Read Online Where Two Ways Met by Grace Livingston Hill - Free Book Online Page A

Madison,” he said courteously, “and I’m bringing a message for Miss June Culbertson.”
    The girl’s face lighted.
    “Come in,” she said in a friendly voice, “I’m June Culbertson.”
    “Oh,” said the young man, “I wondered if you might not be. You see, I’m just home, and I haven’t learned the changes that have come yet. But I guess perhaps there won’t be time for me to come in. The message seemed to be imperative. It came on our telephone. The woman said they reported your phone out of order, and she asked us to let you know. It was from a Mrs. Shambley, and she said Nannie was dying, and calling for you. She wanted you to hurry!”
    “Oh!” said the girl with a flutter of her hand to her throat. “Poor little Nannie! But—I’m not sure I can get there! Dad has the car. He and Mother went to a funeral. And I guess your father and mother have gone to the same place. I wonder if I can get hold of a taxi in a hurry?”
    “What’s the matter with my taxiing you?” offered Paige pleasantly. “Of course, our old car isn’t much to look at, but it still runs on four wheels and does make fairly good time at that, if you don’t mind.”
    “Oh would you take me? Thank you so much. It’s rather a long walk if there is need of hurry.”
    “I’ll be delighted,” said Paige. “And by the way, the woman said they had no doctor. She said the bill wasn’t paid and her husband wouldn’t let her get the doctor again. Do you happen to know who their doctor is?”
    “Oh, why yes,” said June. “It’s Dr. Sherburn. I’ll call him. He may not be at home, but they’d know where to contact him. And I’ll be ready in three minutes.”
    “All right, I’ll get the car.” And Paige hurried home. He was back just as June came out the door and hurried down the walk.
    As if they were old friends going on an errand of mutual interest they settled into conversation.
    “I left a note for Mother,” she said, as he helped her into the car, “so they won’t worry.”
    “That’s good!” said Paige. “And what about a doctor?”
    “Oh, yes. They said he was up at a clinic in the hospital, and I got him and told him. He said he’d get some other doctor to take over and he would be out there almost as soon as he could get out of his uniform.”
    “So, he’s that kind of a doctor is he? Ready to go to a poor family, even though they haven’t paid their bill. He must be a pretty good man to tie up to.”
    “He is,” said June. “I haven’t been here so long myself, but from what I’ve seen of him, he seems to be grand. Dad says he’s always ready to go, day or night, if anyone is in distress.”
    “That sounds wonderful. And is he also skillful?”
    “He certainly is. They tell me he has been practicing around here since before the war, and he worked wonders in the hospital overseas. But he certainly was wonderful with little Nannie. We suspected she was undernourished, and that proved to be the case. The doctor gave strict orders what she should eat, but I just don’t believe they have been kept. You see, families are in reduced circumstances. I think they have been trying to buy their house, and they have let everything else go to that end. I tried to tell Nannie’s mother how important it was that she should have the right food, and sometimes I’ve taken things over for her. They are always very grateful of course, but really quite embarrassed to take it. That is why they have not sent for the doctor again. The father is very proud and terribly discouraged.”
    “Well, that’s a sad tale, and their attitude makes it harder to help them in any way.”
    “Yes, that’s true. Daddy has tried his best to get near to the father, especially now since he has been so ill himself, but he can’t seem to get anywhere. There! There is the house, down that little road. See the light at the end of the road?”
    “Yes,” said Madison. “It seems a neat little house. Could stand some painting, but