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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1946-07-18, Page 7THE TIMES-ADVOCATE, EXETER, ONTARIO, THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 18th, 1946 ‘SISTERS IN LOVE’ Former Exeter Man Visits Patients In Hospital as a Hobby By KATHLEEN MILLER O' ' ■ Tlio stony thus fart Sue Francis i.s in Jove with Michael Burke, handsome private secretary to the father of a friend. Michael visits her in her home in love with her thia, to whom he Sue tells Michael mey marriage and divorce; then, ashamed of her jealousy she runs away, but returns the same night. She meets. Carey Andrews, Michael’s cousin, who falls in love with her, Mrs. Francis, Cynthia, has and wedding Sue accepts a from Carey, appears at their home. and himself falls older sister Cyn- becomes engaged, of Cynthia’s foy- mother of Sue and become seriously ill, plans are postponed, proposal of marriage Cynthia’s ex-husband CHAPTER IX Her husband—1 Cynthia stared in horror into the blood-shot eyes so near her own, eyes remembered and familiar, yet stranger’s eyes. Surely this was no man she ever known, and yet—this was man whom once so long ago had lovely madly, whom she married, and who so cruelly disillusioned her. “Allan—” Her eyes slid from his fixed gaze down to where one of his hands was thrust into his -pocket, wrapped around some ob ject that appeared hard and bulky, a menacing outline. He had a gun! Had he then come to kill her? “Allan,” she begged, “what are you ■doing' here? I thought—” “You thought you were rid of me, didn’t you? But you aren’t. Surely, Cyn darling, after all these years —” His eyes mocked her terror. ■“After all this time you must be very glad to see me. You loved me so much. Don’t you remember how often you used to tell me that? That is, before you called the pol ice and had me dragged off to jail! But we’ll just let bygones be by gones. And now—give your husband a sweet, loving kiss.” “No!” Cynthia shrank as far away from his tight grip on her arm would allow. “Don’t you see, Allan, -we’re not married any more. You’re not voiced—” “I didn’t about that, cerned you’re still my wife, me or—” The menace of the was very real. Repulsed and rified Cynthia stared at him. Could she have once loved this slovenly creature? The odor of cheap whisky clung to him. He was drunk. “Come on—kiss me!’’ he com manded, thrusting his face close to hers. Shrinkingly, Cynthia put her lips to his cheek, shivered. Then—• came a few quick steps across the l>orch, and a man stepped through the half-open door. Michael! Oh, Michael dearest! Cynthia’s heart was praying, why couldn't you have come sooner, why do you have to come now? Her eyes flew to his face beseechingly. Rigidly, an instant he stood-looking at them. At the blonde and fragile girl in hei’ summer frock, close in the arms of the stocky, Latin-looking man. The hazel eyes of the tall man who had interrupted' them dark ened, blazed with a ferocity almost animal in its intensity; his broad shoulders stiffened, as his eyes took in the , situation in one sweeping glance. “I’m sorry. Do I interrupt?” he asked ironically. “Sure, Go away,” Spencer, his arms possessively on the figure they held, tightening so 'that she might not reach the weapon he had in his po'cket. “Yes. Please, Michael, do go awaji,” urged Cynthia frantically, mindful of the gun, afraid for that redheaded man with the bittei- eyes that lashed her. One word would had the SuG had had my husband. We’re di- have anything to As far as I’m say con- Kiss gun hor- sneered lAllan closing more rigid, girlish door shut and dialed a number cautiously. “Folice headquatrers?” she, whispered. “Come right away A) Then she held onto the doorknob in agony of indecision. “Cynthia wouldn’t have sent Michael away, ,|f Allan hadn’t ha(j a gun,” she rea soned hysterically, “And if I try te cross the hall to go up to mom, he might shoot , . , There isn’t a thing I can do to help Cynthia . , And she’s being screaming mom. Oh, thing-—” It must and very police sirens came screaming down the street, but to the girl behind’ the closed hall door it seemed slow hours ticked by. will run out the Sue thought scaredly dining room, probably shoot of it.” at least about so brave, Not or struggling because of if only I Could do some- have been only minutes, few of them, until the as if ■ “Allan door slipped into the hates me so, he’d just for the fun She was -right, back door. Spencer stiffened at hack and ‘He me send him leaping at her ex-hus-®;........................ ■ ... , % t iband’s throat .... but she dared not chance that word. “I’ve been a fool,” said Michael slowly, scorn heavy on every sylla ble. “But now I’m cured. Cured lorever of you and your golden glamour.” Sue stood still in the kitchen. Was that Michael’s voice, so loud and angry? She hurried to the door leading to the hall in time to hear the front door shut with a resound ing crash behind him. Cautiously she peered around it, as Allan Gpencer bent to kiss the helpless •girl in his arms. She caught her -‘ibreath, observing the pallor of Cyn thia’s Cheeks. “That man—that awful greasy man back again—” she thought vengfefully. The phone was right at her elbow; softly she Swung the Backache-Kidneys Moat people fail io. recognize the seriousness of a bad back. The stitches, twitches, and twinges are bad enough and cause great Buf fering, but back of the backache and the Cause of it all is the dis ordered kidneys crying out a warn ing through the back. A pain in the back is the kidneys cry for help. Go to their assistance. Get a box of Doan’s Kidney'Pills. A remedy for backache and sick kidneys. ,, ^DOan’s0 are put up m an oblong grey -box withour trade mark a *iMapld te&£h on the Refuse substitutes. Got <‘Doan’s?’ The T. MUburn CJa, 144., Toronto, Ont. the ____ ___ __I, __ the first sound of the siren, swore soft ly, and snatched Cynthia into his arms, lifting her off the floor, “I bummed all the way from Canada to get you and I'm not leaving you now, get me?” He was bearing her -rapidly down the hall. In desperation she clawed at his face, until he dropped her with an oath. -He swung up the gun; then thought better of it. “I’ll be back—’’ he told her and vanished hurriedly, before the first policeman -broke through the front door. “The -back way—hurry!” cried Cynthia to th© uniformed entrant. The rest was nightmare. The rac ing of feet through the little house, the shouts, th© mad excitement of it, until finally—the. sharp, stac cato interchange of shots. Then silence, thick and frightening. In the midst of it all Sue stood a moment, stricken, her small hands hard against her white cheeks. Then she flew to mom’s room, to the pale woman on th© bed, fear- ful, her thin hands clenched on the coverlet. “Mom! Please don’t get upset. Please, for Sue’s .sake, Momsie,” she begged, then improvised hur riedly. “It was a burglar, and the police came here, and they’re chas ing him and shooting— But it’s almost . over—” at that moment, the shooting ceased— “See— it is all over. You aren’t worrying, are you, Mom?” ’ Her -mother,, smiled up into Sue’s anxious eyes. “For a few minutes, I was scared • . . but only for my girls’ sakes. Where was the burg lar? Did he steel anything?” “Just lurking around outside. No, he didn't get a thing. And they must have him nearly to the jail by now. Would you like me to read to you.” ■Mom was able to laugh, a weak shadow of her old chuckle. “You’re babying me terribly, Sue,” she said. “I declare I believe you’d pad me in wool or wrap me in celo- phane for protection, if you could get away with it. If you’ll just call Cynthia up so that I can see she is all in one piece, I promise not to worry at all, about anything, even if they find the burglar hid ing under ray bed." But Cynthia was already at the bedroom door. She came in iously, tiptoeing, cautiously, had to laugh at that, after all noise that had been shaking little house. “Are you all right, Mom?” asked Cynthia, her face even whiter than was its wont, a scared quaver still in her voice. “I was afraid all that Commotion would make you worse.” “I told her that they must surely have the burglar by now,” said Sue, staring hard at her sister to make her understand. “Burglar—? Oh, sure < . . th— they must have captured him. Oh, ©f c—course they have,” stammered Cynthia eagerly. “Everything’s all right now,” she added soothingly, The door bell rang imperiously, loudly, as if a heavy hand upon it. The girls’* eyes met ly. “I locked both doors,” pered Cynthia, frightened. “It’s probably th© police . tell us that they caught him. Or one of the neighbors to see if we’re ’ all right. I’ll go,” said Sue resolute ly. “You see that Mom stays quiet." Cynthia followed her to the bed room door. “BO careful!” She Warned in a whisper. “If it’s Allan, he’ll be desperate.” “'Allan wouldn’t again!” ridiculed Sue, own fears. “With all the neighborhood—” But, nevertheless, she stole quiet- ly to the door, and peeked gingerly around tlie curtain on the front door. The man wore a Uniform and his stern blond 'face Was familiar, It sighed With door. “Are you