The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-03-22
CHAPTER xxii-Continued.

YOU know. We'll, he's here. 1t sounds
like Il miracle. They found him sitting
on Il bench in the hall downstairs"
Sidney raised her head, but she
could not sec the mirnculously found
Edwurdes. She could see the familiar
faces Of the Atulf, and that other furr
on the pillow, und-shc gave Il little
cry. There was X! How like him
to be there, to be wherever anyone
was in trouble! Tears came to her
ryes-the first tears she had shed
AS If her eyes had called him he
looked up and saw her. He came
toward her at once. The staff stood
back to let him pass. and gazed after
him. The wonder of What had hap
pcned was growing on them.
H. stood beside Sidney, and looked
down at her. just at first 1t seemed
us If he found nothing To say Then:
Where's just chance, Sidney, dear
Don't count too much on It, If YOU
Will wait somewhere near I'll see that
YOU have immediate word"
u am going to the operating room"
Not to the operating room. Some
where near"
I lis steady voice controlled h"r hys-
'"fla. Bllt 81" resented it, She wlS
not herself. of course what with strain
ana wcnrinrSS.
II shall ask Doctor Edwnrdrs
ne was puzzled. for moment. Then
ne understood. After all, it was as
well. The thing that really mott,r,d
WIS mat n" must try to save Wilson
,or h'r II ne failed, she might hate
MN IN" rest of her ifc-n0t for him
'<'t put for his failure Whichever
way things went. he must lose.
DOCTOR EI"&'%lcS says YOU are TO
say away from the operation. but to |
remain near. IIc---hc promises to coI
YOU fittings 90 wrong.
one mad to be content with that
Nothlng about that night was real TO
sidney. She sat in the anesthctizinp
ro"E, and after Il time she knew that
Sh" was not alone. There was some
nooS else She realized DULY that Car
'o'th was there, too, pacing up and
"o"h the little room. She was never
sure 1or instance. whether she inng-
'hed it. or whether Carlottn really
stopped before her and surveyed her
with burning eyes.
80 YOU thought he was going to
marry your said Curottu--or the
"ream. well, you see he isn't"
Sidney tried to answer, and failed
or that was the way the dream went.
III you had enough character. I'd
'nlhK YOU did 1t. How do l know YOU
uidht follow us and shoot him us
he left the room?"
1t must have been reality after nil
lor Stdney's numbed mind grasped The
essential fact here, and held on to If
ne had been out with Carlottn. He
hnd promiSed-Sworn that this should
hot happen. 1t had happened 1t sur
priSed her. 1t seemed as If nothing
more could hurt her.
In the movement to and from the
operating room, the door stood opcn
for moment. a tall tigure-how
much 1t looked like X Strengthened
and held out something in Its hand.
"Thc bullet" said Cnrlotta in
whisper.
Then more waiting, n stir Of move
ment in the room beyond the closed
door. Carlotta was standing, her face
buried In her hands. against the door.
Sidney suddenly felt sorry for her.
She cared Il great deal. It must be
tragic to care like that! She herself
was not caring much; she was too
numb.
The city still slept, but the tprturing
night was over. And in the gray dawn
he staff, looking gray, too, and elderly
and weary, came out through the
closed door and took their huShed way
Oward the elevator. They were talk
ng among themselves. Sidney, strain
ng her ears. gathered that they had
seen Il miracle, and that the wonder
vas still on them.
Carlotta followed them out.
Almost on their heels came X. He
vas In the white cont, and more and
nore he looked like the man who had
aised up from his work and held out
in his hand Sidney's head
vas aching and confused. The tall
nan--or was 1t K.2-looked at her,
nd then reached up and turned off
he electric light When the light was
ut everything was gray. She could
ot see. She slid very quietly out Of
er chair, and lay ut his feet in a
cad faint.
Il. carried her to the elevator. He |
cid her as he had held her that day |
t the park when she fell in the river,
cry carefully, tcnderly, rs one holds
infinitely precious. Not un-
II he had pl..ced her on her bed did
he open her eyes. But she was con-
cious before that. She was SO tired.
nd to be carried like that, In strong
rms, not knowing where one was 60
ng, or caring
The nurse he Ind summoned hustled