The times-herald. [volume] (Burns, Harney County, Or.) 1896-1929, 1919-01-25


| daily, though war had never passed
that way.
Under the name OF Weston, Mark
had enlisted In the medical branch of
the service. II was iowly branch,
despised by those who knew nothing
of It's activities. But the choice had
been between that and nothing, for the
first fighting contlngents to be sent
overseas embraced only the regulars,
not those Of the drift. Mark had en-
listed rather than wait. especially since
he knew that Colonel Howard. with
Kellerman and HIS staff, were already
In France.
And somewhere within few square
miles was the base of the American
activities, the headquarters from which
the mobilization in France wns being
directed.
Hurry up to the surgical ward I"
said the matron. as Mark reached her.
"And you. too, Hartley" she added.
The two men scrambled up the
stairs. At the opposite end of the
building, an old converted chateau,
the convoy had halted. Other order
lies were carrying out the stretchers
with their living, mangled burdens.
A group of the newly arrived doc
tors and nurses was coming up the
stairs. They were all ready for theli
work. Mark no longer saw anything
but the wounded men. Dripping with
perspiration, he hurried from the ward
TO the pack store and back. innumer.
able times, struggling under great
piles of towels and bedding.
Must have been stiff fight" pant
ed Hartley as they passed each other
Mark responded with movement of
the head. II must have been fight,
TO have brought all those serious
cases down TO the base hospital.
"Weston, you're to go into the ope
rating room :"
The nurse who addressed him spoke
as Ia u servant.
"Yes, Sister," he answered, and
braced his shoulders and hurried to
obey.
The patient, already etherized. had
been brought In. Mark, watching the
patient narrowly as the surgeon probed
the wound. knew nothing but his task
until the surgeon nudged him familiar
ly In the side while one OF the nurses
was spOnging his forehead.
II know your face, orderly" he said.
"Where was it?"
Mark started and looked into the
quizzlcal gray eyes OF one Of the army
doctors from an Arizona town, whom
he had dined at the mess.
IL think you are mistaken, sir" he |
quietly.
The surgeon searched his face. and. |
Ike decent man. admitted his error.
Another poor devil gone down. he |
thought, as he turned to his work.
There were three more operations !
following. and Mark sighed with relief |
rs the last man was carried away. He I
took scrubbIng brush and bar of I
soap ana knceled down to clean the /
1oor, while his fellow attendant |
secured the splashed table and carrled
iway the towels.
Mark was conscious that the nurse
still fingered, and he went on with
lis scrubbing. Somehow he did not
want TO meet her eyes.
She came toward him and stood near
him, by the table. Something splashed
lown to the fioor-then something else.
Mark raised his head. They were
ears, and others followed them down
he nursing sisters face. The girl was
eleanor.
She put out her hands blindly. "Oh,
,aptain Mark !" she whispered.
Mark felt himself beginning TO
hake fate seemed TO have played
Vretched trick on him just then.
''Why. Captain Mark Why-why
I'D you do tbis?" asked Eleanor.
Hey. Weston :" called his fellow or
erly from the door Of thH steruIzlng
Dom; and then. seeing him with the
lister, withdrew.
"You heard my name? asked Mark.
II heard II, Captain Mark. Won't
ou tell me what II means, what 1t all
neans?"
"What 1t all means?" he repeated
aguely. wondering ut the concern on
er face.
"Why you disappeared as you did
rom Washington. knew that you
ad applied for leave OF absence, be-
ause you had overworked In the hot
weather.. But you never came
ack." Her voice broke into sob.
The Colonel didn't think II strange.
Ie wouldn't admit that there was any
eason. except that you must have
one back to your regiment. Did you
nd he quarrel, Captain Markf It's
could learn nothing
bout you. but Major Kellerman had
aid you were. tired OF the work and
light have got some appointment out
thS eervieN THAR tales were cOn.