Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-04-12
CHAPTER xxm-continued.

%surgeon?-- the Edwardes operation,
you know. Well. he's here. Ii sounds
like a miracle. They found him sitting
on 4 inch in the hall downstairs"
Sidney ruised 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 u little
cry. There was XII How like him
to be there, to be wherever anyone
was In troubles! Tears came to her
eyes-the first tears she had shed.
As II her eyes had called him, he
looked up and saw her. He came
toward her ut 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 at first 1t seemed
as II he found nothing TO say. Then:
"There's just q 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"
Not to the operating room. Some
where near"
His steady voice controlled her hys-
terra. But she resented 1t. She was
not herself, of course, what with strain
and WEAKNESS.
Il shall ask Doctor E%dwardes."
lie was puzzled for a moment. Then
he understood. After all. it was as
Well The thing that really mattered
was that he must try to save Wilson
for her. II 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 go wrong.
She had to be content with that.
Nothing about that night was real to
Sidney. She sat in the anesthetizing
room, and after a time she knew that
she was not alone. There was some
body else. She realized duly that Car.
sotta was there, too. pacing up and
down the little room. She was never
sure, for instance, whether she mag
ined 1t. or whether Carlotta really
stopped before her and surveyed her
with burning eyes.
$50 you thought he was going to
marry you!" said Carlotta-or the
dream. well, you see he isn't"
Sidney tried to answer, and failed
or that was the way the dream went.
IF you Ind enough character, I'd
think you did it. How do l know you
didn't follow US, and shoot him as
he left the room?"
1t must have been reality after all
for Sidney's nnmbed mind grasped the
essential fact here, and held on to 1t.
He had been out with Carlotta. He
had promised-sworn that this should
not happen. 1t had happened. 1t sur.
prised her. It seemed as IL nothing
more could hurt her.
In the movement to and from the
operating room, the door stood open
for Il moment. A tall figure--how
much 1t looked like X. !--straightened
and held out something In It's hand.
The bullet" said Carlotta in q
whisper.
Then more waiting, a stir OF move.
meht 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 a great deal. 1t must be
tragic to care like that! She herself
was not caring much; she was toe
numb.
The city still slept. hut the torturinc
night was over. And IN the gray dawn
the staff, looking gray. too. ana elderly
and weary. came out through the
closed door and took their hushcd way
toward the elevator. They were talk.
Ing among themselves. Sidney, strain.
Ing her ears, gathered that they had
seer II miracle, and that the wonder
was still on them.
Carlotta followed them out.
Almost on their heels came X. I1e
was In the white coat, and more and
more he looked like the man who had
raised up from his work and held on,
something In his hand. Sidncy's head
was aching and confused. The tail
mhn~-or was II K.?--lOokcd ut her
and then reached tip and turned of
the electric light. When the light was
out everything was gray. She could
not see. She slid very quietly ont OF
her chair, and lay at his feet In n
dead faint.
Il. carried her to the elevator. JIc
held her as he had held her that day
ut the park when she fell In the river.
very carefully. tenderly, as one hold.
something Infinitely precious. Not IN.
I'll lie had placed her on her bed did
she open her eyes. But she was con.
sclous before that. She was 50 tired.
and to be carried like that. In strong
arms. not knowing where one was 60.
Ing. or Curing
The nurse he had summoned hustled
out for aromatic ammonia. Sidney.
lying among her pillows, looked up
ut X.
"flOw Ii hes"
"a little better. There's a chance.
dcar."
II have been so mixed up. A.. the
time was sitting waiting. I kept
thinking It WINS you who were operat.
lug VIII he really get well?"
ut looks promising"
~ ahOuid liko to th.ua, r~x-. go