The Washington herald., 1915-10-10
DAILY SHORT STORY.
BRUNETTE PREFERRED.
ny HOPE AINSLIE,

| II not any question OF sentiment AT
all, the doctor said with dignity, "A
brunette IL more reliable and stable in
disposition. Nelson; that it ALL A blond
Is predisposed to superficiality. She II
| liable to be selfish. A brunette may be
| Jealous. but she makes a better nurse.
assure YOU. Here We can't afford to
take even 50 slight a chance. I want
a girl who can take hold of D cottage
and handle it Put brunette preferred
| in the ad. and I'll pick her out when
! they begin to arrive
| Nelson drew a sigh and typed the ad
to catch the mail He occupied several
positions at the works. Assistant super
| intendent was one. also general CORES
| pondence manager and first aid to the
| injured hustler when any accidents hap
pened. That day two of the brass pour
ers had got into a fight Just at l. and
| stopped their ladies' over each other. The
doctor had rebelled and demanded a reg
ular nurse from the city to help him
down in the little stuffy hospital behind
the pattern room. Three days later. even
| while answers by mail were piling up for
him to select from. the down train from
Beauchamp left a young woman on the
platform. and after one quick survey of
| the barren landscape she headed for
| the low brick factory building down near
| the river.
She's got red hair. doc" Nelson an
nounced gently. as he hunted up the doc
tor and told him OF his visitor.
She had. Undeniably red. Dressed In
dark blue serge. with the perkiest kind
of a tricorne white felt hat on her curly
red hair. and her hazel eyes brimful OF
determination. she overcame the doctors
aversion and got the position.
And she wore. later on. when she ap-
peared in her uniform. the most coquet-
tish sort of white lawn cap. 1t was a
sort of double frill. caught. in the mid
die. that gave her the appearance Of
disdainfui young white peacock. She
come to the office. Nelson heard her
humming to herself all the way along
the corridor.
Now. even Nelson was aware that he
was not an ordinary looking young per-
son. Six feet two, weighing in at about
16o. was not So bad. He had rowed in
the varsity winning crew and was
nephew to old Rathburn. the owner Of the
Rathburn Malleable Iron Works. 1t had
been his idea and suggestion to take the
hospital department out Of the buildings
and build a decent cottage out at the
end Of the yards, where accident cases
could be handled.
DR.. O'Farrell had backed him up While
he held his own pracice in the small
manufacturing town he was under con-
tract to the works to patch up the ac-
cident cases. Sometimes a week went by
without any. Sometimes. il work were
rushing and tho weather very hot. tho
men seemed to catch the contagion Of
thought worry and become quarrelsome
among themselves. A rush contract
tage.
Louise Hall was her nan,e She came
from Northern New York. Nelson found
that much out the day the big belt
caught at her dress skirt as she passed
its lower shaft. and he pulled her away.
Don't use this passageway." he told
her sternly. ''One of our boys was
caught here and landed up against the
wall yonder."
You ought to have the belt protected"
She answered coolly. Whereupon. think
ing it over. Nelson went to his uncle and
had the belt protected So In one way
and another she introduced better and
more careful system into the works. Life
was a precious thing she taught even
the doctor. while he simled and wished
her hair were few shades darker. Red
hair was sign Of q preponderance Of
executive ability he told Nelson on the
quiet Still she was doing better than
he had expected. Then came the day
when Big kalmuck. the foreman over In
the gray iron division, tumbled over with
the heat and when he ca4lae to attacked
the doctor.
There was no one In the hospital cot
tage when it happened but the nurse and
couple Of patients. but somehow q
cone soaked in chloroform was pressed
over Kalmuck's nose from behind. and
he dropped in a quiet. innocent heap at
the doctors feet.
Rv the fip,e NeIson answ>ra6 Nj.
Halls phone call the doctor had slip
ped down beside him, protesting tina. he
was not hurt. but Kalmuck's knife still
remained neatly plugged between his ribs
and he became a patient at the cottage
under the company's care.
1t was the end Of the first week that
Nelson asked her to be his wife. He
had been over every few hours to help
with the care Of O'Farrel. and had
as well as the local man. but they all
knew it was the care Of the red-haired
nurse that was saving his life.
1t was along about 9. and Nelson was
saying goodnight. Tho door into the
little side room was ajar. but the doc
tor had been sleeping, and she stepped
out for q glass Of fresh water. There
Nelson held her hands in his. and the
glass was forgotten while he told her
all Sn0 n60 Oeeu 10 MIN ever since SnS
had first come. And the tears came into
her eyes as she listened to the boy. but
she shook her head.
I'm sorry, Nelson. I know It should
be you, but 1t isn't You're everything
that a man should be to win q girl. but
that cross. self-opinionated, fault-findins
irritable creature yonder'-brought out
each word between her teeth. and each
one had a nod from the white frill cap
hes the man like best. and heaven
only knows why. ! can't bear myself
for even thinking Of him twice, but I've
helped save his life, and some way this
tangie has come out Of It all Forgive
me, won't you? I wish I could"
After Nelson had gone she stepped
back into tho ROOM and he doctors
eyes were open watching her.
Il heard every word you said" he
told her. q bit brusquely. you should
not have refused Nelson. He's a fine
fellow and will inherit money"
IT'S time for your powder" she An
swered with professional indifference.
II prefer a brunette" the doctor
went on thoughtfully. but with
twinkle in his eyes
IT'S absolutely immaterial ID me.
DR.. O'Farren. what you prefer. shall
nnish my case and my agreement with
the company and then 20 back East"
But I had no idea how interesting
and delightfully."- entertaining q REQ
haired girl could be-" continued the
doctor. I've been rebelling against
, growing interest In you ever since