VISITING THE SANITARIUM
Aunt Madge and Dr. Anderson were to come out two days later. There was
so much to do in these two days, however, that the time flew quickly.
Mary Lee did not neglect her duties but with the help of her friends
she was able to get through early so that most of the day was free.
The first picnic lunch had been so successful that they had
unanimously planned for another. There were, however, so many other
things to do that it was put off for the arrival of the newcomers.
Dr. Anderson brought his car and almost in the first moment of his
arrival had made plans for a long ride, but Mary Lee reminded him of
her plan to visit the Sanitarium.
"Well, Mary Lee," he agreed good humoredly. "Of course, it will be
talking shop for me to take you youngsters through, but if that is
what you wish, I will gladly do so."
"Suppose we take our ride later," suggested Bob, who felt more at
liberty to suggest than the others because Aunt Madge was his aunt and
Dr. Anderson would soon be his uncle. "We could stay out late and you
could return to town in the morning."
Aunt Madge laughed. "It's not so easily planned as all that, but even
then I think we can manage."
Dr. Anderson telephoned the hospital as soon as they reached the
house. He obtained permission almost at once to go through with his
party. His business with Mr. Quinn was transacted in half an hour and
so it was still quite early in the morning when they reached the
hospital. It was a large institution which made a specialty of certain
kinds of cases, but it also had an emergency ward.
The doctor explained so thoroughly, yet so simply, to his listeners as
they went through the operating rooms, etc., that they could not help
having a good conception of the necessary treatment of the sick.
In the midst of an explanation he saw Mary Lee's attention centered on
a nurse who was taking the temperature of a patient.
"Yes, Mary Lee, that is what you will be doing some day. You have made
a splendid choice of profession. It will take many years--there is
much you must learn. I know," he continued, jestingly, "folks will be
glad to get sick just so that they can have Dr. Anderson treat them
and Nurse Mary Lee take care of them."
"It isn't going to take as many years as you think," loyally replied
Bob, taking up the cudgels, "for Mary Lee has already begun." And he
told Aunt Madge and the doctor of Tom Marshall. To Bob, because he was
a boy, the part that had to do with the silver mine in Mexico was
important and so he dwelt upon it.
"Tom Marshall told Mary Lee that he has a partner who is an Indian and
who is a whiter and squarer man than many white men," concluded the
boy.
For one moment, Dr. Anderson wondered at this last remark the boy had
made.
"An Indian for a partner, eh?" he remarked. Then he laughed at the
foolishness of his thought. Of course, there could be no connection
between Jim Lee, the Indian who had been a servant to Mary Lee's
mother out West, and this Indian Bob had spoken about.
"You didn't say what the Indian's name was, did you?" he asked.
Mary Lee answered, "No, I never thought to ask."
"Well, let's be on," Dr. Anderson said, casting away all thoughts and
conjectures as to the possibilities along this line. "That was a good
home remedy you applied to the man, Mary Lee," he continued, changing
the subject by referring to the mustard the girl had applied for the
sunstroke.
It was long past the time for lunch when they left the hospital.
Probably Mary Lee learned more than any one of the others from this
visit, for everything had been of such vital interest to her. She
remembered much of what the doctor had told them.
Immediately after the late lunch which Mrs. Quinn had prepared for
them they started out. The girls noticed with astonishment that Aunt
Madge was driving the auto.
"Oh, yes," she replied in answer to their exclamations, "Dr. Anderson
taught me. I find it easy to drive here in comparison with the city.
It isn't hard," she added with all the certainty of one who has
already learned.
"Tell you what, Madge, dear, I'll teach one or two of these
youngsters. Shall I?"
"What a fine idea," Aunt Madge replied, giving up her seat.
Neither Letty nor Ruth would attempt it, however. Bob already knew,
but Mary Lee welcomed the opportunity of learning.
Dr. Anderson found her an apt pupil and after the first hour he let
her drive the car alone, taking the precaution, of course, of keeping
his foot on the emergency clutch. At the end of another half hour, the
doctor replaced her and put on extra speed.
The car whizzed along now. At four o'clock he found a suitable place
and stopped. The whole party got out and made themselves comfortable.
Aunt Madge broke the news of the girls' appointment as bridesmaids.
"Too bad, Bob, you are not quite old enough, or I would make you my
best man," said the doctor.
"At any rate, I'll be there," the boy replied. But the girls were not
listening. They were eagerly discussing their plans with Aunt Madge.
The doctor and Bob looked at them with much amusement and then walked
down past the car and on.
It was soon time to return, however. Long after seven the party
reached the house. Neither Aunt Madge nor Dr. Anderson could stay over
and they began their long trip home.
The girls and Bob were a tired, happy lot and retired almost at once.