Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-14
spoon filled with water to his hot

spoon filled with water to his hot
lips
"An right. Perhaps you learned
about delirium, too. Because I'm go
ing to be delirious shortly. Please
listen to me. so you can tell the doctor.
Tell him about my spine. Jack knows
my address ii OF course. Remind him ~
really am smashed send for my cousin.
Ames Higginson-Porter. Higginson &
Fayerweather. Boston. Got that
Yes. yes" she hooded pacincally. .
I can't understand why that man
my spine oh, well .
you know this 10 hurting = little too
much . thank God I'll be crazy ray
my back %Ims a. vii, your ~ Kem no nsse
they cut in around the corners and
skid awfully-the fools leave their
chains of till the last minute ."
He knew that this vas nonsense.
and that nurses didn't wear chains.
but he could not resist urging her to
put them on.
But never use tho brakes, what
ever you do" he warned her. "or il
you qust. the emergency-never your
foot brake"
IN remember. Drink this" she
said. out Of q haze.
You're only humoring me: don't
think don't know it," he assured her.
TT simply talk this way because
wish to- know where I am. all right.
But as a trained nurse you're a joke.
you know. All I say is. if you pay
for traffic squad why not pay some
attention to them"
And then a delicious muggy uncer-
sea of warm glue should rise from
ankle to knee. from knee to hip. He
took great clumsy, swaying STEPS
through this glue, and sometimes
they were not steps. but thoughts and
words. 30 that he laughed at the en-
actually swimming, but only in his
mind, for his legs were bound and
burning in plaster 9asts. For a long
time ne knew great pain.
At lss ~ he sat at up d in bed gaunt and
room with a clear. tired mind.
80 that parts over" he said "And
now. nurse. what's the damage?"
~, I'm afraid I can't tell you. Mr.,
FOR heavens sake. IT'S your he
said. Have you been studying nurs-
ing lately. BY any chance? Did you
Il always knew What it was" she
assured him, gravely.
"oh! Can You take a tempera-
IT can. Mr.. Thayer."
>. 600" Geo work yo;l,.. Think you're going
Il haven't made up my mind" she
said seriously. but her gray eyes
crinkled.. lighted and then laughed
and the laughter spread subtfy down
her pale face to her lips Parting
widely. they showed him square
| white fAAfhs her an1f1a
and friendly and American, but the
triangle face. with it's thick, pale
hair, was neither Yankee nor south
see here" he began persuasively
when can I see a regular one? Aren't
there any doctors in this place? Some
body shot some dope into me, didn't
theyr
They certainly did" she agreed
cause you probably haven't come t.
hypodermics. yet" ne went on.
She smiled indulgently.
"The doctor will be here in a few
minutes" she said. It'll wash your
Coffee"
II don't mind the coffee" he ad.
mitted, ''but suppose you 60 and try the
face washing on somebody else. first
and see how it goes. what? Just give il
q try-out. you know. When you've go1
INC uHH8 Ot III VIC II tt1Ah IL Vv0f.
I'm glad you're feeling better. Mr.
Thayer," she said.
When he confronted the surgeon. whit
sat with an interested inferno. a house
physician, q new, dark-eyed nurse anC
an x-ray operator about his bed, Thay.
err tucked . cigarette into one corner
Of his mouth and grinned cheerfully al
, them; but his hands were clinched undel
the sheet
well, suppose you tell mo all abou,
it," he said 'Ts it plaster, or crutches
or do we OPERATOR Is one Of you az
undertaken? Just give me an idea. ant
. I'm here to cooperate to any EXTENT"
That's the way to look lat it. Mr.. Hig
ginson." said the surgeon apprecia lively
land you're certainly good sport. Blu
, there's no undertaken involved-thougl
you did your best to cooperate with one
will say. 1t wasn't your fault that 20,
failed"
''Wel1 we'll pass up the undertaken
, then" said Thayer, and his palms grew
! moist "But how about my legs? How
} many do I keep"