The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-07-27
DOCTORS ASSISTANT
 CHAPTER II

SAA<AA & &A@2S "A
 INFANCY hugged her knees and N watched the late afternoon sunlight filter through the leaves of the elms. Mother was fearfully disappointed and, of course, furious, when Aunt Martha wrote her about Christopher. AS if it were my fault! I couldn't prevent 1t, couN .? And he's not such a bad person, really" Nancy added grudgingly, "he1l be good to her, he'll give value received. But it's disgusting, just the same"
 She's lonely" said Emily gen. tly, you mustn't begrudge her companionship."
 "Y don't. But of course Mother expected me to make brilliant marriage under Aunt Martha's pat ronNge. Or, if not, to inherit bril- liant dowry and then make the marriage. So what? So here am, ' dumped literally on the family door step, back in Cranberry and dying of boredom"
 Emily was neither impressed nor sympathetic. She had seen so many people die-and not of boredom = during her three years training in a great Boston hospital. And since she had returned home to become a Visiting Nurse she had seen peo- pie who would die presently - re- luctantly, and in pain. She said. therefore. practically:
 "You've been home less than a week, Nancy"
 Its been . year long," Nancy said stubbornly. Here comes Dad" She laughed. He always takes that corner on two wheels, doesn't he?"
 Always"
 why doesn't he get new car?" Nancy demanded critically. That old bus Is falling to pieces"
 There's 8 war on," said Emily shortly.
 DOCTOR HALL, with sound and D fury, ran the old bus into the garage. A little later he came stumping up the steps. He was a thick-set man, with a big head shock of gray hair and craggy sort of face. Only his patients knew how his sharp gray eyes could soften, how gentle and skill full were his enormous hands.
 '.Delightful progeny" he said, ir his booming voice, move over and make room for your old man Where's your mother?"
 Rolling bandages," said Nancy p.at the Edgars."
 He touched Emily's shoulder He asked:
 ..Difacult day?"
 Mot very. took the Flanni. aan kids to the clinic, all three 9f them. Called on some of my chronics. The usual routine. Pre- natal calls. One accident case"
 He said abruptly:
 "Bet you can't guess where I'vt been."
 Drinking yourself to death, said Nancy lazily. fin some ob' scure saloon"
 Emily laughed. When he was + David Hall had promised hi mother that he would never tak' a drink. He had kept his word.
 ''Interviewing an assistant" h' said, triumphantly.
 ''An assistant" repeated Nanc! incredulously, but Emily cried:
 Dad, you don't mean it. hov wonderfull"
 Color came up to touch her higf cheekbones: she was radiant witt it. She had been urging her fathel for over a year to find an assistant a younger man who would take tn, night calls, shoulder some of tn, unvarying burden of a general prac. titioner who had stubbornly refused to specialize, who persisted in be. lieving that taking care of measles removing an appendix or delivering q baby was all in the days work And whose practice had tripled ai cranberry's younger medicos wer, gradually absorbed Into the armed forces. But her fathers stubborn streak, plus the difficulty of find. ing an available civilian doctol these days. never really gave hel much hope.
 CT DO mean it." He yawned
 \ stretched, I'm not as young aI [ used Co be-" he said, "and you niether |" ae looked at his oldel AAnghteF for understanding. "Aftel