Monday, October 24, 1910
Russell knocked on the door of the clinic. He looked over his left shoulder and checked the clock: one minute until eight. When the clock struck eight exactly, Dr. Westbrook opened the door.
"Good morning. Are you Russell Stead?" he asked as he opened the door.
"Yes, sir" said Russell and he walked through the door.
Dr. Arnold Westbrook closed the door and shook his hand.
"Russell, I already like you. You arrived on time and you did not ring the emergency bell."
"You mean that little button to the right of the door?" They began walking through the office.
"That's the one." Dr. Westbrook said as they walked upstairs.
"You would not believe how many times people have rung that bell for non-emergencies." 
"What kind of instrument is that?"
"That's a recorder. My friend Walter Burns plays the trombone and Armando Hernandez plays drums. We like to get together sometimes and just mess around with our instruments. Every once in a while one of them will get the urge to play. They'll come over and ring that bell. Maude or I will run downstairs expecting to find a bleeding body and instead it'll be one of those clowns."
Dr. Westbrook opened a door at the top of the steps marked, "Private Residence."
He turned around and motioned for Russell to wait. "Maude, are you decent?"
"When has that ever stopped you?"
Russell put his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing.
Dr. Westbrook said with a chuckle, "The young man from the school is here."
Maude laughed. "Of course, I am fully clothed. Take him into the kitchen."
Dr. Westbrook waved; Russell followed him into their apartment.
"This is a nice place you got here."
"Thank you. Have a seat."
Russell sat down at a kitchen table with a red and white checkerboard cloth.
"You'd had breakfast?"
Russell nodded. "Yes, sir. But, those apples look good."
"Help yourself."
When Maude walked in the room, Russell stood up.
She smiled. "A young man with manners; I am impressed." 
Russell replied, "Russell Stead. Mrs. Grayson is making us read a book on propriety and chivalry."
"Good for her."
"I met you last March when I took Pete Jackson over to see you. I bet him a dime that he couldn't put an entire pine cone in his mouth."
Maude laughed. "Oh, that was a magical day."
She gave Arnold a disappointing look. "Why do men take on stupid dares?"
He shrugged. "Why do girls fall in love in bad boys?"
Maude smiled. "Ok, that was fair. Have you told the young man about his upcoming adventure?"
Dr. Westbrook said, "Not yet."
He turned to Russell. "How familiar are you with River City?"
"I go there once or twice a month on a Friday night."
"So you'd have no trouble going to River City by yourself?"
Russell tilted his head, he was intrigued. "I could."
Maude handed him an envelope with cash. "Here ya go."
Russell's eyes bulged. "Is this all for me?"
Maude frowned and shook her head, no.
"It's for Darla. However, you may spend some of that money on your lunch in River City."
A small tan cat walked into the kitchen. "Meow."
It rubbed up against his legs.
Russell scratched its ears. "Is your name Darla?"
"That's Charity: our resident princess and pest. Darla is in the other room."
Russell followed Maude to a room on the third floor. She opened the door. He was enchanted with the incredible view of Darling Knob and a few of the homes on Elm Street. She pointed to one side of the room.
"This is Darla."
Russell was intrigued.
"Darla is a Cross-strung harp. Ma'am, that's almost as tall as me."
Maude shrugged. "And you probably sound better."
She sat down on a stool behind the grand instrument. Dr. Westbrook came into the room a moment later carrying a recorder.
She began plucking on the harp, Dr. Westbrook joined in and they played a song.
Russell enjoyed the song immensely. He asked, "Reverie by DeBussy?"
They looked at each other in amazement.
Dr. Westbrook said, "There are, maybe, ten people in town who could recognize that piece. How'd you know?"
"I have it on record."
"Interesting."
"Yeah, none of my male friends know I like that fancy music so if you could keep that a secret I'd appreciate it."
Dr. Westbrook nodded. "Naturally.
"They all like ratty music or the traditional stuff. I like complex music; it prompts me to consider deeply my station in life."
Maude was touched by his eloquence. "Just looking at you, I would've never imagined you as a thinker. Now then, how much do you about removing the human appendix?"
Russell swished his mouth. "A little, I guess."
Maude replied, "Good. Arnold has to do an operation today, but, he might have more fun going to River City, so I'll let you cut open Mr. Floyd. Try not to leave a big scar."
Russell shrugged. "I'll do it; and instead of a scar I'll carve my initials in his belly."
Dr. Westbrook winked at Maude. "That would be a lot of fun." He sighed. "But, unfortunately, things like that are a wee bit against the law."
Everyone laughed.
"So, you want me to take the harp to River City to get it retuned?"
"You got it. I want you to take it to Rhodes Music on Vandenberg Street."
"That's a few blocks past the library?"
