Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-06-05
LOVE AND THE
PAY PATIENT.
BY L. e. E1ERLE.
copyrighted. 1909. by Associated Literary
Press.l

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He signed his name Robert W. Ed
wards. VI. d.. and had paid several
greatly valued dollars to have 1t put OH
a neat brass plate. But really he was
DIR. Bob, though he never heard him.
self called thus till after the very end
OF the story.
II was Miss Eleanor Blake who
called him DIR. Bob. She was careful
to let none but her own ears hear the
words. When she spoke to him or of
him she was most punctilious and re-
spectful.
Miss Eleanor Blake was DIR. Bob's
Office nurse. Their attitudes toward
one another were impeccably profess
sional. but by strange coincidence DIR.
Bob also dropped the formal Miss
Blake" when conversing to his own
inner consciousness concerning her.
She became Nellie" on these occa-
sions. which were numerous,
Miss Nurse Blake was well born.
wholesome heart to see with what
smiling polse DIR. Bob waited-and
waited. He did not adopt bravado.
He never grew embarrassed or apo
logetic, nor did he finch In meeting
her eyes day after day In the empty
rooms.
So she loved him. quite hopelessly,
she assured herself, for his quiet. pro-
fessional manner never broke through
once.
Then came the first call. Eleanor
answered the telephone and kept all
the elation that was humping up aud
down ia her heart out Of her quiet.
businesslike voice as she reported TO
DR.. Bob. She was only sorry that the
patient had not come to the office so
that she might have the glory of ush-
erlng him In.
DIR. Edwards hurried to the address
she gave him. He said, Il don't think
shall be long. Miss Blake" and she
said. Very well. Dr. Edwards"
The address did not indicate very
good part Of the city. He could not
expect rich call from that quarter.
But It was beginning-a beginning.
II took DR.. Bob some time to reach
the address given him. for II led him
by devious ways to an old Office build
ing. up many flights Of rickety stairs
and TO a dark room ut the end of
hall. There was no response when he
knocked. but frowsy boy from the
next Office appeared.
you Doct' Edwards he asked.
DR. Bob admitted that he was.
HE told me L give you this here"
said the boy and handed him folded
paper, then disappeared. DIR. Edwards
opened the paper. The words Fooled
again" and slangy sentence or two
greeted his eyes. He went downstairs
wondering which of the fellows ut the
clinic had devised the subtle joke.
DR.. Bob returned quietly TO his Of
fee. Eleanor as she saw him return so
soon. with his face more quietly COM
posed than ever. conjectured that no
had found his patient beyond human
help. She was sorry on his account
She tried 10 work of her vague feel
ing Of sympathy, for she did not know
what, by going into the operating room
and cleaning again the often cleaned
but never used instruments. She stay.
ed at her work till after hours, till
suddenly the consciousness that she
was alone and lonely came over her.
She finished her task quickly, then
quietly opened the door into DR.. Bob's
office.
DR.. Bob was sitting at his desk, his
arms across 1t and bis head on his
arms. There was stiffness about him,
look Of having been motionless for
ever. that brought Eleanor TO his side
with one terrified dart. She seized his
hands. and he looked up at her. His
stiffness was pain. not-what she had
feared.
That foolish joke had brought down
crushingly on his head all the burden
Of all that waiting and hoping, and the
sight Of 1t took away every conscious
thought In Eleanor save that the man
she loved was suffering.
She took his hands in hers, whisper
ing In mechanical way: LET me
help. Let me help. Let me help" But
she was scarcely aware OF II.
DR.. Bob looked at her with light In
his eyes. He laid his hands on her
shoulders and gazed down at her with
a face wise and loving.
when the first patient comes" he
said.
Eleanor decided against the new
summer suit. She was saving very
strenuously. for she had a purpose in
view.
One day she counted her money.
Then she put on her hat and went to
call on a cousin. The cousin had mar
ried poor. had a swarm Of children and
was chronically Ill. When Eleanor
came away the cousin said she'd go to
the doctor tomorrow and swore be-
tween kisses. hugs and fearful maun-
derings that she'd never. never tell
who had sent her.
The patient-the first patient--was
to arrive the next day. The weather
was the hot. soggy kind that enervates