basin of warm water at once" heart
no sound except my own voice. coult
family see by the light of the fire tha
shone from the library that there were
three or four other doors leading from
the hall. One after another tried Il
open them, but they were all locked
fast. ran back into the room from
which had just come. The leather
covered lounge was still drawn up il
| front Of the fire, but the man was gone
looked wildly around the room, but
no sign of him could be seen. drew
my hand over the lounge and found my
finger showed plainly on the dusty GOV
erng. The fire was burning low, and
seized my medicine case from the chall
where had placed it, stepped into the
hall and hastily opened the front door
Once outside the house my courage re