The San Francisco call., 1909-03-07


when the telephone rang crashing discordantly
into my dreams. With difficulty l reused my
SELF for / had only that afternoon came in from
hard case over in Oakland and was in need of rest
Two Of my class mates and 1 kept house coop
eratively in a fat OF four rooms, but l was alone
this night and I was tempted TO let the call go
unanswered This, however, would have been in
violation OF my business principles, ! threw my
kmono around me and groped my way to the door
and into the hall Still half asleep, picked up
the receiver and said in pleasant tone OF m
tcrrogation could command
Yes
The voice one unknown to me, at the other end
OF the line asked to speak to Miss Hardie.
This IS Miss Hardie What is it,"
The voice wanted to know If l could come at
once to a case.
the register at present Besides, I take night
calls"
I am sufficiently advanced in my profession to
make it possible for me to choose my in
large measure and it is an naexible rule of mine
never TO respond to a call coming from stranger
after nine o'clock in the evening 1t is not only
that J object travelling alone through the city
night, but because l wish to educate the public
that ] have made this rule maintain that in four
cases out Of five If patient requires the services
OF the family knows it in time to send for
me at a reasonable hour and anything between
nine p. and six a. IN. l consider unreasonable.
There too many instances of unsuspecting
young being shared into disreputable houses
and there having revolving midnight experiences
and I do not care to expose myself to any such
dangers The physicians who most frequently
employ approve of this attitude OF mine and
give their support by making point of sum
moning me, if possible, before sunset
about to ring of, and would most certainly
l1E had ife hee- ly ra1i
but it was personal one, and had some curiosity
to learn who it that wanted and who was
talking. Before could put the question, though.
] caught the sound Of a FOOTBALL and then over the
wire distinctly heard second speaker say
What's the matter, doctor? Can't you get herr
Oh, she won't come: Let me talk to her There
short pause, then:
Hello. Miss Hardie This is Doctor Heminway"
Ny heart sank. I was in no condition to take
another case but l liked to work for Doctor Hemin-
way and knew he would not let me of.
oh. Good evening, or, rather, morning, DR..
Heninway. What I do for your"
Miss Hardie. we've very i'll baby here Double
pneumonia, spasm of the gotts. Just inserted an
intubaton tube-that you know, means gavage.
DR. Stryker is here helping me. We must have a
good and one that understands children You'll
come. of course?"
I expostulated I told him how tired | was that
] could not do my patient justice He replied
that he would risk that He was extremely sorry
that ! was tired, but he really had to have me.
] felt myself weakening, but / made last stand.
] had been unfortunate lately with my cases Three
in succession had ended fatally. and they were
all pneumonias They had had most depressing
effect upon me, and I felt that 1 could not go to
another hopeless case-especially not a pneumonia
Tic came back me with calm assurance.
The baby has fighting chance. How soon
can you get here?"
capitulated. from the start knew l would
and he knew would. Anyway, a nurse is in
honor bound not to refuse an emergency case
I'll get dressed at I'll be ready in 70
minutes"
Good IN send carriage for you. The name
IS Worthing"
few into my clothes. Ny valise was ready
even though had not registered. l always unpack
II and repsck il | come in from case
just in the event OF such hurry call AS the cab
turned the corner and came Gathering down the
silent street down the stairs bag in hand
and met il as il drew up before the door jumped
inside and off without loss of time AS
.vc drove along my thoughts busted themselves
with imagining what was before me- Some Of my
friends dislike private nursing They arc seized
with stage fright whenever they accept a call to
case and would give anything to decline It
l;ui don't feel that way ! go forth in the spirit
al an adyenturer | eager to reach my destina-
lion and am more interested in conjecturiRg what
my surroundings to be than in worrying a.
20 whether or not they viii prove congenial The
girls tell me that this is because my lines have
almost invariably fallen in pleasant places The,
warm me that some time ] may meet with such
treatment viii make me nervous about what !.
10 befail me Perhaps they are right but cross
no bridges until ] get to them have alway.
been treated with consideration
The slaokening of the horses pace brought ms
out OF my reverie, and the animal had barely come
halt when ] was on tho sidewalk and mo
mcnt later was ushered by the hall boy into the
elevator Nursing in small apartment is bore
hui ibis was palatial my first glance
showed DIR. Heminway himself let me in He