"Very good. I am also giving you an inventory of some medical supplies I want. That money will cover the supplies, the harp, train tickets to and from and your lunch. The harp should be ready on Friday."
"And that's all you want me to do this week?"
"Oh no, that's what you're doing today. Tomorrow and Wednesday and Thursday, you'll help out around the office. I need the attic cleaned and I need certain messes cleaned up during the day at the office. We open at 9 am and we close at 5 pm. So, believe me, you'll be busy, however, I am confident that you can handle the work and you will find it stimulating."
Russell smiled. "Folks usually don't say stuff like that to me."
Maude chimed in, "Then truly they are missing out."
Russell was humbly honored by the compliment. He walked over to the instrument and traced it with his hands. He examined the door.
"Dr. Westbrook? Do you have a dolly for Darla?"
Dr. Westbrook shrugged. "Darling?"
She shook her head, no. "You'll have to get one."
Russell thought for a moment. "I could borrow one from Jackson Brothers Hardware."
Maude nodded. "Alright. In the meantime, could you go downstairs to the basement to get the furnace going?"
"I'd be happy to."
Dr. Westbrook said, "Good. I'll show him where the coal is outside."
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"Mrs. Johnson?" Michael Conrad barked at his secretary with much irritation.
Mrs. Johnson tip-toed into the room and whispered, "She's finally here."
Alma Gumble slowly stepped into Michael Conrad's office. Mrs. Johnson left. 
He barely acknowledged her except to angrily say, "Close the door."
Michael finished writing his notes. He threw down the pen and drummed with his fingers. Alma started to sit in a chair.
"I want you to stand."
His eyes seemed to pierce like a dagger at the young lady in the light blue, frilly dress.
"On Wednesday of last week, I spoke to Mrs. Hall, your principal. She asked what time should my intern should be here; and I said, '9 am.' I saw her write it down. I know for a fact that she told you 9 am because my daughter mentioned to me on Friday that you were coming to work with me beginning at 9 am on Monday. Now then what does that clock behind me say?"
Alma rolled her eyes. "This is stupid. My mother made me come."
He wiped his mouth. "Ok, here's what's going to happen. Instead of me showing you how a financial institution operates I am going to have you scrub the floors with a brush and warm soapy water for a week. Perhaps then you will learn the difference between 9 and 10:36!"
Alma replied in a sassy tone, "My father is…."
"Young lady your father did not become wealthy by showing up over an hour and a half late on the first day of his first job. Arthur Gumble works for a living. If my daughter was ten minutes late to the Feed 'n Grain store and then mouthed off to the owner I would demand that she be fired!"
Alma huffed, "I don't have to take this."
"Young lady!"
Alma stuck her tongue out at him.
Michael gasped.
Everyone in the bank building could hear the glass and metal doors shaking as Alma slammed it shut. She marched down the hall with the churlish pomp of a peacock. Michael followed.
"You are not running away from your responsibility."
She out paced him and went out the front door.
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"Tommy, it's not about having a mandate from a burning bush. The key to being a man of God is to live every moment receptive to his Word. You must live in a state of constant reverence, ready to obey. Our Father knows what we need before we know it."
Tommy shook his head. "I don't understand that."
Sam shrugged. "I've been preaching before you were born, son, and I don't understand it.
Tommy, believe me. You are headed towards something extraordinary, young man, you've asked God for a sign and He will let you have one."
"When?"
"At the right time, He will make His will known to you."
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Russell was nervous. He wiped the sweat from his hands and carefully leaned back the dolly. At the first step, the harp shook. The strings seemed to play on their own as they vibrated. The second step was down with much caution. Russell adjusted his feet and leaned further into the harp. "Come on, easy, easy." The third step went without a hitch.
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Alma walked briskly down the street. Michael was relentless in his pursuit of her.
"You will not get away from me young lady."
She turned a sharp left and hooked around towards the town hall. She was heading towards her father's office but then she realized that her father would not be happy with the way she was quitting a job on the first day.
"Alma? Alma?"
She continued at a quick pace and then into a full run around the town hall.
Michael took off after her.
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Russell was beginning to realize why Mr. Jackson had asked him if he wanted a rope. If he'd tied the harp to the dolly it would be more stable.
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Tommy said to Sam, "I don't know if I have the patience to wait for the Lord. It all sounds so high and surreal."
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Michael yelled, "Alma? Don't run so fast you'll slip and hurt yourself."
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Russell's knees began shaking. His legs seemed to turn to jelly under the tremendous weight of the harp. In a terrible moment he lost his grip and fell to the side. The dolly rolled down the steps with increasing momentum. It smashed through the window.
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"What I mean, Preacher Sam, is I can look at you and see that you've already got things figured out but me, I don't know what's important."
