The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-10-25

for Madge to lead her, and she took
her upstairs. When she came back,
Blair noticed that she seemed excited,
but not one thing would she tell him,
except that she had placed the woman
in care of Miss Gage, and it seemed
only a simple case of aphasia. She
told him she would report it as soon
He was the house doctor on nervous
diseases.
Just as soon as she was alone she
lifted the receiver from the phone.
"River 794. Hello, hello. / want to
speak with Mr. Latimer, please" Then
lfter a pause, rs this Mr.. Stanley
Lstimcr? This is Mercy hospital. No,
Cm only the night nurse in the emer-
,.ary room. Mr.. Latimer, your moth
ar has just wandered in here. She had
.ost her way, and her memory. No,
She is not hurt. | found your name in
her handbag on q letter. You will
come at once? Yes, l think that is
best. What? Oh, have the letter;
there will be no publicity"
About twenty minutes later a limou-
sine passed under the red brick arch
and Stanley Latimer jumped out. He
did not mince words at all but Madge
caught the relief in his eyes ana voice
when he saw her.
81 am sure, Miss Laurence" he
said as they went upstairs together
that l need not tell you how grateful
| am to you for sensing the whole
emergency in this case. My mother
has not been herself for several days
| have been out of the city on duty
with the National Guard, and she made
some very ill-advised investments with
out my consent. / blame her broker
far more than | do her, but between
them they lost thousands of dollars,
and I'm afraid | might have been rath-
er harsh with her when found it out"
Madge looked at him gravely.
perhaps you did not realize that
she was in very low state of health.
We have only made a slight examina-
ton. There seems to be some organic
heart trouble. Don't you think there
are some things more important than
the mere loss Of thousands of dollars,
Mr. Latimer"
Perhaps this was why, when he took
his mother away that night, Latimer
carried with him a vivid memory. No
woman had ever said anything to him
like that before. The following day
the superintendent called her to his
office.
Were very sorry to lose you, Miss
laurence" he said, "but it appears
there was an emergency case last night
which was not entered properly or re-
ported to Doctor Akin. In fact you
took 1t upon yourself both to admit the
patient and to discharge her. You will
leave the staff at the expiration of your
probation period"
She went back to her desk, some
what dazed, but still she felt that she
had done exactly the right thing. The
telephone rang about five that after
noon. 1t was Mrs. Latimer's voice
eager and pitifully anxious. 1t sound
ed-begglng her to come at once and
act as special companion at any price
she might see fit to ask. She was
leaving with her son for an extended
trip by automobile through the noun
tains, and he joined her in the hope
that Miss Laurence might be able to
join them.
1t was several weeks later at a little
mountain inn in the Adirondacks.
Madge had just returned from her
daily hike, and Stanley joined her as
she stood on the wide veranda over
looking the sweep of forest. She did
not meet his eyes. Somehow she felt
as though she could not trust herself
while she told him the determination
she had come to that afternoon. She
wanted TO give up the case, she said,
and go back to hospital duty. She loved
Mrs. Latimer, but she felt she must
60
But why?" he insisted. "Oh, you
needn't answer. Do you consider my
making love to you an insult? Why
not let me go away instead, If 1t Is
that? Haven't / asked you to marry
me, and you've had the pleasure of re-
fusing me several times?"
Tears filed her eyes In sudden anger.
"Oh, l think you're horrld. Do you
think | care anything about your mon
ey? You treat me exactly as though
as though you were sure couldn't
help but say yes, because you are such
prize In the matrimonial market"
He laughed.
Dear, you're all wrong. I find that
mothers little coup In Wall street
cleaned us out, instead Of just sinking
few thousand. I'm going back to
work on a salary in my uncle's office.
Don't you want to try to teach me
how to live on it properly? Make me
your last emergency case"
Madge did not even answer as she
smiled up 1T him. Somehow she felt
glad that her days of probation were
really ended.