Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-11-12
DAILY SHORT STORY
The Trained Nurses Story
GOriginal.l

ed nurse and never took DuJ one case I:
will tell you. A few days after re-
ceiving my diploma 1 was at the hos
pital from which / had been graduat-
ed. While there a sudden call came
for nurse. None of the regular nurses
could be spared, but the inquirer was
Informed that recent graduate who
| had yet to take her first case was ready
to respond. The parties were obliged
to be satisfied with this, and was en-
gagged.
l found my patient surrounded by
every luxury. A venerable lady re-
ceived me and told me that her son
was to be nursed through a case of fe-
yer. Upon going into the sick room L
saw a man apparently about forty
whose case had just been diagnosed as
one of typhoid. AS 1 was in uniform,
1 had only to begin my watch.
Ny patient never complained, no mat
ter how he suffered, and at the slight
est approach of relief would make light
of his condition, which, knew well,
was very serious. 1 made several mis-
takes. one of which was apparent TO
the sufferer and resulted seriously to
him. Nevertheless he prevented the
doctor from knowing that l was the
cause. sending me away when he next
called and explaining his condition in
his own way.
But this is not the story. One night
when he was passing the crisis l step
NNI s,,H@ al
and o'clock. 1 was surprised to find
that the light always kept there was
not burning. While l was wondering
at this Il bright light shone full in my
face, and masked man behind it
came toward me. 1 thought only of
my patient, who, the doctor had as,
sured me, was lowering between life
and death and could bear no shock.
Two frights cannot occupy the mind at
the same moment. AT any rate. 1
stepped forward to meet him, putting
my finger TO my lips.
There's a man near to death in that
rOom," l whispered, pointing. Go
downstairs, and I'll help you all can"
The man motioned for me to go
downstairs before him, then followed
me to the library below. When we
reached it found the gas burning and,
turning to the man. saw him clutching
a revolver, which was pointed directly
at me.
Turn over the plate" he said, "and
I'll git out, but l warn you if you play
any game you're dead woman
Now, the plate had always been tax
en- at night to the room occupied by my
patient. 1 would have discontinued the
practice. but he would not permit. and
it was there now. 1 told the burglar
that. being a stranger in the house. 1
could only help him find it and began
a pretended search, when he stopped
me, telling me that the silver was al
ways taken upstairs. and Their 1
should go and get it or he would seek
for it In the sick room.
What could l do? l promised to go
and get it for him while he watched
me from the landing. What position!
l was obliged to steal the plate, and If
the patient saw me he might believe
himself In the hands Of a thief. Never
theless I went into the room. leaving
the door open, as directed, to bring the
plate. My patient seemed to be in a
dOze. opened the closet door in which
it was kept, keeping my eyes fixed on
the sleeper, If he was not rather in
coma than asleep. The plate was kept
in n large morocco covered box, and
1 took it out and was midway between
the closet and the door when he opened
his eyes and looked straight at me.
That was the moment Of supreme ter
rOr of my life.
what are you doingT' he asked
feebly
Il need few articles in this box" 1
said. Il will take them out downstairs
and bring it back
There must have been a guilty look
on my face rather than 4 frightened
one, for he looked at me with as severe
expression as his condition would ad-
NIT, then. with groan, turned his face
away. There was moth Q for me to do
but to carry the box the burglar.
He transferred its contents to bag he
carried, then. opening a closet, told me
to go into it. In vain 1 begged to be
permitted to go back to my patient.
assuring the man that without my care
he might die before morning All in
vain. The brute declared that he would
not trust me lest 1 give an alarm and
thrust me in the closet.
What l endured there till l heard the
butler setting the table for breakfast
no one but myself knows, and 1 could
never transfer the experience to an
other. When l was let out the servant
started back as if lie had seen a ghost
There was a mirror in the buffet, and
as came before it 1 stood wondering
whose was the reflection in it with fea-
lures not unlike mine and hair white
as snow.
1 had presence of mind to telephone
for nurse, then told the butler to go
10 the patients room and see if he
were alive. He did so and came back
to say that his master wanted me to
come to him. 1 waited till the nurse
came and sent her in to him to say
that l had been worn out with watch
ing and was resting.