Middletown transcript., 1917-03-03
CHAPTER XXI.

refused to credit his ears.
"WhO is this at the 'phone?'
"Le Moyne's my name. Get DIR. Ed
Wilson at once. Doctor Wilson, the
surgeon, has been shot," came slowly
and distinctly. Get the staff here and
have a room ready. Get the operating
room ready, too
The Lamb wakened then, and reused
the house. He was incOherent, rather,
so that Doctor Ed only learned the
truth when he got to the hospital.
"Who has been shot? l thought you
said"
The Lamb turned pale at that, and
braced himself.
I'm sorry-I thought you under
stood. 1 believe it's not-not serious.
It's Doctor Max, sir"
Doctor Ed, who was heavy and not
very young, sat down on an office chair.
Out of sheer habit he had brought the
bag. He put it down on the floor be-
side him, and moistened his lips.
rs he living?"
"Oh, yes, sir. l gathered that Mr..
LIE Moyne did not think it serious"
He lied, and Doctor Ed knew he lied.
The Lamb stood by the door, and
Doctor Ed sat and waited. The office
clock said half after three. The bag
with the dog collar in it was on the
floor. He thought Of many things, but
mostly of the promise he had made his
mother. Cold beads of sweat stood
out on his forehead.
II think 1 hear them now, sir" said
the Lamb, and stood back respectfully
to let him pass out of the door.
Carlotta stayed in the room during
the consultation. No one seemed to
wonder why she was there, or to pay
any attention to her. The staff was
stricken. They moved back to make
room for Doctor Ed beside the bed
and then closed in again.
Carlotta waited. her hand over hel
mouth to keep herself from screaming
Surely they wouldn't let him die like
that! When she saw the phalanS
break up and realized they would moi
operate, she ran from the room.
The staff went hopelessly down the
stairs to the smoking room, an(
smoked. 1t was all they could do
The night assistant sent coffee dowI
to them, and they drank it. Doctor
Ed stayed in his brothers room, anC
said to his mother, under his breath
that he'd tried to do his best by Max
and that from now on it would be vi
to her.
| K. had brought the injured man in
The country doctor, on the way in, hat
taken it for granted that X. was ;
medical man like himself, and hat
placed his hypodermic case at his dis
posal.
When he missed HMM the smok
ing room, that was-he asked for him
81 don't see the chap who came il
with u.s." he said. "Clever fellow. Lik,
to know his name.
The staff did not know.
K. sat alone on a bench in the hall
He wondered who would tell Sidney
he hoped they would be very gentl
with her. He did not want to go hOm
and leave her to what she might hav
to face. There was a chance she woul'
ask for him. He wanted to be near
in that case. The night watchmal
went by twice and stared at him. A
last he asked X. to mind the door un
til he got some coffee.
zone of the staff's been hurt" h
explained. eff l don't get some cot
fee now, I won't get any"
X. promised to watch the door.
A desperate thing had occurred t
CarlOtta. Somehow, she had no
thought of it before. Now she won
dered how she could have failed t
think Of it. She went to the staff an
confronted them. They were men Q
courage, only declining to undertak
what they considered hopeless worl
The one man among them who Nigh
have done the thing with any chanc
of success lay stricken. Not on
among them but would have given 9
his best-only his best was not goo
enough.
1T would be the Edwardes Opers
ton, wouldn't it?" demanded Carlott'
The staff was bewildered. Their
were no rules to cover such condut
on the part Of nurse. One of thel
replied rather heavily: IF any,
: would be the Edwardes operation"
, "Would Doctor Edwardes himse
! be able to do anything?"
This was going little far.
"Possibly. One chance in a tho1
/ sand, perhaps. But Edwardes is dea'
How did this thing happen, Miss Ha
risOn"
She ignored his question. Her fac
was ghastly, save for the trace
: rouge; her eyes were red-rimmed.
: doctor Edwardes is sitting on
, bench in the hall outside!" she al
nounced.
? Her voice rang out. X. heard he
and raised his head. His attitude we
weary, resigned. The thing had com
t then! He was to take up the old bu
den. The girl had told.
?
] Doctor Ed had sent for Sidney. ST
kthought it was another operation, an
n her spirit was just little weary. Bl
!, her courage was indomitable. ST