"Uncle Hiram couldn't tell if Ward was dead or not, he said. So
he hobbled across the field quick as he could to Ned's. He got
Ned and some of his boys to help tote Ward to the house. He sent
Ned's oldest boy to Ralph Ware's to phone for the doctor, and he
got Ned to run and tell Wes and Lida Belle. 'Course it was pretty
soon after that when Wes phoned me, like I told you."
"Yeah. Then what?"
"Ralph said he never could get the doctor."
Papa helped me down. When my feet touched the ground, they
felt so stiff I had to grab Mama's skirt to keep from falling.
"Is Doctor Elton here yet?"
"He got over here right after I did, but Ward was already
dead. He didn't even examine him-just took one look at him and
said he'd been dead all night."
Mama picked up the bucket of buttermilk and the eggs. She let
me carry the sack of coffee. Papa gathered up some of the other
sacks and boxes, and we walked up to Miss Ophelia's house.
"How is Ophelia taking it?"
"Oh, she's in hysterics. I reckon anybody would be. But,
Nannie, old Miss Dink is the one in bad shape.
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