The midland journal., 1946-05-17

why nGlLIlCE BESSIE IlOI Dlhle Ildu
barked warning of the strangers
approach.
The man who had been knocking
stepped back from the door, and full
into the white moonlight, lifting his
face to her, and she recognized
Fallon.
"I'm terribly sorry to awaken
you," he said swiftly, and his voice
was taut with uneasiness. "But l
have to use the telephone-there has
been an accident-we want doc
tor.
Megan said instantly, "I'l be
down in moment"
There wasn't time to do anything
but tie her kimono about her, and
to shake back the leaf-brown bur-
nished curls from her face. She went
swiftly down the stairs, and unlocked
the kitchen door.
"Your wife?" asked Megan.
Tom shook his head and she saw
that his face was white and set. His
jaw looked rigid and his eyes were
bleak.
'It's Martha, my wife's sister,"
he said curtly. "She-fell and hurt
herself. What's the doctors ring?
have to hurry-they're there alone
both of them completely help
less"
Megan said quickly, "You 60
back, and I'll call the doctor. If
he's not at home, and out on a call
somewhere it may take little time
to get him. So let me do it"
Tom said huskily, ''Thanks,
You're-you're more than kind"
He turned and went swiftly out
into the moon-washed darkness and
Megan went to the telephone. The
doctor was out, and it took some
little time for her to locate him, and
then it was with the assurance that
it would be an hour at least before
he could make the call at the West
brook place.
Megan put down the telephone and
hesitated for a moment. Then she
ran upstairs, got swiftly into out
door shoes and stockings, skirt and
light, warm sweater, because the
night was chilly. She tied a scarf
about her head, caught up the little
First Aid kit that she had acquired
as part of her civilian First Aid
work, and let herself out of the
house.
She was answering the call of a
neighbor's need as instinctively, as
thoughtlessly, as had always been
Pleasant Groves custom. People
who had been enemies for years,
who never spoke when they met,
laid aside all personal animosities
when the enemy was i'll or in trou-
BILE, and pitched in" to help. It
was unthinkable, in Pleasant
Groves creed, that one should do
anything else.
She went quickly down the moon
silvered road, crossed the little
wooden bridge, and went on up the
low hill, turning in at the weed
grown, gateless drive, and through
the shrubbery that had run riot and
that tonight gave the house an air
of mystery and furtiveness that was
almost unpleasant.
There was light in the kitchen
and another in a corner room at
the front. But the kitchen door
was closed and it was there that
Megan knocked.
She heard the murmur of voices
before she knocked, then an instant
silence, and the movement of feet
coming towards the door. The door
swung open and Tom stood there,
his coat discarded, his sleeves rolled
up; behind him she saw a kitchen
that was spotlessly tidy, though de-
pressingly drab, and short, stout
woman huddled in a chair, her face
turned over her shoulder to look at
the door.
Megan said to Tom, CDR. Alden
will be here as soon as he can make
it. I thought perhaps l might be of
some help, before he gets here. I've
had First Aid training"
The woman said harsh1y, sharply.
"Don't let her in, Tom-don't you
let her in!"
Tom flushed darkly.
81 am always glad to do anything
I possibly can for neighbor," Me-
gan assured him. She crossed the
threshold to face the woman, whose
dark, angry face and blazing eyes
watched her angrily.
There's nothing you can do, and
we can wait perfectly well for DR..
Alden," she stated grimly. $50
you'd better 60 on back home"
Tom turned on her and said,
through clenched teeth, Martha, be
quiet-she-she knows" and moved
his head towards the closed door at
the left that would, Megan knew,
open into that corner bedroom.
Martha looked startled, incredu-
lous; and then anger Lit up her face
and she turned away, her teeth set
hard above what must have been
furiously savage anger.
Megan hesitated, looking down at
the woman, and Tom bridged the
tense, unpleasant moment by say
ing quietly, "Martha-fell and hurt