Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-01-25

modern methods and the best usage
might not have approved of the bag.
On his way out he paused at the din
tng-roOm door.
Are you going to the hospital?''
Operating at four-wish you could
come in"
I'm afraid not, Max. I've promised
Sidney Page to speak about her to
you. She wants to enter the training
school"
Too young" said Max briefly.
why, she can't be over sixteen
"She's eighteen"
well, even eighteen. Do you think
any girl Of that age is responsible
enough to have life and death put in
her hands? BC,'des, although haven't
noticed her lately, she used to be a
pretty little thing. There is no use
filling up the wards with a lot Of
ornaments; it keeps the internes all
stewed up"
"Since when" asked Doctor Ed mild
", have you found good looks i'll a
girl handicap"
In the end they compromised. Max
would see Sidney at his office. 1t
would be better than having her run
across the Street-would put things
on the right footing. For, if he did
have her admitted, she would have to
learn at once that he was no longer
Doctor Max" that, as a matter Of
fact, he was now staff, and entitled
TO much dignity, to speech without con-
tradiction or argument, to clean tow
els, and a deferential inferno at his
elbow
Down the clean steps went Doctor
Max that morning, a big man, almost
as tall as K. LIE Moyne, eager of life,
strong and a bit reckless, not fine, per-
haps, but not evil He had the same
zest of living as Sidney, but with this
difference-the girl stood ready to give
herself to life: he knew that life would
come to him. All-dOminating male was
Doctor Max, as he stepped into his car
and made his way to his office. Here
were people who believed in him, from
the middle-aged nurse in her prim uni
form to the row of patients sitting
stifiy around the walls OF the waiting
room. Doctor Max drew long breath.
This was the real thing-work and
plenty of it, a chance to show the other
men what he could do, a battle to
win! No humanitarian was he, but a
ighter-each day he came to his Office
with the same battle lust.
The office nurse had her back to him.
When she turned, he faced an agree
able surprise. Instead of Miss Simp-
son, he faced young and attractive
girl, family familiar.
1--WE tried to get you by telephone"
she explained. Il am from the hos
pital Miss Simpsons father died this
morning, and she knew you would
have to have someone. I was just
starting for my vacation, so they sent
me-"
Rather q poor substitute for a va
cation" he commented.
She was very pretty girl. He had
seen her before in the hospital, but he
had never really noticed how attrac-
tive she was. Rather stunning she
was, he thought. The combination of
yellow hair and dark eyes was unusual.
He remembered, just in time, to ex-
press regret at Miss Simpsons be-
reavement.
Il am Miss Harrison" explained the
substitute, and held out his long white
coat. The ceremony, purely perfume
tory with Miss Simpson on duty, proved
interesting, Miss Harrison. in spite of
her high heels, being small and the
young surgeon tall. When he was final
ly in the coat, she was rather flushed
and paIpitating.
''But knew your name, of course"
lied Doctor Max. ''And-Tm sorry
| about the vacation"
After that came work. Miss Har-
risOn was niuble and alert, but the sur
geon worked quickly and with few
words, was impatient when she could
| not find the things he called for, even
broke into restrained profanity now
| and then. She went a little pale over
her mistakes, but preserved her dig
nifty and her wits. Now and then he
| found her dark eyes fixed On him, with
| something inscrutable but pleasing In
| their depths. The situation was rather
piquant.
Once during the cleaning up be-
! tween cases, he dropped to a person
atty. He was drying his hands, while
| she placed freshly-sterilized instru-
| ments on a glass table.
'YOu are almost foreign type, Miss
Harrison. Last year, in a London bal
| let, | saw a blonde Spanish girl who
! looked like you"
| my mother was a Spaniard." She
did not look up.
Where Miss Simpson was in the
habit of dumping through the morning
in flat, heavy shoes, Miss Harrison's
small heels beat a busy tattoo on the
tiled floor. With the rustling of her
starched dress, the sound was essen
TALLY feminine, almost inSistent. When
he had time to notice it, it amused him
| that he did not find it annoying.
Once, as she passed him a bistoury,
he deliberately placed his fine hand
| over her fingers and smiled into her
! eyes. 1t was play for him it Hghtened
the days work.
/ Sidney was in the waiting room.