The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-04-06
CHAPTER xVl-Continued.

--13-
"That would be foolish, wouldn't 1t
when you have done so well? And
besides, since you are not guilty, Sid
ney-"
81 didn't do y she cried passion
ately. "But I can't keep on; that's
all there is to it, I keep saying to my
self: You didn't do it, you didn't do
it, and all the time something inside
of me is saying, Not now, perhaps
but sometime you may" She looked
UP at him forlornly. Il am just not
brave enough, *"
wouldn't it be Drawer to keep on?
Aren't you giving UT. very easilyT'
Her world was in pieces about her,
and she felt alone in wide and empty
place, And, because her nerves were
drawn taut until they were ready to
snap. Sidney turned on him shrew-
ishly.
81 think you are all afraid 1 will
come back to stay. Nobody really
wants me anywhere-in all the world !!
Not at the hospital, not here, not any
place. / am no USE"
when you say that nobody wants
you," said K, not very steadily, I'll
think you are making a mistake"
She scanned his face closely, and
reading there something she did not
understand, she colored suddenly.
Il believe you mean Joe Drum
mond."
mo; do not mean Joe Drummond."
If he had found any encouragement
in her face, he would have gone on
recklessly; but her black eyes warned
him
eff you mean Max Wilson," said
Sidney, "You are entirely wrong He's
not in love with me. Anyhow, after
this disgrace"
"There is no disgrace, child"
HELL think me careless, at the
least. And his ideals are so high, K"
"You say he likes to be with you
What about your"
Sidney had been sitting in a low
chair by the fire. She rose with a sud-
den passionate movement. In the in
formality Of the household, she had
visited X. in her dressing gown and
slippers; and now she stood before
him, tragic young figure, clutching
the folds of her gown across her
breast
81 worship him, H." she said tragi-
cally. "When 1 see him coming, 1
want to get down and let him walk
on me. When 1 see him in the oper-
ating room, cool and calm while ev-
eryone else is f1ustered and excited, he
he looks like a god"
Then, half ashamed of her outburst,
she turned her back to him and stood
gazing at the small coal fire. 1t was
as well for K. that she did not see his
face.
'It's real, all this?" he asked after |
a pause. you're sure it's not just
glamour, Sidney?'
Its real-terribly real" Her voice
was muffied, and he knew then that
she was crying.
She was nightly ashamed Of 1t.
Tears, of course, except in the privacy
of ones closet, were not ethical on the
street.
perhaps he cares very much, too"
"Give me handkerchief" said Sid
ney In q muff1ed tone, and the little
scene was broken into while K.
searched through bureau drawer.
Then K. questioned her, alternately
soothing and probing.
"Who else had access to the medi-
cine closet2"
"Carlotta Harrison carried the keys,
Of course. ! was off duty from four
to six. When Carlotta left the ward,
the probationer would have them"
slave you reason to think that Ell
Their one of these girls would wish ,
you harm?"
"None whatever" began Sidney We ]
and then, checking herself.
'unless-but that's rather ridiculous"
"What is ridiculous?"
1--WE sometimes thought that Car {
otta-but 1 am sure she is perfectly
air with me. Why, K, she wouldn't
t would be murder"
Murder, OF course said K, "in In l
sntion. anyhow. OF course she didn't y
10 it. I'm only trying to find out whose
mistake 1t was"
Soon after that she said goodnight
md went out. She turned In the door a