The Raymer enterprise., 1917-03-08
"CALAMITY"
BY HENRY JAKlsON.

folding linen. She was the head nurse
and Joe was the elevator boy. He
showed her the kittens injured paw
and she stroked the mewing object
pityngly. Her brown eyes were very
soft.
What can we do with her, Joei I'm
sure the superintendent wouldn't allow
a kitten in the ward
But. nurse. the wen would hide II
when the superintendent comes. See,
the poor little creature is trying To
play"
So II was that Miss Matteson's
scruples were overcome. The broken
paw was bandaged and Jim, the man
in the diet Kitchen, made the kitten a
bed behind the range. Jim named her
"Calamity' and she grew and thrlyed-
becoming much too lively. In fact. for
II was necessary TO keep her out Of
view when the superintendent or her
assistant appeared In the corridor.
Calamity at once entered upon Sc
ries Of disasters that proved her
worthy Of her name. The first was her
fall into the soup can. Fortunately II
was not scaldlng hot The ward had
been served. but the men 10 the diet
kitchen had no soup that day.
Calamity presented such ilattened-
out appearance another time after n
patient accidentally lay On her that
Pat. the garbage man, said on viewing
her: "Begorry, It's bicycle poomp she
do be nadin' 10 I'LL her out ag'in." The
bathroom man failed To see her the
day she took nap In pile OF soiled
linen aud she went down the clothes
chute. The laundryman, however. re.
stored her to her anxious owners, Not
long afterward she fell into the bath
tub, which was half full Of water. Artl-
fetal respiration was resorted to be
fore she was finally resuscltated,
Some of the windows in the ward
We're not provided with screens and
DUR a very warm spell they were
opened. The flies BECAME troublesome
and when Miss Matteson applied for fly
paper she received instead scathing
reprimand from the superintendent for
allowing the pat!ents TO open those
windows. Then the youngest inferno
suggested experimenting with rasIn
and castor oil, They finally produced
n sticky fly-paper that answered every
purpose. AT any rate ii took two days
to remove all traces Of 1t from Calam-
ity after she rolled up In Ii sheet of ii.
The man in the drugronm grumhled
over the amount Of alcohol required b.
the wnrd at that time. Whether 1t was
while they We're experimenting with
the mucilaginous decocti0u or while
Calamity was being treated to alcohol
rubs" that Cupid took a hand. Ii Ii
certain that love affair had its be-
ginning about that time Miss Mntte-
sons brown eyes took on dreamy ex-
preston and the youngest inferno
found Ii necessary to visit his typhoid
cases many times day,
A patient was admitted one day
whose case puzzled all the physicians.
He lay In a stupor with n perfectly
normal temperature. but rapid pulse.
AT times he could be aroused to an.
swer questions. but uftener he remain.
cd silent with closed eyes. There was
no trace of any drug about hIut He
was alone In private room,
Going in the morning Of the third
day to take nourishment to him Miss
Matteson discovered him with wide
open eyes and as she approached the
bed he called out: Good morning.
nurse" Then, noticing Calamity, who
was following her, he asked: Is HAT
your kitten? viii you put her here
beside me?"
As the nurse turned to pick up Ca
lamity the man dealt her blow that
felled her to the floor. Then springing
from his bed he snatched up wooden
tray and raised II over her head.
AT that moment Pats Irish terrier.
who followed him about the hospital,
appeared In the corridor and nj sight
of her enemy Calamity ran claWing
and splitting straight up the madman's
back. He was clad In a single thin
garment and her claws brought the
blood wherever they touched him. lie
was so startled that he dropped the
tray.
Just then the youngest inferno ap-
peared on one of his numerous visits To
the ward. He oyerpowered the crazy
patient and, chilling for help soon had
him firmly tied.
Miss MatteSon lay like one dead up,
on the floor. When the other nurses
arrived the youngest inferno was try
ing TO revive her. For u week her life
was In danger.
IL was Il dag OF rejoicing In the
ward when she was able to resume
her duties. The superintendents heart
had melted sufficiently 10 allow the
presence Of Calamity in the ward and
the latter greeted Miss Matteson with
huge red satin sash, which gave her
the appearance of an animated piece