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"Alma? Watch where you're going!"
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Crash!
The car Tommy was driving came to an immediate halt. The window shattered and filled Tommy's left cheek and Sam's right cheek with chards of glass. They both jerked forward as the tremendous pressure of the falling harp crushed the front of the car.
Alma froze. She could hardly breathe as she slowly came to the realization that the she'd slipped on the ice and the car was six inches from her.
Russell was terrified when he looked out on to the street and saw the girl lying on the ground so close to the crushed vehicle. "Oh no!"
Michael checked on Alma.
Nurse Westbrook ran up to Tommy. Dr. Westbrook ran up to Sam.
"Are you alright?"
Tommy dabbed some blood off of his cheek. "I guess. Except, my face hurts."
Sam nodded. "Yeah, mine too."
Tommy got out of the car, as did Sam. They went around to the hood.
Sam shrugged. "Oh, well, there went my car."
Tommy shook his head. "Yeah, that's crazy. I mean, I can't believe that I…." He stopped talking.
Michael Conrad was rubbing Alma's back. "Come on, catch you're breath. You'll be alright."
Tommy looked up and saw where the harp had fallen at just the right angle so it arched out into the street instead of the sidewalk. It'd stopped the car dead in its tracks and saved Alma. Tommy looked at her; he didn't know what to say.
Alma was shaking. "C-c-c-c-can I go work in the bank?"
Michael smiled at her. "Sure."
They walked off.
Sam plucked a couple of strings. "A harp from heaven that saved the life of a little girl- Tommy, I'd say that was a sign."
He sighed. "Yeah, that's what it is alright."
Russell ran out the door of the clinic he hugged Tommy.
"Don't worry about it Russell, it was an accident."
Sarah and Julius ran over to the crash scene.
Julius said, "What happened?"
Sam shrugged. "A miracle."
Sam and Tommy went with the Westbrooks to the clinic.
Russell spoke up. "Dr. Westbrook wanted me to take this harp to River City to get it retuned and I…." He froze and began searching his pockets. He turned white as a ghost.
"Oh no, the money's gone!"
"What money?"
"They gave me a whole lot of money in an envelope to buy a train ticket, get medical supplies and my lunch. I had it in my back pocket."
Julius said, "Slow down, slow down."
Sarah nodded to him. "Russell, where's the last place you know you had the money?"
"Um… let me think. About 10 minutes ago when I was at the hardware store."
"Let's go there right now."
Sarah, Russell and Julius ran down the street to the hardware store.
The bell tinkled when they stepped into the store.
"Mr. Jackson, did you find an envelope this morning?"
He shook his head, no.
Russell stomped his feet and spun around in a panic.
Julius said, "Maynard, did you see an envelope this morning?"
"Yup. Russell asked me if he could rent a dolly. He pulled out an envelope from his trousers. I told him if he'd bring it right back I wouldn't charge him any thing."
"Did you see him return the envelope to the pocket?"
"Yup."
Maynard turned to Russell. "Did you two get the harp moved?"
Russell cocked his head. "'You two?' Mr. Jackson I wasn't working with anyone."
He swished his mouth. "I thought the other fellow was helping you. He stayed behind you the entire time."
Sarah spoke up. "Sir, what did the other man look like?"
Maynard Jackson shrugged. "He had red hair and a slight mustache." 
Julius looked at the clock on the wall. It was 10:55 am.
"Come on Maynard, tell me something else, anything!"
He sighed. "Well, I didn't know him. He walked in the store and seemed to be looking around at various things. Oh… oh yeah, he wore a brown cowboy hat."
Julius ran through the door. He took off toward the train depot at top speed.
When Julius arrived the conductor said, "One minute till boarding."
A group of people milled around the platform. None of them had a brown cowboy hat, although a certain man had a thin mustache.
Julius ran to the window.
He whispered, "Pete? Max? Did anyone pay for a ticket with a wad of cash from an envelope?"
Pete said, "Yeah. One fellow did." He pointed at him.
The man saw Pete's point. He jumped off the platform and took off running over the tracks.
Julius ran after him.
They raced past the water tower into an open field.
A horse and rider went ahead of them. The rider turned around and pointed a rifle at the thief.
"Reach for the sky" said Sarah with much authority.
The man grimaced and held up his hands.
"Neat! I always wanted to say that!"
Julius grabbed him and slapped on the cuffs.
He did a quick search of the man. Julius smiled.
"Sarah, take this envelope back to Russell. I got things from here."
"Will do, constable." Sarah took the envelope and put it in her coat.
"Oh, by the way, if Butch Thompson says someone stole his horse from outside the barber shop… it was me."
Julius chuckled, "Nice work, Sarah, nice work."
Sarah winked at him and headed back to the barber shop.
