The Irish standard., 1917-01-20
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 'phone?"
lie Moyne's 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 wakened 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? I thought you
said"
The Lamb turned pale at that, and
braced himself.
"I'm sorry-I thought you under.
stood. believe it's not-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.
els he living?"
ooh, yes, sir. I 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
out on his forehead.
II 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 nav
any attention to 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 he-
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 i1opelessly 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 to do his best by Max.
and that from now on it would be nm
to her.
X. had brought the injured man In.
The country doctor, on the way in, had
taken it for granted that X. was q
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.
II don't see the chap who came In
with u.s." he said. "Clever fellow. Like
to know his name.
The staff did not know.
X. eat alone on bench in the hall,
He wondered who would tell Sidney:
be hoped they would be very gentle
with her. tie did not want to 60 nome
and leave her to what she might have
to face. There was a chance she would
ask for him. He wanted to be near,
In that case. The night Waterman
went by twice and stared at him. Al
last he asked X. to mind the door I'm.
til he got some coffee.
Zone Of the STATS been hurt" he
explained. IF 1 don't get some cot.
fee now, won't get any,"
X. promised to watch the door.
A desperate thing had occurred to
Carlotta. Somehow, she had not
thought Of it before. Now she won.
dered how she could have failed to
think Of 1t. She went to the staff and
confronted them. They were men of
courage, only declining to undertake
what they considered hopeless work.
The one man among them who might