The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1917-10-19

fonier. Helen was watching her every
movement. Without even taking 1t into
the bathroom, she shook 1t down and
brought it to the bed.
Miss Saunders" with quiet in
tensity. shat thermometer hasn't been
washed since had it before"
Il beg your pardon" loftily. "but I
always wash a thermometer when l
take it from the patients mouth. Un-
der your tongue, please"
"You didn't wash this one" unfllnch-
ingly. II watched you"
Now I'd like to take your temporal
ture." Her voice implied that Helen's
remarks We're the rawlings of sick and
irresponsible mind.
"Not until you rinse off that Their
mometer."
"Then I'm to tell the doctor you re-
fuse to let me take your tempera-
ture?"
"You can tell him anything you
choose"
Sick, unstrung, her heart beating
in her throat and arms. Helen lay in
feverish, consuming hatred, as the
nurse swept out.
Her head ached, the pillow was
too low. The glass of water was just
beyond her thirsty reach-but she
would wait until Dora came.
When the girl, with eager but clumsy
solicitude, was ministering to her
wants, Warren, without his usual her
aiding of heavy footsteps, tiptoed
noiselessly into the room.
"Why. where's the nurse?" frown-
ing at DOra's awkward attentions.
"Oh-oh. I'm so glad you've come.
I don't want her-I don't want her
ever to touch me again." And Helen
burst into historical account of the
mornings happenings.
snow you're getting yourself all
worked up over nothing. If she wasn't
good nurse-doctOr wouldn't have
her here. You've got one Of your fool
ish prejudices, and you can't"
"Warren. IT isn't prejudice, I tell
-ou she doesn't follow the doctors or
lers, She hates her wOrk-she isn't
lifted for the nurse If you won't tell
i'm about that thermometer Will
No conscientious nurse would"
"Oh, all right" yielding with frown-
ing reluctance. "I'll speak to him."
Dear, don't think / am unreason-
able. If you'd only believe me! You're
not here all day-you don't know what
she does"
"NOw, we won't talk about It any
more. You quiet down-or you'll send
up your fever I'll stay here till the
doctor comes"
Weak with exhaustinC emotions.
Helen lay back with closed eyes. The
sense of injustice ranked sOrely. 1t
was useless to combat Warren's belief
in the nurse. for when either he or the
doctor was present she was always So
licitOusly attentive.
It was after one when the doctor
came Helen. listening tenSely, heard
Warren take him into the library.
where she could catch only the num-
BILE Of their lowered voices.
After an interminable wait the door
swung open and the doctor came in
followed by Miss Saunders, her face
flushed and set.
"Well. how is our patient today"
with professional chPerfulneSs.
Not trusting herself to speak, Helen
shaded her eyes with her arm. but her
lips quivered betrayingly.
:, Drawing chair to the bed, he took
her hand with soothing:
"We're making change In your
nurse. Miss Saunders has slight
cold. and we can't risk your catching
IT, She'll stay with you until five, then
Miss Reeves will relieve her"
Her eyes still shaded. Helen only
nodded. but the lace of her gown rose
with q smOthered sob of relief.
The doctor gone, she lay in relaxing
quiet. How clevprly he had done il
What had Warren said? What had
they told Miss Saunders?
swell, she's fred" Warren was
alone with her now. Feel better"
"Oh, yes-yes" Then quiveringly:
sBut you don't believe me, You think
she's all right-and that I'm unreason-
able"
"No, Kitten, I guess you had her num-
Der" There was a grim note in his
voice. 'Tve Just found out thing or
two myself"
Forgetful Of the doctors orders.
Helen, in breathless inquiry, half rose
on her elbow.
'"You don't have to prove your case
against that female" He had risen to,
close the door. "Did little sleuthing
on my own account. Got the goods on
her all right. Caught her taking the
chart"
1.-THE chart? You mean"
ST mean she didn't write down "a
blooming thing yesterday. Just be-
fore the doctor came she took blank
chart, dated 1t Thursday and filed it
out-temperature, medicine, nourish-
ment-the whole rigmarole. 1 kept
busy with a newspaper till she was
fhrough-then I started something"
"Oh. she knows"
She ought to-" with grin. MY Ian