Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-03-14
CHAPTER XXI.

1t was the Lamb who received the
message about Wilson; and because
he was not very keen at the best. and
because the news was so startling, he
refused to credit his ears.
"Who is this at the 'phonew
lie MOynes my name. Get DR.. Ed
Wilson at once. Doctor Wilson, the
surgeon. has been shot," came slowly
and distinctly. Get the staff here and
have room ready. Get the operating
room ready. too"
The Lamb Weakened 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 thought you under
stood. l believe it's cut--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.
us 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
ont on his forehead.
Il think / 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 10 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 her
mouth to keep herself from screaming.
Surely they wouldn't let him die like
that When she saw the phalanx
break up and realized they would not
operate, she ran from the room.
The staff went hOpelessly down the
stairs to the smoking room. and
smoked 1t was all they could do.
The night assistant sent coffee down
TO them. and they drank it. Doctor
Ed stayed in his brothers room, and
said to his mother, under his breath.
that he'd tried 10 do his best by Max,
and that from now on it would be up
to her.
X had brought the injured man in.
The country doctor. on the way in, had
taken it for granted that X. was a
medical man like himself, and had
placed his hypodermic case at his dis
posal.
When he missed HMM the smok-
ing room. that was-he asked for him.
Il don't see the chap who came In
with us" he said. Clever fellow. Like
TO know his name.
The staff did not know.
X. sat alone on a bench i'm the hall.
He wondered who would tell Sidney;
he hoped they would be very gentle
with her. He did not want TO go home
and leave her to what she might have
to face. There was chance she would
ask for him. He wanted to be near,
liz that case. The night watchman
went by twire and stared at him. AT
last he asked X. TO mind the door un-
til he got some coffee.
"One of the STATS been hurt he
explained IF l don't get some cof-
fee now. won't get any
X. promised to watch the door.
A desperate thing had occurred 10
CarlOtta. Somehow, she had not
thought of it before. Now she won
dered how she could have failed to
think of It, She went to the staff and
confronted them. They We're men of
courage only declining to undertake
what they considered hopeless work.
The one man among them who might
have done the thing with any chance
Of success lay stricken. Not one
among them but would have given Of
his best-Only his best was not good
enough
1T would be the Edwardes opera
ti0n. wouldn't it?" demanded CarIOtta.
The staff was bewiidered. There
were no rules 10 cover such conduct
on the pert of nurse One of them
replied rather heavily: IF any, it
would be the Edwardes operation
Would Doctor Edwardes himself
ne able TO do anythingf"
This was going little far
Possibly. One chance in q thou
sand. perhaps. But Edwardes is dead
How die this thing happen. Miss Har-
rison p
She ignored his question. Her face
was CHASTITY. save for the trace Of
rouge her eyes wer. fed-rlmmed.
Doctor Edwardes is sitting on a
bench in the hall outside 2" she an
nounced.
Her voice rang out K heard her
and raised his head His attitude was
weary. resigned. The thing had come,
then, He was to take up the old bur
den. The girl had told
Doctor Ed had sent for Sidney. She
thought it was another operation, and
her spirit-was just a little weary. But
her courage was indomItable She
forced her shoes on her tired feet and