The Winslow mail., 1919-04-18
A FATEFUL FALL
BY EVELYN cUSHMAN.
1918, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate.)

and through mud and water, with the
rain raining up and down and from
every side, as it can do nowhere out
side of New England. A strong wind
twisted her skirts, pulled at her coat,
and would have carried away her hat,
had she not clutched it franticaify.
"This must be the last of the hun
1red and twenty-six different kinds of
weather Mark Twain says we have
here in twenty-four hours" Alice said
aloud, as she took the short cut to her
gate.
AS she turned aside her eyes met
those of the young man in the ma
chine, who was trying to start the
stalled engine. She was directly back
of the car when the driver released
the brake. and the auto slid back.
Alice jumped. was betrayed by wet
leaf, and fell face forward.
When at last Alice attempted to get
up the strong young man took her in
his strong arms and someone gathered
up her scattered bundles.
what has happened?" exclaimed
her terrified mother as she met them
at the door, and led the way to the
living room.
81 fell, mother" gasped Alice, as
the stranger laid her tenderly on the
couch, Tbut Pm sure I'm not hurt-just
scared"
I'm Doctor Lansing" The young
man turned to the mother. "Your
Na oil hoo nf |
don't know yet whether it hit her or
or not"
'"No, you didn't touch me-" Alice
breathed. "When the machine backed
] jumped and lost my footing"
81 think she's not hurt, but l shall
feel better if, you have your physician
look her over"
"We haven't any regular physician.
replied the older woman. We've
lived here but few months"
I'm all right" Alice started to rise.
Better keep quiet for time" He
put a OBTAINING hand upon her as he
turned again to her mother.
IF Miss" He hesitated.
"Alce Davis" came from the couch
"If Miss Davis doesn't feel entirely
right in a few hours and-and-if you
haven't your own doctor, Tll-I'l be
very glad to do anything can. if the
patient can trust me after this acci-
dent" He looked toward Alice.
"Why shouldn't I? You were not to
blame"
Alice was glad to keep quiet the rest
of the day and went to bed thinking
that she had suffered no serious eff
fects. The next morning, when she
put her right foot to the floor, with q
scream of pain she fell.
''What is the matter?" called her
mother. You'll scare me to death,
the way you tumble around
my foot won't CO." She laughed
as she hobbled to chair, and grasped
the unreliable member in both hands
"You didn't say nothing about your
foot yesterday" Mrs. Davis was ten.
tatively investigating the slender pink
and white foot.
"Oueh! You've found the place. but
don't do that any more"
Mrs. Davis left her room, and Alice
heard her at the telephone She
smiled as she hoped on one foot
back to bed.
$50 you didn't escape after ALL"
Doctor Lansing said as he explored
the fated foot.
II don't think it's anything much,
DOCTOR" Alice objected, although she
WINGED as he touched sensitive spot.
Nothing serious. but 1t needs at
tention. The ligaments are torn
pretty badly. I'll bandage 1t. and
you'll have to keep off it for a time"
Doctor Lansing did not neglect his
patient. He came the next day, and
the next, and other days when he
could find an excuse. When Alice was
able to limp about with the help of
a cane he assured her that she needed
now to get out of doors.
You know how the back of my ma
chine looks" he said with an amused
laugh. Tomorrow will you let me
show you the inside of it?"
She was delighted!
They went far out into the country,
where the sun was shining and the
birds singing, as though to make up
for the dreadful winter.
What did they talk about?
If ii should be set down in cold type
you probably would say, what non
senser but it wasn't to them. How
could it be with that shine in Alice's
eyes that thrill in the doctors voice?
At high point in the country road
he brought the machine slowly to rest.
I'm afraid that little foot of yours
is past need of me professionally"
He looked at it regretfully
you'll have to run down someone
else with your machine" she said tor
mentingly. ''ls that the way you get
pew patients-going around and knock
ing them DOWN"
81 never tried it before. 1t worked
all right this time, only"