New Britain herald., 1922-05-03
The Surprise Katherine Sprang On
 Lillian.

Ilillhn,
 Lillian looked a bit grave at kath erine's playful little remark concern ing her patient.
 Don't make the mistake of con siderine him harmless" she cautioned Hes bad performer that lad, Hei just as soon put q knife between you short ribs as drink a cup of broth
 q know that" Katherine ac quiesced "I'Ve seen his type before But he won't be able to try any littl tricks for many months to come, In deed, 1t is doubtful whether he ma, not be crippled for life, He was ahou as badly injured, ] gather, as on, could be and live. Dr. Pettit told m that the old saying about every bon in the badly being broken came thu nearest being true in his case ot an, he had even seen, He's rather mir acle of surgery I gather--what's lief of him-and the hospital is yer, = proud of him. But it must have beer a terrible accident"
 Tt was" Lillian returned, while shuddered at the remembrance of tha
 
 the crash, and I don't want 10 heal another like it for q week or two anyway. But I'm glad he's tractablt yes, and crippled she added grim ly. Hen give you the less trouble if you get the chance to go on with him."
 I'll have that all right Rather. inc rejoined, and there was a con f1dent finaii'y in her voice which made us both glance at her quickly But if she had any secret assurance tC bolster up her assertion, she evident, ly did not propose to reveal 1t to us just yet. Instead she swiftly switched to the beginning of her nursing, as Lillian had asked.
 hatherinc's Story.
 He has given me no trouble al all,' she said, since the first day l came on. when. for d little, he was inclined to he rebellious. But he's pretty shrewd. and l was able to make him see that every bit of disobedience or unwillingness to help on his part kept postponing the day he could leave the hospital. After that he was like a lamb, for he is wild to be out. He has two stock questions, which l am sure, without exagseration, he asks every ten minutes during his waking hours. They will ring in my ears always, I believe"
 She laughed as she spoke, making light of the annoyance. but l think Lillian realized, as I did, the nervous strain so apparently slight a thing might become.
 They are very short" she went on, and couched Tn broken English. al- though l have sneaking idea he can talk much more intellisibly if he wishes. One is, 'Pleeze, Misses ven get out by here?' The other 'Pleeze, Misses, nobody coon see me yet?'"
 There was quick. sibilant intake of the breath from Lillian.
 T knew it :" she said Hes ex- pecting some one to look him up."
 He was" Katherine corrected. His visitor today evidently filled the bill, for he hasn't asked the question con- corning 8 visitor since. But he has worked the other one overtime"
 'oO IOu hUtW-
 She paused aud smiled apologetical- ly at us,
 I'll have to refresh my memory 8 bit, as the lawyers say"
 We've all the time there is" Lil- Han returned.
 There really isn't anything more to tell until today" Katherine re- Ia as you call him, had been asking to see Joe-thats my patient, and the only name he will give--for two or three days, but Dr. Petit wouldn't permit it. because of Joe's condition. Today he lifted the ban, however, and the man Smith came in. I went out into the hall to see him first, and he said his name was Anton.-'iuSt An ton'-they shy at the surnames, evil dently. His appearance was that of Joes type, but he couldn't quite keep his character. The gesture with which he involuntariy swept his hat from his head was that of a man ac- customed to social usages, and there were several other tiny mannerisms which betrayed him.
 T took him directly to Joe with out preparation. I know now they never had set eyes upon each other before, but when they looked at each other you'd never have thought it. Anton walked over to the bed, looked down at Joe, and said wournfully, We'll, veil, poor old Joe. You have vun bad time And I'll bet you tink old Anton never come near you, eh?