Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-13

you to do the operation he has on for
| 10 o'clock"
The surgeon removed his foot from
the carriage step and turned around.
II don't know anything about the
case. Where is Arnold?"
Hes had an accident and can't
come"
The doctor meditated a minute or
two, then went back up the hospital
steps.
A few minutes later the surgeon. in
clinic uniform, entered the opera ting
room.
A door swung open,- there was
strong odor of ether, and two orderiies
carried in a woman on a stretcher.
The anaesthetist kept the cap over her
face as they lifted her to the table.
As Severn began to operate he laid
his fingers for an instant on her wrist,
then made the incision for straight
laparotomy. In his movements there
was no haste.
IT have my doubts about this case"
he said coolly as the flesh parted I'M
der his steady blade.
The assistant noticed puzzled look
on the surgeons face as he hesitated
in selecting an instrument hush
fell, for he was feeling his way eau
tiously.
The patients breathing was slow and
labored, and the sides of her emaciated
body quivered with each respiration.
Let up on the ether" DR.. Severn
commanded.
Silently he picked instrument after
instrument from the tray offered him.
The work began in earnest-slow,
cautious work-till the Precipitation
stood in great drops on the surgeons
forehead, and the clinic nurse had a
white line around her mouth.
Then suddenly, as If the silence were
a loud report, they perceived that the
geon spoke one word:
"AiI3"
A nurse opened the window, the
anaesthetist laid aside the cap, and.
without letting go the Hgament he was
tying, the surgeon rested his eyes upon
the still face.
Slowly the patient inhaled the fresh
air, and then, by some freak for which
there is no accounting. she opened her
eyes, looking full at the surgeon, who.
with q look of horror that turned his
face ashen and drew dark circles m
derneath his eyes. looked at her.
In fash the anaesthetist put the cap
back and sprinkled ether. but the sur
geon stood as IL frozen.
A dark eyed nurse who had been
standing apart with bandages stepped
softly to DR.. Severn's side and, holding
a glass to his lips, said:
'Drinkp'
When the operation was finished and
the orderlies came to carry the patient
back to her room the surgeon brushed
them aside and lifted her on to the
stretcher. AS he stood after they had
gone his assistant said:
IT thought you were going TO funk.
Did you tumble that artery badly?"
What artery?"
He hastily removed his linen coat
and left the room.
Along the corridor of private rooms
he met Miss Ashton, the head nurse.
"How is No. 20?" he asked.
Coming out all right, DOCTOR"
as any one watching her?"
81 have just come from there. She
is quiet"
IT want to watch. It is critical |
case" he said as he entered room
No. 20.
On the high cot the patient lay. |
breathing painfully, moaning from time |
to time and muttering tncoherently.
The surgeon sat down beside her.
holding one wrist lightly. shading his
eyes with his other hand. At two
Miss Ashton came in.
Don't you want some lunch. DR..
Severn" she asked.
He reused himself.
perhaps I do" he replied. But
don't want this patient left alone. Has
she special nurse?'
mo-
.'Then can you spare that little dark
nurse who was in the operating
room?"
Miss Ashton rang her bell.
ASK to have Mrs. Howell sent up to
take charge of No. 90" she said to the
office boy.
AS they crossed the court to the
nurses dining hall Miss Ashton noticed
the drawn look on the doctors face.
When he got back the nurse was
bathing the patients face. When she
went out he opened the blinds and
studied every feature.
That night he rested on a sofa in
he end of the corridor. Toward morn
ng he heard two nurses chatting.
DIR. Severn is asleep on the sofa by
he sun ROOM" one said. You know
he did Arnold's op. today. They say
{ was a hard one. and he's afraid she's
going to die; then Arnold II have one
IN him."
Good. hope she will. i like DR..
Arnold"
With feeling OF sickness the doctor
rot up and went back to No. 20.
The cool gray OF early dawn was
ust merging Into pink and the wind 4
rom the lake blew in at the open |