anx- Sue the the were swif-t- whis- . . to ringingbe to quell her the police in Was a policeman, relief and opened un- Sub the whothe Youiig lady, called the police?” He was young and very business-1 like, and' his dyes were almost childishly blue, She smiled at him thankfully, “Yes. Did you catch-—the man?” she asked, dreading his answer, There Would be a sfiaiidal again it Allan were captured. All that Old and nearly forgotten unpleasant ness would be dragged out for the public to gape over again. “Yes. He was captured.” The policeman looked at her; thawed imperceptibly., and got out his note book, “Was he attempting to -bur glarize your house? Over the tele “I’m the peculiar man who visits people from outside London.” This is the simple greeting that has in troduced c, F. Hooper, of 340 Ade laide street, to 51$ young, middle- aged and old men who have taken sick during visits here and sent to city hospitals in the past io months, M'r. Hooper began visiting patients, from story Press, from suffered forced him into hospital here, Mr, Robinson's wife was with him, but he knew no one in London. “If he has no visitors, he will be a lonesome man,” Mr. Hooper said to himself and he immediate ly called on Mr. Robinson in St. Joseph’s Hospital, First Call That was called on a Mr, Hooper isced over his visiting career. Robinson was so grateful for visits that I decided to call on other strangers." outside centres through a which appeared in The Free telling of a Mr, Robinson Washington, D.C., who had a heart attack which the first time I’d ever stranger in a hospital,” explained, as he remin- !Mr. my time I’ye visited the always been greeted by the people and a I’ve never yet been wanted and many of ■ J’. 1 I had any “Ih all the hospitals I’ve with a smile ‘come told I 'them called visitors," .Mr, Hooper, now retired and ing in this city after farming phone you said—” He consulted his notebook. “A man is forcing his way into the house.” He looked at her again, correct?” “Yes, yes. much shall I dering. Of who he is, after they take his fin ger prints. she'd come down instead, want to say0 too much, fidgeting in her chair; clasped one another nervously. 'She had motioned him to a couch, and was sitting facing him, her young brows puckered. “Perhaps I’d better call my sis ter,” she said finally. “She opened the dooi-. when he came in. spoke to her.” I’ll let die this, she thought; what to do. “Oh, of course,” he and rose when she did. Thought Sue in a burst of grati tude: “He’s nice . . . and very young. I’m so glad he’s like that and not old and brusque and scar- . ey.” i- Cynthia was at the head of the stairs, peeping fearfully down. “It’s a policeman,’'’ whispered Sue, tfand I don’t know what to tell him. He says they’ve- caught Allan.” “Oh, I’m glad, I was so afraid. Sue, he'd kill» me. I know he would,” Gyn said undei’ her breath, and went with her sister into living room. The officer’s eyes widened so slightly at the sight of the with her disheveled blonde hair frightened violet eyes. But his man ner didn't change, as he said: “I’d like you to tell me what you know about this, please, Miss—” He waited for the name tp be supplied. “Cynthia 'Francis . . . and this is my sister, Sue. What do you want me to tell?” The blonde girl sat weakly upon the eouch; -Sue beside her, and the officer upon the -big chair. Th© two girls were visibly shaken, ill at ease. “Now you mustn’t be nervous,” the officer smiled encouragingly. “Tell me how it happened, if you had ever seen the man before—” Cynthia began to sob involun tarily. Her white hands hid .her quivering face. “Yes, I knew him,” she wept hysterically. “He was my —” her mind erbelled at the name. She couldn't call that man her husband. “I was married to him once,” she said instead, as the door bell began anothfer insistent de mand for admittance. There was a small crowd of men outside. Detectives, reporters, pho tographers—a noisy, milling mob of them, “Be quiet!” hissed’Sue to them, “My mother’s very ill. If you can’t ■be still, get out, all of you!” “Sorry—” They were quieting down obediently. “But lady—” a photographer whispered eagerly, edging forward. “Can we get a pic ture before you go to the morgue to—•” “Morgue!” Sue stared at him. Cynthia was at her elbow, - her breath coming in jagged gulps. “Morgue—” “Yes, lady — -didn’t you know? The guy was shot to death!” And Cynthia ifainted, weight, into the arms of policeman. Later, when they had „__ and MJom Was sleeping .peacefully after her medicine, -Sue sat on her sister’s pink bedspread beside het sister’s rigid figure and said sooth ingly: “Please relax, Cynthia. Don’t think about anything. Maybe it was ail for the best, the way it happened. Won’t you try to get some sleep?” Cynthia was near collapse.. “Mi chael!” she said under her breath. “Sue—I’Ve lost Michael, him so!” Sue stiffened. “You money!" she challenged, the Only reason- “No,” sobbed now, If he dug matter, I really it’s too late,” Sue sat lip very straight, gray eyes darkened, and the mouth was Very firm. "Lie add fest, Cyh," she said. “I’m to see Michael?’ (Continuel Next Week) Next Week: How will Michael re act to She’s explanation? Sue and Carey face sonio facts in relation te their approaching marriage; they have a <iaarrdl. questioningly. “Is that that correct, How tell him, she was won course, they'll know But Cynthia—I wish I don’t She was her fingers ■He Cynthia han- I don't know said politely, a the all the ever girl and limp blond gone, and I love ‘•That love his was ■ If her sister. “I khow ditches it wouldn’t love him now-—-and ■Het small there going back*, wasn’t told mo that unless I they wouldn’t have had liv- . _ . . .............„ f or many years in Blanshard Township and conducting business at Exeter, has been in hospital himself only once, That was in 1918, but the lone liness has remained a memory. In the meantime, through the years, Mr. Hooper has visited a large num ber of friends in hospital. * Taught Technique This visiting taught him a tech nique which he now applies to call ing on strangers. There are definite rules set tby Mr. Hooper for effect ive visiting. “You don’t go in with a long face” is th© first rule laid down by Mr. Hooper. “ long" is the second, only long enough to ‘good-bye’ and the stay is five minutes, Asked what he talked about to the strangers, Mr. Hooper smiled and said, “I don’t really talk about anything, I 'don’t talk religion. I’m not an insurance man and I don’t represent any lodge. I just really am there long enough to let a man know someone in London cares about him getting well. When a person is nearly well and ready to go home I may tell a joke. If a man is quite sick I just say, ‘Hello, my friend, I’ll be back -when you’re feeling better.’." Introducing himself to strangers is one problem. Making an exit with grace is another which Mr. Hooper sometimes has solved -by quoting Scriptures. “I use the 17th verse from the 25th chapter of Proverbs: ‘Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor’s house lest he be weary of thee and so hate tliee’,” Mr, Hooper said. You don’t . “Often I i say ’hello’ longest I ,” he explained. stay stay and ever Butter $45 Ppynd in Berlin can be in iG©r- people Morley Massey- Every inch of land that worked is under cultivation many and France as the wage their battle for food, F. Verity, vice-president of Harris Co. 'Ltd., of Brantford, said on his return from a tour of Eur ope. Mr. Verity said the German people were “apathetic and seldom smile” under Allied occupation. Transportation, however, wag get ting back to normal with the crack trains operating again in France and Germany. Food when it was to be had cost a great deal, he added, and quoted figures for black mar ket goods such as butter, which in Berlin was $45 a pound. Mr. Verity is a cousin of Mr. C, V, Pickard, of town, I Patient Pleased And in reply many a patient has said, “Do you know that your five- minute visit means more than a half-hour because I’ve been pleased to see someone but haven’t been tired, I can go to sleep,” In the past three months Mr. Hooper has added London strang ers to his list, 242 of them, who otherwise would have had no visit ors. This “hobby” has introduced a five-day-week schedule for Mr. Hooper. Two days a week he visits Victoria Hospital ana two days he goes to St, Joseph’s, Throughout the month he spends the extra “fifth” day at the McCormick Home for Aged, Mason Villa and Park wood Hospitals. Saturdays and Sun days he takes off from his “work.” The above report appeared in the London Free Press Friday. It refers to, Mr. Hooper’s visit to strangers but -does not give the full story. Mr, Hooper began his visits to> t.he hospitals several years ago but his visits at first were confined to his friends and acquaintances, -chiefly from Exeter and district. He learn ed of many of them being in hos pital through the Times-Advocate. From this systematic visit to his friends in hospital he has enlarged his scope, first to visiting strangers from outside the city of London and more- recently to many from London. 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