New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-02-23
CHAPTER XVI-Continued.

-
'''rhat would be foolish, wouldn't it
when you have done so we'll? And
hcsjdoS, since you are not guilty, Sid
nev-"
Il didn't do 1t" she cried passion
atcly. 'Eut | can't keep on; that's
all there is to it, | keep saying to my.
self: 'lou didn't do it, YOU didn't dc
it and all the time something inside
of me is saying, Not now perhaps
but somrtim" you may" She looked
up ut him forlornly. Il um just not
brave enough, X"
"Wouldn't it be Drawer to keep on!
Aren't you giving up very casily?"
Her world was in pieces about her,
and She felt alone in IL wide and empty
place. And, because her nerves were
drawn tnut until they We're ready to
snap, Sidney turned on him shrew-
iShly.
81 think you are all afraid | will
come back to stay. Nobody really
wants me anyWhcre-in all the world !
Not at the hospital, not here, not any
place. | am no use"
"When you say that nobody wants
you" said X, not very steadily, IL
think you are making IL mistake"
She scanned his face closely, and.
reading there something She did not
understand, She colored suddenly.
Il believe you mean Joe Drum
mond."
NO; | do not mean Joe DrummOnd."
If he had found any encouragement
In her face, he would have gone on
recklessly but her black eyes warned
him.
"lf you mean Max Wilson," said
Sidney, "lou are entirely wrong. He's
not in love with me. Anyhow, after
this Disgrace"
'Therc is no disgrace, child"
Hell think me careless, at the
least. And his ideals are SO high, X"
You say lie likes to be with you.
What about you?'
Sidney had been sitting in a low
chair by the fire. She rose with Il sud
den passionate movement. In the in
%formaIity of the household, she had
visited X. in her dressing gown and
slippers; and now she stood before
him. II tragic young figure, c%lutching
the folds of her gown across her
breast.
Il worship him, H." she said tragl-
cally. "Whcn | see him coming, |
want to get down and let him walk
on me. When | see him in the oper-
ating room, cool and calm while ev-
eryone else is clustered and excited, he
he looks like IL god"
Then, half ashamed of her outburst,
she turned her back to him and stood
gazing ut the small coal fire. 1t was
as well for X. that she did not see his
face.
ITS real, all this?" he asked after
"A pause. you're sure it's not just
glamour, Sidney"
ITS real-tcrribly real" Her voice
was mullcd. and he knew then that
she was crying.
She was nightly ashamed of it.
Tears, of course, except in the privacy
of ones closet, We're not ethical on the
street.
"Forhaps he cares very much, too
"GiVe me Il handkerchief" said Sid
ncy in Il mufllcd tone. and the little
scene was broken into while X.
searched through Il bureau drawer.
Then X. questioned her, alternately
soothing and probing.
"iyho else had access to the medi-
cine closet?"
.Carlotta Harrison carried the keys,
Of course. | vas off duty from four
to six. When Carlotta left the ward,
the probationer would have them"
"Have you reason to think that Ell
one of these girls would wish
you harm?'
None whatever" began Sidney We
hemently and then, checking herself,
-unless-but that's rather ridiculous"
"What is ridiculous?"
1--we sometimes thought that Car
| am sure she is perfectly
air with me. Why, K, she Wouldn't!
It would be murder"
Murder, of course" said X, ''in in
anyhow. OF course she didn't
10 it. I'm only trying to find out whose ,
it was" ,
Soon after that she said goodnight :
went out. She turned in the door ,
way and smiled TREMENDOUSLY back at ,
lin.
You have done me a lot of good. ,
lou almost make me believe In my
That's because l believe in you"
With a quick movement that was :
me of her charms, Sidney suddenly =
losed the door and slipped back into
he room. r., hearing the door close, +
bought she had gone, and dropped =
cavity into a chair. n
MY best friend In all the world ]" Z
Sidney suddenly from behind him,
nd. bending over. she kissed him on t
he cheek. 2