Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-11-14

Lord, yes. he's got the number. DR..
Thompson. Man stopped dead in his
own tracks-lost his head. apparently
he may and he may not, sir. We
can tell better, later. Thank you.
Officer"
Suddenly they were moving along.
How goes It: sportT said a new
'There was an accident" said Thayer
now: Queer@queer-
well, why don't your said the voice.
philosophically. mo harm in fainting.
Let her go!'
50 this time he must have sposssn:
| I'm not dead, anyhow" he thought /;
but maybe wil1-people do
(And yet all tho while. he knew he
was not like the rest. Others died, but
he, Thayer Ames Higginson. was not
like that. Death comes to other5-net
to us)
And while he meditated on this and
kindred subjects and wondered that his
pains, though bad, were not worse. they
embarked into an elevator. and sudden
ly John appeared, white and shaken,
and then, somehow. he fell asleep.
When he woke he was looking at .
woman in white uniform who leaned
sideways in an armchair beside his bed.
Her head, dropping toward him. was
bound round and round with pale, ash.
blonde hair; her eyebrows were broad
and dark. She was quite obviously fast
asleep His legs ached violently and the
slightest attempt at movement tortured
his back, but he did not need to move
his head to find out that he was in
private room in hospital and that a
trained nurse was sleeping beside him.
His mind felt particularly clear and
active; he was extremely anxious to
know how badly and how permanently
he had been injured he resented Johns
absence. Was there no doctor to at
tend to him? What time was 1t? What
| an inefficient method of handling his
| case, anyway! What did that woman
think she was doing?
He essayed a slight cough; beyond an
| excruciating twinge at the base OK nie
skull this produced no results. He
Eroaned tentatively: though less palm
full. it was quite as ineffective; the nurse
| slept on.
Good gracious!" he burst out angrily,
\ this is too idioticI"
The nurse stirred. raised her hand to
her head Vaguely, blinked and sat up.
did you want anything" she asked.
| yawning.
II wanted you to wake up" said
! Thayer bluntly. 81 can't seem to move.
Are my legs in casts? How bad are the
! breaks"
The nurse essayed again to straiShten
her absurd little cap. but only succeeded
(
' II wouldn't try to move" she
! said doubtfully. Just lie still. Shall l
! get you a drink" ~ ~.
want to know what is the matter with
me-"
, CHE rose and stood by him. smooth
- ing down the sheet with d slim,
,long-fingered hand.
ITS all right" she said. kindly
enough, though she did not smile
you're doing very well. MINT
tThayer. Really. very well. the doctor
said. He'll look in again later. only
don't move much.
! .Muchr" he cried. IT can't move at
all, and you know it! Am paralyzed:
might as well know. you know
ooh, don't think So" she said.
"Humph! What's going 10 be done
labout my back"
"Does it ache?" she asked.
Does it ache! See here. nurse. you
know what happened to me. don't you!
You know as well as 1 do"
II don't know anything at all about
1t, Mr.. Thayer." she said quietly. I'm
only specializing you"
you don't know" he gasped. and
glared helplessly at her.
DO you mean to say you don't know
whether I've got appendicitis or-ol
mumps!"
Il don't think you've got mumps." she
answered gravely. but I've just come
on the case. I'm a special"
And nobody told you"
NO." she said; "shan't I get you q
drink"
"If it will make you any happier
yes" he muttered. ''Please see II m,
LEG is in q cast"
She put her hand under the bee
clothes.
Both of them" she answered
THANK YOU" he said shortly.
She raised her head for the drink
but his sharp groan stopped her.
NO CO." he whispered. Il wonder
il they know I'm afraid
, is a doctor coming soon? My spire'f
r dislocated. Get the pillow out. viii
you? The fatter l lie. the better"
She obeyed him silently.
IF you could massage it. till some
body comes. 1t would take down thu
congestion" he said. his words RUNNING
> together uncertainty. Il don't believe