The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-07-06
FORCED TO ROB
HER PATIENT
Strange Experience of a
Trained Nurse.

celving my diploma | was at the hos.
pital from w..ch bad been graGuat-
ed. While there sudlen call came
for nurse None OF the regular nurses
could be spared. hut the inquirer was
informed that recent graduate who
had yet to take her first case was ready
to respond.
| found my patient surrounded by
every luxury. \ venerable lady re.
ceived me ana told me that her son
was to be n@rsCd through Il ease Of fe.
yer. Upon going into the siclroom
saw Il man apparently about forty
whose case had just been diagnosed ns
one OF typhoid.
My patient never complained. no mat.
ter how he suffered. and at the slight,
est approach of relief he would make
light of his condition. which knew
well was very serious made several
mistakes, one Of which was apparent
to the sufferer and resulted seriously
to him. Nevertheless lie prevented the
doctor from knowing that / was the
cause. sending mc away when he next
called and explaining his condition in
his own way
But this is not the story. One night
when he was passing the crisis | step
ped into the hall. 1t was between
and o'clock. was surprised to find
that the light always kept there was
not burning While yls wondering
at this a bright light shone full in my
face, and masked man behind it
came toward me. | thought only of
my patient, who the doctor had as
sufed me was lowering between life
and death and could bear no shock.
Two frights cannot occupy the mind at
the same moment. At any rate, l step.
ped forward to meet him, putting my
finger to my lips.
There's man near to death in thai
room," | whispered. pointing GO
downstairs, and III help you all can"
The man motioned for me to go
downstairs before him, then followed
me to the library below. When we
reached it found the gas burning and
turning to the man, saw him clutching
a revolver. which was pointed directly
at me.
'.Tnrn nVer tie pia atesii' he said .and
I'll git our. bur ! warn you il y0t. play
any game you're dead woman"
Now, the plate had always been TAX
en- at night TO the room occupied by my
patient | would have discontinued the
practice, but he would not permit, and
it was there now. told the burglar
that. being Il stranger in the house, |
could only help him find it and began
a pretended search, when he stopped
me- telling me that the silver was al
ways taken upstairs. and either
should go and get it or he would seel;
for it in the sickroOm.
What could | do? | promised to go
and get it for him while he watched
me from the landing. What position,
l was obliged to steal the plate. and if
the patient saw me he might believ"
himself in the hands of a thief. Never
theless | went into the room. leavin"
the door open. as directed, to bring the
plate. My patient seemed to be in
doze. u opened the closet door in which
1t was kept. keeping my eyes fixed on
the sleeper. if he was not rather in "
coma than asleep. The plate was KEEP
in large morocco covered box. and !
took it out and was midway between
the closet and the door when he opened
his eyes and looked straight at me
That was the moment of supreme ter
rOr Of my life
What are you doing?" he asked
feebly.
~ need IL few articles in this box" l
said. 81 will take them out downstairs
and bring it back.
There must have been a guilty look
on my face rather than a frightened
one, for he looked at me with as severe
an expression as his condition would ad
nit, then, with groan, turned his face
away. There was nothing for me to d"
but to carry the box TO tie burglar
He transferred its contents to bag Ii
carried. then, opening IL closet. told me
to 90 into it. In vain begged to be
permitted to go back to my patient
assuring the man that without my caro-
he might die before morning. All il
vain. The brute declared that he would
not trust me lest give an alarm and
thrust me in the closet.
What | endured there till heard the
butler setting the table for breakfast
no one but myself knows, and could
never transfer the experience to an
other. When was let out the servant
started back as if he had seen ghost
There was &. mirror in the buffet, and
as l came before it | stood wondering
whose was the reflection in it with fea.
lures not unlike mine and hair white
as snow.
l had presence of mind to telephone
for a nurse. then told the butler to GO
to the patients room and see if be
were alive. He did so and came back
to say that his master wanted me to
come to him. l waited till the nurse
came and sent her in to him to say
that had been worn out with watch
ing and was resting.
When saw my patient again he
was convalescent. He had been pre-
pared for everything, but when he saw
my white hair he groaned.
You have saved my life," he said
"and it belongs to you. You must stay
here as long as you live"
This was all the wooing got till he
was well, when he made up for the
matter OF fact manner Of his proposal
and has been making up for it ever
since.