The Pulaskian., 1917-08-10
CHAPTER xxII-continued.
-17-

"Did you ever hear of EdwardeS, the surgeon? ?- the Edwardes operation, YOU know. We'll, he's here. It sounds like a miracle. They found him sitting on a bench in the hall downstairs"
 Sidney raised her head, but she could not see the miraculously found Edwardes. She could see the familiar faces of the staff, and that other face on the pillow, and-she gave a little cry. There was K.l How like him to be there, to be wherever anyone was in trouble! Tears came to her eyes-the first tears she had shed.
 AS if her eyes had called him, he looked up and saw her. He came toward her at once. The staff stood back to let him pass, and gazed after him. The wonder of what had hap pened was growing on them.
 K. stood beside Sidney, and looked down at her. Just at first it seemed as if he found nothing to say. Then: There's just chance, Sidney, dear. Don't count too much on it. If you will wait somewhere near, I'll see that you have immediate word."
 q am going to the operating room."
 Not to the operating room. Some where near."
 His steady voice controlled her hys- teria. But she resented it. She was not herself, of course, what with strain and weariness.
 T shall, ask Doctor Edwardes."
 He was puzzled for moment. Then he understood. After all, it was as well. The thing that really mattered was that he must try to save Wilson for her. If he failed, she might hate him the rest of her life-not for him. self but for his failure. Whichever way things went, he must lose.
 Doctor Edwardes says you are to stay away from the operation, but to remain near, He-he promises to call you fittings go wrong.
 She had to be content with that.
 Nothing about that night was real to Sidney. She sat in the anesthetizing room, and after time she knew that she was not alone. There was some body else. She realized duly that Car lotta was there, too, pacing up and down the little room She was never sure, for instance, whether she imag- ined 1t, or whether Carlotta really stopped before her and surveyed her with burning eyes.
 "So you thought he was going to marry youl" said Carlotta-or the dream. ''Well, you see he isn't"
 Sidney tried fa opd foi1a1 or that was the way the dream went
 If you had enough character, I'd think you did it. How do know you didn't follow us, and shoot him as he left the room?'
 It must have been reality after all i; for Sidney's numbed mind grasped the essential fact here, and held on to it. He had been out with Carlotta. He had promised-sworn that this should not happen. It had happened. It sur prised her. It seemed as if nothing more could hurt her.
 In the movement to and from the operating room, the door stood open for moment. A tall fgure-how much it looked like K. !-straightened and held out something in it's hand.
 'The bullet!" said Carlotta in whisper.
 Then more waiting, a stir of move ment in the room beyond the closed door. Carlotta was standing, her face buried in her hands, against the door. Sidney suddenly felt sorry for her. She cared a great deal. It must be tragic to care like that! She herself was not caring much; she was too numb.
 The city still slept, but the torturing night was over. And in the gray dawn the staff, looking gray, too, and elderly and weary, came out through the closed door and took their hushed way toward the elevator. They were talk ing among themselves. Sidney, strain ing her ears, gathered that they had seen miracle, and that the wonder was still on them.
 Carlotta followed them out.
 Almost on their heels came K. He was in the white coat, and more and more he looked like the man who had raised up from his work and held out something in his hand. Sidney's head was aching and confused The tall man-or was it K.?-looked at her, and then reached up and turned off the electric light. When the light was out everything was gray. She could not see. She slid very quietly out of her chair, and lay at his feet in a dead faint.
 K. carried her to the elevator. He held her as he had held her that day at the park when she fell in the river, very carefully, tenderly, as one holds something infinitely precious. Not un- al he had placed her on her bed did She open her eyes. But she was con- scious before that. She was so tired, and to be carried like that, in strong arms, not knowing where one was go- Ing, or caring