Omaha daily bee., 1919-11-20
The Way Dicky, Himself Answered
Mrs. Durku's Question

/ experienced a very bad quarter
of an hour before the physician ar
rived. Mother Graham and Katie
were deft and tender in their care
for me, and, indeed, there was moth
ing IN their movements which hurt
me. But the pain in my side gave
me no rest, and l welcomed DR..
Gibson's arrival with the joyous,
pathetic relief person in pain al
ways gives a physician.
He made swift, skillful examin-
alton, and then looked down at me
with twinkle in his eyes. 1t is a
mannerism Of his with which he re-
assures his patients. But it irritated
me. l was in no mood for merri-
ment or a mental pat on the shoul-
der.
"Well, young lady," he said
jovially. Pm afraid we'll have to
make mummy out of you for
few days. But we'll take that pain
away. If you will run autos you
must take the consequences.
What's the trouble, fractured
rib?" my mother-in-law asked
crisply.
"Yes, but not a very serious one,"
DR.. Gibson turned to her defer
entially. He knew of her close re-
latlonship to DR.. Braithwaite, and l
have found that many physicians
regard the eminent surgeon with
something akin to awed admiration.
How long before she can get
out again?"
Madge is Resentful.
THAT is impossible to say. Per-
haps three weeks, possibly longer, it
might be shorter; depends altogeth-
er upon how rapidly it heals. OF
course she will be able to sit up be-
fore then. And now, if you will
help me, please"
My spirits went to zero at the
prospect of inactivity before me.
had rebelled only this afternoon at
the long rest upon which my family
had insisted, and here, at my first
essay into activity this thing had
befallen me.
| was filled with childish, unrea-
soning irritation against Dickey. If
he had onlylet me learn as | wished
instead of upsetting me with his ar
bitrary methods of teaching; if he
had not insisted upon my taking the
wheel just before Major Grantland's
car rolled around the corner, l
would not be lying on my bed like
a trusted fowl-the smile came to
me after the physician had finished
encasing the upper part of my body
in tight swathings.
There" The doctor stepped
back beamingly, as if in approval of
his own handiwork. Now, if you
will swallow one of these"
He handed me a tablet which l
crushed in my mouth, and held
glass of water so that | could swal-
low easily, then turned to my moth
er-in-law
Through the Window.
please lower the shades now and
try to induce sleep for her. That is
what she needs most. She is in a
very upset condition nervously."
He added a few general directions
as to my treatment and nourishment
and bowed himself out, just as little
Mrs. Durkee brushed past him into
the room.
ooh! Why didn't somebody tell
me?' she scolded with the privilege
of old friendship. Here l was TAX
ing a comfortable nap while all this
was going on. l was never so fab
bergasted in my life when Katie
told me just now. What can l do
for you, poor dear?' r..
"You can keep Margaret quiet, if
you can," my mother-in-law remark
ed with a caustic meaning which l
think was quite lost upon Mrs. Dur
kee, while l go downstairs and see
Major Grantland who is waiting for
me. But DR.. Gibson says she must
go to sleep as soon as possible, SO
don't let her talk" 80 l