The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1941-12-26

voice came shakily over
the telephone. Il thought you must
have heard-day before yesterday
on Pickard hill Just enough mud
to be slippery, and the car Skldded
and went into the ditch His face
is all Cut-but he's bandaged like a
mummy. | wasn't hurt at all. But
I've been so upset over it that I've
just Caved in. I'm awfully ashamed
of myself But l thought if you'd
just go 10 the hospital for a couple
of hours this afternoon and read TO
him I've a story here he's asked
for he'd be all right and could
go to bed till tomorrow That II
stTaighten me out. No danger, you
know. but he's just all Jared and
shaken. and then lots of little cuts
ON his face And the doctor says
he mustn't talk today-just lie and
rest. So you read TO HIM and III
get rested and be all right tomor-
row He's III Room II, on the sec
Ond floor
That was the substance Of Sally
Stevenson telephone conversation
with Betty BuckaleW AS a result
Betty drove first 10 Sally house for
the book Jim Stevenson wanted TO
read, and then went to the hospital
to play good Samaritan to him SO
that his distracted wife might rest
and calm her jumping nerves.
Betty parked her car in the hos
pltal grounds and went in through
the Swinging doors of the big main
entrhnCe She was well known at
the hospItal-her mother was an ac-
tive member of the board of direc-
tors, Betty nodded TO the girl on
duty in the office I've come to see
the patient in Room IA she said
Go right up?"
Yes, answered the girl He
had private nurse last night and
yesterday, but he's all right now
The corridor nurse Will take care
of you Miss BuckaleW"
A moment later Betty stood before
the half-open door of Room Il No
nurse was IN sight, so she walked
quietly IN after knocking. 1t s
Betty Buckalew,' she said to the
restless form on the bed I've been
sent to read to you by Sally. She s
resting
Tie man turned toward her
Through two Sits in the bandages
that swathed his head and face Bet
ty saw two eyes peering interestedly
at her. Good of you he muir
murEd
Nov don't you talk, went or
Betty Doctors orders. You lei
me do the talking. I've brought a
volume of detective stories and I'm
going to read to you for an hour or
30"
"Awfully kind" murmured the
man again.
Mot at al" said Betty. I'm
glad to do it. Now you get as COM
Portable as possible and let me
git where you won't have to see me
and I'll read you to sleep, maybe. )"
Betty seated herself at the foot of
the bed, out of range of his eyes
Move around" came the patients
muffied voice Want TO see you. ="
So Betty moved her big wicker
chair within range of his eyes. sat
down so that the light struck pleas
antlS Oh her book, and began to
read. She was conscious that Jim
quleted as she read He must be
more OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES by her
story. she thought She was con
SclOGS too. that he was not going
to sleep. Through the white band
ages two eyes, bright and dark,
peered constantly at her
At|the end Of two hours and three
stories. Betty stopped
1--we got to go now, jim" she
said Tomorrow? Why. yes. if
Sally can't come. Yes. of course
will The patient had clutched
her hand nervously BE quiet,
Jim of course III come if you
want me. I'll come and read again
But kou'll soon be gone-Sally said
you were getting on SO well. "
The mutiled voice said something
about never wanting TO go. Like
il he re, il said And Funny,
thought Betty, with a quick flush of
annoyance. Here am holding Jim
Stevenson's hand and getting a real
thrill from it, Well. she thought
further. as she tried TO draw her
hand away. so apparently. is he"
But she pulled herself free and a
moment or two later. promising
again that she would come the next
day. She disappeared into the hall
There she ran into the corridor
nurse Il saw you reading TO Four
teen, she said "AWfully good
of you. He's been 50 restless and
nervous He had a special until
this morning, but he's really all
right. and were a little short, so
we as ked him to get along without
one. You seemed to work like a
charm, Miss Buckalew You've no
idea what IT means to have visitors
that really help the patients.
All the way home Betty was trou-
bled. How silly of her. Shed
known. Jim Stevensonofor years. She
and Sally were close friends And
here they had been, holding hands
in real earnest. like two sentimental
youngsters. Well, she wouldn't 60
again tomorrow. She'd make some