The Washington herald., 1916-05-07


Mrs. Sands" she said, with a
charming naivete, 7 have the most
wonderful husband in the world, and
the very man you need to take charge
Of this new hospital of yours and
| make it a tremendous success. He
can relieve you of all the bother in
connection with the plans, and will
give you a Thousand valuable ideas
and suggestions which nobody else
would ever think Of"
I Mrs. Sands stirred to a show OF in
terest. Hitherto she had never
thought of anyone for the vacant post
( but some eminent gray-beard from
one of the eastern colleges.
She had met Doctor BulIard, and
like everybody else had been most IA
vorably Impressed with him. 1t might
be rather amusing, she reflected, TO
be so closely associated with young,
good-looking man of his type.
He has a national reputation, you
know, as the author of the Bullard op-
eration," put in Esther with a little
touch Of wifely pride, and that set
tied it
Mrs. Sands rose impulsively from
the couch where she sat
Il wonder if he could come here
right away and talk things over with
me-" she said. Can you get hold of
him." waving her hand toward the
telephone stand.
So it happened that the doctor, sit
ting in his office, was almost bowled
over to receive the announcement
made in quite a matter-of-fact way,
with an progressive spice of elation
in Esther's carefully controlled tones,
that he was about to be made head of
the Sands Memorial, and that he had
better come right over to discuss the
details of his appointment with Mrs.
Sands.
True, the lady herself had made no
such promise as that, nor had indeed
bound herself in any way; yet, when
the doctor arrived, stalwart and good
to look at in his crisp business suit,
and greeted her in that frank boyish
fashion of his, she let the statement
stand Unchallenged.
Her face lighted up with animation,
and seating herself close beside him
at a table, she rang for her secre-
tary to bring her the drawings sub
mitted by the architect and COM
menced to ask his opinion on them.
In fact, she so monopolized the doc
tor that Esther was practically ex-
cluded from the conversation.
III leave you to find out for your
self Mrs. Sands, that I spoke only
Is exactly the man you need" she said
lightly as she drew up her furs about
her throat.
Sylvia started slightly and made a
courteous protest against her leaving,
but the manner of it was plainly per-
functory and with the closing Of the
door upon the wife, there came into
her face an expression which could
hardly be translated otherwise than as
satisfaction.
As she came back to the table and
bent once more over the plans, her hand
strayed with apparent unconsciousness
until it touched the doctors and rested
against it.
But Bullard. intensely interested in
questions Of drainage and ventilation
and details Of the sort, was too alb
sorbed to notice and after a moment
she terked her hand away with a flash
OF anger in her eyes.
When he rose to leave and took her
hand at parting, she did not Immediately
withdraw 1t from his clasp
We shall have to see a great deal Of
each other from now on. suppose. doc
tor" she murmured, and then after a
pause added, for the good of the hos
pital."
Burlard left the house with a half
awakened sense Of danger. He was al
most of a mind to throw over the position
she offered him. But as he considered
its advantages and what it meant to his
career, he decided that he would be a
fool to give up such a chance.
Still it did not increase his euuanimity
to find Esther, when he entered their liv-
ing room at home, playing the old song.
Then You'll Remember Me-" on the
piano.
We've landed it, George" she exulted
happily. We've landed it. Aren't YOU
going to tell me again that I'm your good
angelo"
But the half frown on the doctors brow
did not lift, and trumping up the excuse