New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-18

hack back forever away from pitching sinking desks
and somcrsauting proofs with only the tired urea
stars
The clammv tricklc Of ice water down her back
brought a sharp prodding reminder
~TLc Furniture Sale starts Monday forty nine
mahogany and wcathcrcdoab Specials The Adyer-
,.ing Manager raised both hands to her choking collar
ooh can't be sick can't, can't II must be, let
mo wait till Monday. But not today, possibly
Those Specials, She thrust out one foot and wnggled
= ,n,bitiouslv "Scc | can stand perfectly well. Let
me show you
Then a sharp icnd Of pain swoopcd her up IN gasp
n great sickcnng circle whlrlcd as the nurse arms
closed Through an iron gate that scrccchcd ana
pnashcd and crunchcd in aching Jerks, they dropped
down down TO bottomlcss depths to meet the stars
were raised again high aoft by strong arms another
pillow thcrc-and. unprotcsting now, the Advertising
Manager was lifted into a cab.
ANYONE who should be told:' \ nervous higl-
n pitchcd voice was rasping outside her door, when
she oncncd her ewes to find herself suddenly and miracu-
lou.ly inside the Bagdad bed How many voices were
thcrc.-chillng with apprehension or pncklmg with
mild excitement or hcctoring with solemn dispute;
~\ot that wouldn't work my fingers to the bone, one
lust ready to snap cracking, out have my guests
10 consider And quite right too, a second was
warmly approving 81 always dd say IL was nc.
I'll want to be taken there right away -" Me too'
agreed third "Thcrc's no knowing Now, I've
heard" The voices sank to the crccpest depths OF
the Cave Of Whispers.
The Patient sat up in dumb alarm. Were they going
10 tear her from home, Not the hooking impossible
Other Womcns kind Of Home. Of course, but the nome
Of q Morris chair and green shade ana baGdad
.ou.hand Robert Louis the Hat-home that one alone
may make in a tiny room and windowbox Even by
fine bleak mathematics Of the Sckbel Half home IS
infinitely better than the cammy errors Of hospital.
The Patient clutchcd the graysh white OF the spread
beneath the Bagdad cover with grim desperation her
eve, strained wide with dread
Then a firm. quick tread Of feet up the creaNmg
stairs. Of eager wanted feet leaplng them three at
bound; an angry explosion Of profanity; scattering
,r,,ir,lur as Of chickens scuttling before storm
The Patient stretched out her arms and laughed aloud
"a JOYOUS weak little laugh Of utter peace and secur-
i-v. 30 one but Dr. Ridgelcy could swear like that.
But was the last laugh heard for many days in the
narrow little room: for the Advertising Manager was
,icl-not stay-at-home-a-day, Atantlc-Cltylor-a-
week. trip-to- Bermuda sick, but how-ong-can-We-
manage, Observation-Disclosures sick: SO SICK that
moving was out Of the question: SICK there were
,1ufed nlattings up and down the creaking stairs,
and a dircful sign "Pease don't disturb that brought
hastily tiptoed steps and low scpulchral mutterngs;
though it would have taken more than a whole
citvfu Of crashing troleys now to rouse the bright
head tossing hot and dry or dropping Imply back
ON the pillow. while to pair Of eyes at least the
tense face looked whiting white rose, the mouth
scarlet silk bowlnot twisted into grotesquc loops OF
pan-so sick that the Starched Lady stared ncredu-
lously at the record OF the little thermometer Any
medical authority could tell you that no fever could
mount 50 high; and the doctors jaws set like steel
traps as he sat in grim, gray vigil to dawn blind to ALL
deaf to ALL but the faint flicker OF pulse and the low
means from the pillow.
And so February stopped and drippcd and froze and
rclcnted outside and February Furniture played its
lead and must soon step aside for March Ma'tings,
while proofs were checked and caught or lost and
papers went to press day after day But the Adver-
Using Manager knew 1t not.