CHUMMY AND MEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 51, 1 March 1941, Page 10 (Supplement)

CHUMMY AND MEN

THKRK was ;t hurried step ut the <l<inr of St. .1 0.-*«pli'is Hospital, ami Miss Longley looked up from the desk, where she was making out her daily reports. "Is 111 its where the doctor man lives?" a little boy asked excitedly. "Which doctor <lo you want':'' asked Miss Longlev. "Why. the doctor-man who made Peppy'.-, arm well! 1 want to see him ripht away.'' "Who i- Peppy "SlifV. mv bij4* sister. I'm Hen," and the boy dropped down on a bench, too tired to stand any longer. In his arms lie held a I>".\. "Can't \on remember the doctor's name 1 rhink it was Major," said Hen, [ i i n id I v. "I'lh. i!'-, Mr. Major. Well, he i«n't here right now ■- -but lie will be soon. Its l here any I bin:; I ea n do V" "\"o. No, | hank-!" Hen held the box i ipht'T. "I — I'll ju.-t w ait." The inii-e uejit on writing and Hon eroiielif.l upon the bench, teeling as though he wen- going to cry. How ion!-] hr iit there and wait and listen to thai hip clock ticking precious minuter, miiiy when Chummy might be fl\ inplie looked at the box with the :ii r - hole -» punched in the top, and (suddenly his heart aclie<l unbearably. "What time will the clock bo when the doctor comes?" he begged. "I don't know." answered the. nurise, a bsent iy. Rendiier over the box with tears in his eyes, Hon whispered, "He is coining, liiimmy. He'll make you well. ' .Sure he "vv ill: You just be brave!" Then he felt a. little comforted, and added. "I can almost hear him coming. Honest. I can!" The minutes crept into half-hour:,, and the half hour-, into a whole hour. For a moment I'en was frightened by the strangeness and longed to run home to Peggy. * ■ "I hen. when more long moment* had passed the door opened and a tall, kindly■ i'aceii man stepped in. The nurse looked up. "There he is." she said kindly. Ben was on hfeet. "Oh, doctor, you made niy sister I'cppy well, and shet-ahl that you'd li,\ (.huuimy up. That's why I came.''

"('h, 1 see, mid who l'lliiiillllv "Here, i:i t lie box." He tuok till! cover from the box and there, very quiet and still, lay a tiny puppy, .lion begun to (job. Chummy had always come at hits call, wagging a tiny bit of tail and licking liis hand with a very small pink tongue. And now —! '"He's alive! Look, son," came the doc-tore voice. Ben diil. At t.h» same time he heard a little hurt whine and raw one of Chummy's eyes open. '"Let's go into my ofiiee and see what can be done." T'hey went down the corridor, and all the. time the doctor talked so soothingly and kindly that Ben began to feel better. In the shining white officii Dr. Major tenderly lifted the I'tippy out and examined him. "Why, lie's mor* t-t mined than anything else. He has a few cuts but they will heal. How did it happen?" "VV e sill magazines—Chummy and me,' eakl Hpu. gravely. "And a big dog ran out of a house and jumped on Chummv and hurt him."

"Dear. th-ar." isiml tile doctor. He jiilttcHl Chununy's tiny head. Then he begun to work swiftly ami sunn the puppy. his wound-; treated. wa< licking lien's hand. "Peggy r»nid you'd r.aki: him well," exclaimed the hoy. his eyes shining with ha ppineiss and gratitude. "Yes, he'll he all right now," ami the doctor stepped hack, looking almost as happy as IScn. Suddenly the hoy put, lii< liand in a lagged tronser pocket. "How much is it V" lie a^ked. "Xothing at all," answere<l IV. Major. "I wouldn't think of making any charge for this treatment.'' "Oh. hut T wouldn't, want l.'humtny to owe any body! " la inu d Hen, anxiously. ]Ic brought. out ten pennies and laid

them on the doctor's dtvk. "They are nicn and clean," he added. "I'eggy and I shinec! Yin yesterday." "\o, mi,' , said tho doctor. "T <ion"t charge for— er — miin-r treatments of this kind. You jiiist run home and tell lYjigy the puppy is jroinji to he all ri.liht. And when you're around this way again, stop in, I'll want a iiiiigazine." "Oh, thank you, thank you!" Clutching the dog in his hands Hen hurried duwu thi) hall, Peggy would be happy, ami he was happy, too. lh> ha<l bis pet back a era. in—and lie had. a new cu^tiinieibe s idee!