The San Francisco call., 1909-11-28

a thing were possible. I forgot all
about the man and he did not come
again into the room. In her delirium
the woman shrieked and wept the
whole story into my ears as she lived
the whole pitiful thing over again
tried to pray for her. but could not get
her quiet enough to listen to me- I
that time. but If he could have heard
her, surely even his heart would have
been touched. The fever and all the
bad symptoms came back and they kept
telling me at DR.. IS house that he
might be in at ,any minute and that
they would send him right around. l
old no. know whether was doing right
in not calling in another physician:
had suddenly forgotten everything l
had ever learned. All my years train
ing dropped away from me and the
only thought in my mind was that this
poor soul was about to die in her sins.
Then the woman began calling Tom
Tomr which brought back the exist
S4lCc OA the man AA1Q DCCAA ceAAAAH5 ~-A-
ugly brute. I,did not dare to let him
into the room, for 1 knew the presence
of this poor thing was no protection
Furthermore 1 knew he might excite
her still more and that the sight of
him would bring up the tragedy of her
life still more vividly. 1 didn't know
what to do. 1 must have been half
dazed. 1t didn't occur to me to try
to call priest to come between me and
this horrible death struggle. At last
I could stand it no longer and went
to the door to call the man. He was
standing there just over the sill, wait
ing.
Isn't she dead yetY' he asked.
I don't know what said or did
had a feeling that these two SHINING
souls ought to be brought face to face
with each other once more before the
woman went to her account.
mo, / won't; no. no, MOI" the man
whimpered and drew back. 'It can't
last much longer. You go ahead and
tell me when it is all over" He began
to blubber with blue funk and to back
off toward the stairway. you go
ahead and stay with her until it is
over and then call me; don't you see 1
can't stand it?" He put his fingers in
his eyes like a child crying in the dark
and sat down on the top stair shiver-
ing with fright.
The last struggle was short. for
which I thanked God on my knees. 1t
was about 2 o'clock in the morning.
When 1 had done what there was TO
do for the poor soul left her. half
dead myself from fear and fatigue.
The little hall room I had been given
to put my suitcase in had cot in it, I
remembered gratefully, so as I could
not leave that accursed house at that
hour in the morning. 1 slipped down
the hall to my room.
To my horror there was no key IN
the lock I might have expected this
If had given it a thought. but the dis
appointment turned me sick, for if I
could have thrown myself down and
given UP ITO my feelings would not
nave CdICu 1Ol lew AOUIS W4NClLClf
the world went round or not. 1 made
as good a barricade as 1 could with the
cot and several chairs, bracing them
against the opposite wall. and then
sat down in cramped position for
fear 1 might lose consciousness. to see
what would come next.
I don't know how long waited be-
fore l heard footsteps coming down the
hall. The steps stopped at my door.
and, without saying a word that man
turned the knob. My barricade was
not strong. but threw myself against
1t to add the force of my own weight.
did not speak and neither did he. but
felt him putting his full strength
against the door.
When he found he could not open It
he gave up and went away. but. al
though every inch of me was aching,
I was afraid to relax my vigilance an
instant 1t was not long before he
came walking quickly down the hall
and. stopping half way, called out to
me: Doctor - has come and wants
a report of the case"
This had been my one hope all along.