The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1907-07-06
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| A HOSPITAL.
INCIDENT
ByAARY ROBERTS R1NEHAR1
By MARY RoBfRrs R1NEHARr~ )
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)

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Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
Willie Madden picked up the bowl
of brown sugar, and giving the oil
cloth-covered table wipe with the
sleeve of his jacket, hobbled into the
pantry.
The pantry was empty Miss Ar.
thurs, the nurse, was busy back in
the ward, turning down small beds
for. smaller ~ occupants, \ hunting out
"nighties" for the babies, changing hot
pillows for: cool Ones, and providing
that final drink Of water which is for.
ever associated with bedtime, and
which helps to postpone, if only for a
moment, tie inevitable turning down
of the light. a
Willie Madden loitered for mo-
ment in the pantry, finishing a bowl
of bread and milk which he found
there, and filling his pockets with
Jumps from the sugar bowl. Then he
limped back again. The ward was
growing quiet now. Over in corner
behind screen, the ''Hunkie" baby
was getting it's bran bath, while on
the red-covered center table three
nursing bottles reposed in basin of
hot water, substitute mothers for as
many waiting infants.
Willie Madden, autocrat of the
ward, sat down on the side of his
small bed and leaned his crutch
against a chair, his broken leg ex-
tended stifay before him.
Willie Madden was not sleepy.
mice hour to go to bed," he >grumbled
to boy on the other side, "Six
O'Clock amt no bedtime. Last edi-
tons just out" o
1T amt so bad when you can walk
around and get tired" said the next
boy, who wore a plaster cast around
his small body, and whose legs and
arms tossed restlessly. II guess I
won't never be tired again. I'm goin'
to sit up next week, though
Willie Madden debated for mo-
1t eagerly, holding it in his thin fin
ment. Then he reached for his trous.
ers and fumbled in the pockets.
Here" he said, carelessly tossing
over lump of sugar, take that to
make you feel better"
The boy in the plaster jacket took
gers and nibbling at it to make it
last. Miss Arthurs gave the last dose
of medicine, and locking the cupboard
went YEARLY out, her keys jingling
in her hand. A moment later the
night nurse stopped at the door, her
rubber-heeled shoes making no sound,
and smiled a goodnight to the chill
dren. S..
The boy cautiously crept out OF
bed and reached for his crutches. It
was evident that some dark conspir-
,acy was on foot, for he limped noise
lessly to the corridor and looked
carefully up and down. There was
no one in sight, and save for strong
odor of turpentine in the air and an
occasional stifled cough from the next
ward, there was no evidence of life.
Willie Madden's. next motions, were
mysterious. He crept over to the pan
try, with it's rows of locked cupboard
and refrigerator doors. Some one
came quickly down the hall, and the
boy slipped behind door and stood
quiet, his heart humping in his ears.
The steps passed on and again every
thing was quiet Willie Madden
emerged from his hiding place, and
STOPPING with difficulty, his splinted
leg out before him, he CROPPED under
the long red table-cover which reached
almost to the floor.
When he Strengthened again he held
in his hand three large, thick slices
of bread plentifully sprinkled with
brown sugar, which he proceeded to
button inside his jacket. Still with the
same caution he went back to the
ward. There was no vacillation in
his movements. An observer. had
there been one, would have seen es.
tablished routine in his actions, for
without spare gesture he picked
from the nurses table the little wick.
er basket which carried empty bottles
to the pharmacy to be retilled, and
carried it to his bed.
His next proceeding was curious
From under his mattress he produced
an orange, somewhat fiattened from
it's place of concealment.s and ball OF
cord, much knotted and of every
shade and thickness =; In a moment
he had fastened the string to the han
die of the basket, had dumped in the
sugared bread and the orange, and
was ready for the last act in the
drama.
The night nurse came along the
corridor and stopped at the door
Whats wrong, William she called
softly.
"Gettin' drink" he answered men
daciously.
He watched her out Of sight, the1
slipped to the window and unlocked
the screen. "Hst!" he called into the
darkness.
':Hst!' came sibilantly from be
low.
The basket disappeared over thu
window ledge. It swung slowly dow1
into the void, its progress marked b,
the various hues of the cord, until a
knot of lavender and green the con
spirator stopped. The cord jerked To-
moment-the nibbling of a hungr,
fish at the bait. Then the baske
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