Gilpin observer., 1918-03-28
His Dilemma

steps of the big State hospital that
evening in July wheeze of lingering
chloroform waited out ION the warm
night air. He swung open the wide
screened door, drew his key from the
desk in the corridor and proceeded
swiftly down the white enameled hall
way toward his room. 1t had been n
hard day on him and the thought alone
Of good nights sleep was refreshing.
AS he passed the long row of private
rooms his heart seemed to skip beat.
For brief moment he stopped before
room 10 and drew deep breath. Just
behind that thin little white enameled
door sat his sweetheart, Nurse Annie
Carter.
Wild, jealous imaginings raced
through his brain.
I'D like to kill him, would" he
muttcred to himself. Lying in there
having my little Annie attend him
eight long hours day-and in the
end steal her heart away from me.
I've seen her show more interest in
that case than" Doctor Mathew, in
the midst of his musings heard the
light patter of footsteps coming down
the stairway just around the corner
and fastened on his way.
In second he found himself face
to face with Annie Carter.
Robert" she said, an anxious look
In her big blue eyes. doctor Mathew,
l mean," she corrected herself, sudden
ly realizing she was on duty, "Mr.
Morissy is very i'll. Doctor Bradley
says he must be operated ON at once
and you" She looked at him plead
ingly.
Doctor Mathew never before realized
her eyes held such depth Of emo
tiOn behind them.
II am to do it, suppose?" he asked
almost sneeringly.
"Yes," she answered simply.
The tall young doctor turned as
though to go, but her little detain-
ing hand on his shoulder held him un-
consciously.
"You will, won't you? I know you've
had hard day of it, but there's no
one I've confidence in like you. Doc
tor Bradley has been up two nights
and 1 fear his hand is n little shaky {;
will your"
The call in her eyes was so great for
the young doctor in love with this
sweet little girl and so he succumbed
to her wish.
"Ill do II, Annie dear-even though
it's to my own disadvantage" he an
swered simply.
One hour later, when the night
nurses had come on duty and the op-
Grating room had been prepared under
the personal supervision of Miss An
ME, as the other nurses called her,
Doctor Mathews patient was wheeled
in.
won't take but few minutes" the
doctor assured him, and with one long,
lingering look of confidence Mr.. Craig
Lawrence Morrisy, the popular novel
ist, was soon In the land Of ether
dreams.
Doctor Mathew worked with utmost
care. but very swiftly. Only once dur
ing the tedious probing did his
thoughts wander to anything ma
licious. 1t was when he had taken the
swab Annie carefully handed him and
had noted tear perllously near the
edge Of her eyelid.
Just one little slip and then" But
Doctor Mathew cut the thought short
and forced himself to look upon his
patient as one of the hundred he op-
Grated on each week. Not for a mo-
ment again would he allow himself
ever to entertain such thought.
When the operation was over and
the patient moved to his room below,
Annie kept silent watch all night long.
Once she thought he had taken bad
turn and notified the office.
"WeH send for his people," said
Mary Ryan, the desk clerk, in reply to
Doctor Mathews warning.
1t was then new light was thrown
on the situation, and there was II new
subject for the nurses to gossip over
for weeks to follow.
Miss Ryan of the desk had sent a
special messenger to the Hotel La
monte to ascertain the whereabouts Of
Craig Lawrence Morissy's relatives.
He kept bachelor suite ut that hotel
and had come from somewhere In the
West.''
Little Jimmy Doonan, the hospital
runner, returned with u message writ
ten by the hotel clerk.
Af,N f,r1l nv lad