The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-01-27
CHAPTER XIV.

KS skill had not sufflced to save him.
The operation had been q marvel, but
the boys long-sapped strength failed
ut the last. X, set of face, stayed with
him to the end. The boy did not know
he was going. He reused from the
coma and smiled up at LIE Moyne.
1--WE got bunch that I can mOvo
my right foot" he said. "Look and
see."
X. lifted the light covering.
you're right, old man. It's moving"
"Brake foot, clutch foot" said Johnny,
and closed his eyes again. X. had for
hidden the white screens, that outward
symbol Of death. Time enough for
them later. So the ward had no sus.
picion, nor had the boy. The ward
passed in review. It was Sunday, and
from the chapel far below came the
faint singing of hymn. When Johnny
spoke again he did not open his eyes.
you're some operator, Mr.. Lie Moyne.
Ill put In word for you whenever I
get chance"
"Yes, put in a word for me-" said K.
huskily.
He felt that Johnny would be good
mediator-that whatever he, f., had
done of omission or commission,
Johnny's voice before the Tribunal
would count.
Johnny was close on the edge of his
long sleep by that time, and very COM
Portable. 1t was X. who, seeing he
would no longer notice, ordered the
screens to be set around the bed, X.
who drew the coverings smooth and
folded the boys hands over his breast.
The nurse stood by uncertainty.
"How very young he isl Was it an
accident?"
1T was the result of a mans damn
able folly" said X. grimly. Somebody
always pays"
And so Johnny Rosenfeld paid.
The immediate result Of his death
was that X, who had gained some of
his faith in himself Oh seeing Wilson
on tho way to recovery, was bcset by
his old doubts. And now came q ques-
ton that demanded immediate answer.
Wilson would be out Of commission for
several months, probably. He was
gaining, but slowly. And he wanted K.
to take over his work.
"Why not?" he demanded, half ir.
ritably. "The secret is out. Everybody
knows who you are. And now, because
q boy who wouldn't have lived any
how"
"That's not it," X. put in hastily. II
know all that. I guess l could do it
and get away with it as well as the
average. AL that deters me-Tve never
told you, have I, why gave up be-
fOrew
Wilson was propped up in his bed.
X. was walking rcstlessly about the
room. as was his habit when troubled.
"Ive heard the gossip; that's all"
"You know what always felt about
the profession, Max. We went into
that more than once in Berlin. Either
ones best or nothing. had done
pretty we'll. When left Torch and
built my own hospital, I hadn't doubt
Of myself. And because I was getting
ACSullS L EOL q AVI VI dutCILAoluSs O1CA
began coming to the clinics. found I
was making enough out of the patients
who could pay to add few free wards.
I want to tell you now, Wilson, that
the opening of those free wards was
the greatest sef-indulgence ever per.
mitted myself. I'd seen SO much care
less attention given the poor-well,
never mind that. It was almost three
years ago that things began to 60
wrong. lost big case"
II know. All this doesn't influence
me, Edwardes."
"Wait moment. We had q system
In the operating room as perfect as I
could devise 1t. I never finished an
operation without having my first as
sistant verify the clip and sponge
count. But that first case died because
a sponge had been left in the operating
l1eld. You know how those things 20;
Jon can't always sec them. and ons