Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-10-13
INTO HIS HANDS.


lobe of his ear nervously, ard frowned
He was somewhat surprised to see a man
of such evident good breeding giving way
to such vulgar demonstration of emo
ton. Nevertheless, he was touched by
its palpable sincerity and depth.
Il don't say the case is entirely with
out hope, and you must pardon me if |
have spoken out somewhat bluntly to
you as man to man." he said, his ewes
hospital AN operation might save her
if performed Immediately. But it is a
desperate sort of operation, and so liable
to fail that I-I-well, | couldn't con
scientiously advise it if there were any
thing else that could be done"
| The younger man hesitated, turning
this way and that, in the throes of anxi-
| ETY. and indecision. Suddenly he wheeled
round and faced the surgeon.
'Will you give me your professional
word of honor, and in the name of all
those you hold most dear, that it is abso-
lutely the only thing to be done" he
asked eagerly. in a hoarse voice.
My dear sir" responded the surgeon,
coldly, Il have not been playing on your
atiection-your natural affection for
your wife. We do not say things in this
hospital we do not mean. | repeat that
nothing but an exceedingly dangerous
operation can save the lady's life, and
while it may save her. it may-not.
cannot put 1t more clearly and certainly
than that. From a professional point of
view the situation is so hopeless that it
| must rest entirely with you to decide
whether the operation shall be attempted.
But you must decide promptly, for"
Il say yesi Yes; let us attempt any
thing that offers a shadow of hope!"
III telephone to Mr.. Brinton, then.
He's probably at home at this late hour"
said the surgeon, rising quickly and going
to the instrument "There1l be no diff
ticulty about his fee, of course?"
"Brinton?" cried Washington, starting
after him as if to detain him. Good
heaven! Not Kennedy Brinton?"
The same, sir-Kennedy Brinton; the
only man who would dare to undertake
this operation" answered the surgeon,
too preoccupied to at once detect the
| others sudden alarm.
"Impossible-oh, impossible" muir
INJURED the younger man, dropping weakly
into chair and laying his white face in
his tremblind hands.
What's impossible my dear sir?" in
quiYed the surgeon. turning away from
the instrument while the exchange put
him through to the famous young sur
geon whose wonderful daring and skill
| had raised him above the heads of most
of his seniors.
Ring him off," cried Mr.. Wadding-
ton desperately. Its impossible. "She
| is"
He checked himself and his eyes
seemed to look through the calm and
courtly surgeon.
Now what is it to be? Please make
up your mind" said the latter as the bell
| rang
Don't mention the name of Wadding-
ton" he said sharply.
| The surgeon nodded and continued
| speaking into the receiver moment
later he hung it up.
That's all right" he said, with his
brisk professional manner "He will
come down at once. viii you remain
here, or call again, to see how the mat
ter goes? Personally ! should advise you
not to remain-you're not equal to the
strain. Come back between midnight
| and -
Would it be possible to hide her face
from him until he has operated?" asked
Waddington, anxiously, speaking slowly,
in distant way
Hide her face - repeated the surgeon
with keen glance of wonder. Fiddle
sticks, my dear sir! Really, don't know
Il don't want to know-what are your
reasons. Heavens, You don't think he'll
trouble to fall in love with her while her
very life lies at the point of his knife q"
But her life may depend on his not
knowing who she is until after the oper-
ation,' urged Washington, becoming an
| CRY in despair.
The surgeon looked at him coldly. cal
culatingly, for n moment.
1T shall be As you WISH" he answered
at last. Il have as little reason to refuse
your request as you have to make it. l
may say it is not at all unusual to cover
a subjects face during an operation. You
must excuse me if / leave you to find
Your own way out; | have to make the
necessary arrangements
Thank YOU" said Washington. faint
ly, as he picked up his hat Il will re-
turn IN about an hour"
II.
\ strong odor of antiseptics pervaded
the air Of the brilliantly illuminated opcr-
atng room, and low kissing sound rose
from the bright metal vessel at which the
white oproned dresser, with his shirt
sleeves turned up above his elbewsr-was
engaged.
As the anesthetist stepped back from
the patient the resident surgeon threw a
white cloth over her beautiful white face
and the door opened and Kennedy Brin-
ton entered the room.
Stopping abruptly at the foot of the
operating table, he whispered a few hur-
RED words to the dresser; then turning.
smiled at the anesthetist. with his eve
hrows raised questionsbly 1t was a
smile of singular sweetness and gentle.
ness.
Excellent" murmured the anesthetist,
his fingers on the patients pulse. "She
4 y