Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-04-05
CHAPTER XXI.

lie oAOSIe = uy hume. Vel TX. A1u
Wilson at once. Doctor Wilson. the
surgeon. has been shot," came slowly
and distinctly. Get the staff here and
have a 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-I thought you under.
stood. l believe it's not-not serious.
It's Doctor Max, sir"
Doctor Ed, who was heavy and not
very young. sat down on mn Office chair.
Out of sheer habit he had brought the
bag. He put 1t down on the floor be-
side him, and moistened his lips.
rs he livlngY
"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
door. He thought Of many things, but
mostly Of the promise he had made his
mother. Cold beads of sweat stood
out IN his forehead.
49,
II think l 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 to her. The staff was
stricken. They moved back to make
room for Doctor Ed beside the bed.
and then closed In again.
Carlotta w~aited=Jser hand yer 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 1t. 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 up
to her.
Il. had brought the injured mar In.
The country doctor, on the way in. had
taken 1t for granted that X. was a
r medical man like himself, and had
Q placed his hypodermic case at his dis
z posal.
: When he missed HMM the smok.
ing room, that was-he asked for him
II don't see the chap who ca1ne In
with u.s." he said. "Clever fellow. Like
to know his name.
The staff did not know.
X. sat alone on a bench in the hall
| He wondered who would tell Sidney
he hoped they would be very gentle
with her. He did not want to 80 home
and leave her to what she might have
1 to face. There was a chance she woult
/ ask for him. He wanted to be near
in that case. The night watchmaI
went by twice and stirred at him. A
last he asked X. to mind the door un
til he got some coffee.
zone of the STATS been hurt" h
explained. III I don't get some COT
fee now. l won't get any"
X. promised to watch the door.
a desperate thing had occurred t
Carlotta. Somehow, she had no
thought Of it before. Now she wor
dered how she could have failed I
think of It. She went to the staff an
confronted them. They were men O
courage, only declining to undertak
what they considered hopeless wor'
The one mnn among them who Nigh
have done the thing with any chanc
of success lay stricken. Not on
among them but would have given
his best-only his best was not goo
enough.
1T would be the Edwardes operi
ton. wouldn't 1T" demanded CarlOtt'
), The staff was bewildcred. Thel
= were no rules TO cover such condu,
on the part Of n nurse. One Of the
replied rather heavily: IL any.
ey would be the Edwardes operation"
dc "Would Doctor Edwardes himse
he be able to do anJ hingi'
se. This was going a little fur.
POSSIBLY. OAo chance In q tho'
sand, perhaps. But Edwardes Is dea,
How did this thing happen. Miss IA
rison"
She Ignored his question. Her fal
was CHASTITY. save for the trace
r. rouge; her eyes were red.rimmsd.
20 "Doctor Edwardes 10 sitting %
NJ bench In the hail outsider shs q
nounced.
~ Her voice rang out. X. heard b.
and raised his head. His attitude VI
weary. resigned. The thing had com
mt theni lie ~ to take up the old bu
den. The girl had told.
sly
nd Doctor ma had sent for Sidney. q
= thought It Was another operation, al
vt her spirit was Just . little weary. B
Il, her courage wAs indomitabls. N
~ fneead NJ Anhn1D - ~ t1ron ~. :,