Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-06-20
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS!
! A HOSPITAL |
INCIDENT
By MARY ROBERTS RIKEHART
By MARY ROBERTS RINEHART
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)

|
of brown sugar. and giving the oil
cloth-covered table a 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, the inevitable turning down
of the light
Willie Madden loitered for mo-
| ment in the pantry, finishing 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 a basin of
hot water, substitute mothers for as
| many waiting inrants.
Willie Madden, autocrat of the
ward, sat down on the side of his
small bed and leaned his crutch
against chair, his broken leg ex-
tended stiffly before him.
Willie Madden was not sleepy.
Nice hour to go to bed he grumbled
to boy on the other side. "Six
o'clock amt no bedtime. Last edi-
TONS just out"
ut amt so bad when you can walk
around and get tired" said the next
boy, who wore plaster cast around
his small body, and whose legs and
arms tossed restlessly. II guess
won't never be tired again. I'm goin'
to sit up next week, though"
Willie Madden debated for mo-
it 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 a 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 goodnight to the chill
dren.
The boy cautiously crept out Of
bed and reached for his crutches. 1t
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 a 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 its 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 a spare gesture he picked
from the nurses table the little wick
er basket which carried empty bottles
to the pharmacy to be rafilled, and
carried 1t to his bed.
His next proceeding was curious.
From under his mattress he produced
an orange, somewhat fattened from
Its place of concealment, and ball of
cord, much knotted and of every
shade and thickness. In 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. 4
"Gettin' a drink" he answered men.
daciously.
He watched her out Of sight, then
slipped to the window and unlocked
the screen. "Hst!" he called into the
darkness.
"Hst!" came sibilantly from be.
low.
The basket disappeared over the
window ledge. It swung slowly down
into the void, it's progress marked by
the various hues Of the cord, until at
a knot Of lavender and green the con.
spirator stopped. The cord jerked for
a moment-the nibbling of a hungry
fish at the bait. Then the basket