The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1917-04-26
CHAPTER XxlI-Continued.

you know. Well, he's here. 1t sounds
like a miracle. They found him sitting
on n bench in the hall downstairs"
Sidney raised her head, but she
could not see the miraculously found
Edwardes. She could see the familiar
faces of the staff, and that other face
on the pillow, and-She gave II little
cry. There was H.! How like him
to be there. to be wherever anyone
was In trouble Tears came to her
eyes-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
pened was growing on them.
! X. stood beside Sidney. and looked
down at her. Just Mt first 1t seemed
ms If he found nothing To say Then:
There's just a chance Sidney. dear.
Don't count. too much on 1t. If you
will wait somewhere near I'll see that
you have immediate word"
II am going to the operating ROOM"
mot TO the operating room. Some
where near"
His steady voice controlled her hys-
terra But she resented It, She was
not herself. of course. what with strain
and WEAKNESS.
II shall ask Doctor Edwardes."
He WAS puzzled for Il moment Then
he understood. After all, II WAS rs
we'll The thing that really mattered
was that he must try TO save Wilson
for her. If he failed she might hate
him the rest OF her life-not for him
self but for his failure. Whichever
way things went. he must lose
Doctor Edwardes says you are to
stay away from the operation. but to
remain near. He-he promises to call
you fittings 20 wrong
She had 10 be content with that.
Nothing about that night WIS real To
Sidney. She sat In the anesthetizing
room. and after time SHE knew that
she WIS not alone. There was some
body else. She realized duly that Car
lottn WAS there. too. pacing up and
down the little room. She WAS never
sure, for instance, whether she imag
ined H. or whether Carlotta really
with burning eyes.
$50 YOU thought he was going to
marry you" said Carlotta--or the
dream. We'll, you see he isn't"
Sidney tried To answer, and failed
or that WIS the way the dream went
III you had enough character. I'd
think You did 1t. How do l know you
didn't follow us, and shoot him rs
: he left the roomf"
II must have been reality after all
for Sldney's numhed mind grasped the
essential fact here and held on to IT,
He had been out with Carlotta. He
had prumlsed-sworn that this should
not happen. II had happened II sur
prised her. IL seemed as IL nothing
more could hurt her
In the movement To and from the
operating room. the door stood open
for n moment. \ tall figurc-how
, much II looked like X. Strengthened
and held out something In its hand
THE bullet" said Carlotta in
whisper.
Then more waiting, 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 great deal. II must be
tragic To care like that She herself
was not caring much she was too
numb.
The city still slept, but the torturing
night was over. And in the gray dawn
the stan, looking gray, too, and elderly
and weary. came out through the
closed door and took their huShed way
toward the elevator. They We're talk
ing among themselves. Sidney. strain
ing her ears. gathered that they had
seen a miracle, and that the wonder
was still on them.
Carlotta followed them out.
Almost on their heels came X. He
was in the white coat, and more and
more he looked like the man who had
raised up from his work and held out
something In his hand. Sidney's head
was aching and confused. The tall
manor was II X. looked at her,
and then reached up and turned OFF
the electric light. When the light WAS /
out everything was gray She could |
not see. She slid very quietly out of |
her chair, and lay ut his feet In a |
dead faint
h. carried her to the elevator He /
held her AS he had held her that day |
at the park when she fell In the river.
very carefully, tenderly. as one holds
something infinitely precious. Not I'M
I'll he had placed her on her bed did
she open her eyes. But she was con-
scious before that. She was so tired,
and to be carried like that, In strong
arms. not knowing where one was go
ing, or caring
The nurse he had summoned hustled
out for aromatic ammonia. Sidney,
lying among her pillows, looked up