Radio and television mirror (Nov 1939-Apr 1940)

had yourself established. And now for the sake of some gurrl ye're going to throw aside the biggest opportunity likely to come to a man of your years. Laddie, I'm disappointed in ye!" Jerry Malone leaned forward eagerly. "No. Don't say that," he protested. "Let me tell you first. Let me tell you what happened. Let me tell you why I've got to go back and fight it out with Belmore." "It'll have to be good," warned Abercrombie. "It is!" Jerry declared. "Give me just a minute to decide where to start. There's been so much packed into these twelve months. . . ." THE story really started on the dining car. There was only one seat left when Jerry went in for luncheon. He gave the girl across the table no more than a polite glance when he asked, "May I sit opposite you?" "Certainly, doctor," she had replied astonishingly, in a clear, laughing voice. Then he had taken a closer look at the friendly blue eyes set in startling black lashes, hair the color of honey, a lovely mouthy grave and carefully prim at the moment, but ready to break into a curved smile. "Don't tell me I've left a stethoscope dangling around somewhere! How can you tell I'm a doctor?" "That's easy. I've been nursing at the Medical Foundation, and, of course, all of the nurses know the brilliant Dr. Malone. I'm needed at home right now, so I'm going back to a little town you've probably never heard of . . . Belmore." "Indeed I have heard of it. I'm taking over Dr. Barnett's practice there." At the unconcealed surprise in her face, Jerry found himself wondering for just a minute exactly why he was doing this thing that surprised him no less than it had all his friends. He had been happy at Presenting an episode, in the life of Young Doctor Malone, hero of the radio serial of the same name, heard Monday through Friday mornings at 11:15, E. S. T., on NBCBlue, and sponsored by Post Bran flakes. 18 the Medical Foundation for five years and his work was recognized and valued. But, when he had heard that old Doctor Barnett was retiring, Jerry had acted on impulse, drawn his savings from the bank, bought the old doctor's small practice in Belmore, and found himself on the train bound for a completely strange little village almost before he knew what had happened. All he knew was that he wanted general practice in a small community . . . wanted it badly enough to venture all of his years of training on the chance that he was doing the right thing. Looking back and thinking of all that meeting with Ann Richards on the train had meant, Jerry could not believe that he had said goodbye so casually to her when they left the train at Belmore, had let her go without a second thought. She came back into his mind for a fleeting moment when he saw the grim set of Nurse Kate's mouth, her steely eyes that refused to meet his, heard her flat, coarse voice. Nurse Kate had grown grey in Dr. Barnett's service, but time evidently had not had a softening effect, nor had the sight of suffering. "Of course I'll keep her on," young Dr. Malone had promised the older man. "I'll need someone who knows your patients, knows the town. Delighted to have her." "Good," said Dr. Barnett. "She's a none too happy woman, difficult at times, especially now because she's upset at the thought of a change." But it was Dr. Malone who was upset when he realized just what a problem Nurse Kate was apt to be. The first patient to arrive was kindly Mr. Mead. His case was easy to diagnose. He needed an operation for gallstones before too many weeks passed. Jerry told him so. Then it was that Nurse Kate committed the unpardonable sin. "No such a thing!" she argued. "Dr. Barnett never had to operate on you, Mr. Mead. If you'll take my advice, you'll get an opinion from an older man over at the Capital. He . . ." with a defiant jerk of the head toward Jerry, "is mighty young, and I've noticed young men are a deal too handy with the knife." The second patient was sweet, gentle little Mrs. Penny who needed injections for anaemia. Dr. Malone prescribed them. "I knew a sick woman who had injections and she died!" Nurse Kate informed Mrs. Penny darkly. Jerry was shocked. It was an unheard of breach of professional etiquette for a nurse to question a Illustration by Griffith Foxley doctor's decision in the presence of a patient; or anywhere else for that matter. And he was as much bewildered by the passionate dislike with which Nurse Kate regarded him as by her words. His careful reprimand brought on an astonishing storm of temper, brought Nurse Kate's furious resignation and her threat to run him out of town. Jerry shrugged his shoulders, half in amusement, half in irritation at the ugly scene. But he did not take Nurse Kate seriously as a powerful enemy until several days later when the members of the influential Ladies Allegiance League began to transfer their patronage to the doctor in the next town. He had counted on that group to keep him going until he had established his own practice. The only really bright spot in the first week had been his second meeting with Ann Richards. He had been called to the Murrays, where he found Ann already there, preparing for his arrival. Before the difficult birth of the Murray heir had been completed, he realized that Ann was a superb surgical nurse. Before he had bade her good night at her door, he had hired himself a new assistant. Before the week was out, he had a complete new household. "Penny", as his anaemic patient preferred to be called, was delighted to abandon her far too strenuous duties as a cleaning woman and move into the new doctor's kitchen. Will Prout, the garrulous station RADIO AND TELEVISION MIRROR