Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-08-26
"A Story of Dual Personalities Love and Intrigue

around upon Joan, tho upper part Of
his body seeming to move upon pivot
while his lower limbs remained sta
tionary.
THAT scapel-quickl he cried.
Joan started and stretched out her
hands toward the tray, which cleaned
i,...l or elusively thru black cloud.
The one handed you. Don't stare
at me like a fool!'
Joan bent over the tray, putting out
one hand TO the table to support her
self. She was conscious that every
thing was suspended and that every
ono was watching her. She sensed
little triumph and a little malice IN
the attitude OF the dark haired girl.
In the interminable interval she heard
the patients gasping sighs, as If he
was breathing the last wisps OF life
away.
She fingered the instruments in the
tray fecbly and nervelessly and her
hands seemed numbed and useless.
! Her fingers closed on something and
brought II out Then Iancaster's
hand closed over hers. tore it away
and flung it back with a splash.
Joan's hand dropped to her side, par
alyzed hy the painful pressure. 1'nc
next instant Lancaster had tho scaipel
and whirled swiftly back toward the
table, upsetting the bichloride, wnicn
| lapped over the patients feet.
"Seventeen--eighteen ~ the dark
! haired girl was whispering under ner
breath. Eighteen-eighteen -eigh-
4 teen"
The moments went by like hours At
F last Joan became aware, through tho
sudden unraveling of the suspense,
! that the cruX OF the operation was
over. Her head grew clear again. She
say the assitant surgeons unfastening
] the artery clamps. IVers had his
needle and the sutures In his hanu +,
Mach herson was closing the wouiiu.
i The darl, haired girl was still count
! in her sponges The head nurse rose
I to her feet, not looking at the patient.
Z Joan realized that she was crying, and
her strong, cpiccne face looked
! grotesque in grief The orderly came
up and together they placed the PEI.
tient on the stretcher, And sudoen,y
] Joan knew that the man was dead.
AS the stretcher was wheeled out
of the theater Lancaster turned ~
ward his visitors.
"a very successful piece Of work 4"
he said. ITS a pity the poor fellow
Will never know how much l naVv
done for him"
Joan felt the visiting surgeons dis
gust at the eXecrable jest. Lancaster
seener to sense It. too.
"UnfortUnately." he continued. "thc
lest of surgeons is not proof again st
| the stupidity of n nurse"
And he turned upon Joan fercely
| What is your name?" .e demanded
Miss Wentworth, Dr. Lancaster"
We'll, you're no use here. You're
wasting your time. Ion'Ve killed =
man this morning" he beloved. "If
| / can't have women about me wnll
rational heads on their shoulders I'll
get a gang of Chinese chop suey men.
Get out and earn your living as n
stenosrapher or saleslady. That's all
your talents are fit for, Miss Went
l'worth!"
Joan looked at him in amazement
At his first words at his tone. sn,
had felt the shock of anger in heI
heart gather itself and leap to mee-
his own. But his rage frightened her
Ter head ached, and she was sicB
from the fumes which still penetrated
the theater. She tried to answer him
but could not utter a word and bro he
into tears instead, sobbing In complete
| nervous abandonment.
Lancaster turned from her wIrh a