Evening star., 1923-05-27

course. How much good he had done
and how he came to rely on himself
because in the country there was no
one to consult with.
| However, she was not 50 gentle
with the staff. She said that it was
standing by and letting patient die,
because it was too polite to interfere,
although they had all agreed among
themselves that an operation was nee
essary. And would they refuee to
pull a child from in front OF g. loco
motive because 1t was It's mothers
business, and she didn't know how to
do it?
Then she signed II.
| She turned It In at the Sentinel Of
| fee the next morning through crack
| in the door. The editor saw thai she
wore no cap.
| "But-sec here" he said, you're ac-
,epted, you know. Where's the-the
visible sign?"
After you read that" she said.
you'll understand"
| He read 1t Immediately, Of course.
It's sheer courage made him gasp.
| Good girl" he said to himself.
Brave little girl. But it finishes her
here, and she knows It,"
| While he was getting it ready he
felt as IL he was Sharpening knife
| to stab her with. Her own knife. too.
| The paper came out at o'clock
At the first assistant, looking ex-
tremely white, relieved Jane Brown
| of the care of Fl ward.
| Jane Brown eyed her wistfully.
I'm not to come back, suppose?"
I'm afraid not" the first assistant
said.
Jane Brown went up the ward and
looked at Johnny Fraser. Then she
gathered up her bandage scissors and
her little dressing forceps and went
out.
The first assistant took step after
her, but stopped. There were tears in
her eyes.
Things moved very rapidly in the
| hospital that day. while Jane Brown
sat alone in her room.
| First Of all the staff met and sum-
moned Twenty-Five. He went down in
the eievator-he had lost Elizabeth a
few days before and was using a cane
ready for trouble. He had always
met a fight more than half way. 1t
| was the same instinct that had taken
| him to the fire.
| But no one wanted to fight. The
staff was not angry. On the contrary,
1t was trying its extremely intelli-
| gent best to see things from a new
| angle.
| The senior surgical interne was
waiting outside as unhappy as an
| inferno can be.
What the devil made you publish
it?" he demanded.
| twenty-five smiled.
| Because" he said, 'I have always
had a sneaking desire to publish a
| paper where public questions can be
discussed. II this isn't a public ques-
ton don't know one when I see it,
! But he was not smiling when he
went in.
| An hour later DIR. Willie came. He
had brought some flowers for the
| children's ward, and his arms were
bulging. He was invited to the staff
! room. :"
ITO the eternal credit of the staff,
| Jane Browns part in that pain
| full half hour was never known. The
staff was careful, too, of DR.. Willie,
particularly since, after the first two
| minutes, every one of them liked DR..
Willie. He took it so awfully we'll.
He faced the white-coated staff and
said that he hoped he was man
| enough to acknowledge a mistake,
and six opinions against one left him
nothing else to do. The senior sur
! gical inferno, who had been hating
him for weeks. offered him a cigar.
He had only one request to make.
| There was a little girl in the train
| ing school who believed in him, and
he would like to go to the ward and
write the order for the operation
| himself
Which he did. But Jane Brown
was not there.
Late that evening the first assist
ant, passing along the corridor in the
dormitory, was accosted by a quiet
figure in a blue uniform, without a
cap.
How is heo"
The first assistant was feeling more
cheerful than usual.
"Of course, ii is very soon. but he
stood it WELL" she said run up to
the operating room and help to clear
away"
She was very wise, the first assist
ant. For Jane Brown went, and
washed away some of the ache with
the stains of Johnny's operation.
Here, all about her, were the tangi-
Bile evidences of her triumph, which
was also defeat. A little glow Of
service revived In her. II Johnny
lived 1t was a small price to pay for
a life. II he died she had given him
his chance.
1t was the night nurse who told
| Twenty-Five that Jane Brown was in
the operating room. He was still UP
at midnight but the sheets of tomor-
rows editorial lay blank on his table.
There's a rumor going about" she
said, that the Quarantine's to be lift
ed tomorrow"
Tomorrow" said Twenty-Five, in
a startled voice.
II suppose you'll be going out at
once?"
There was wistful note in her
voice. He had been an oasis of cheer
in the dreary rounds of the night.
Il wonder" said Twenty-Five. in a
curious tone, IF you will give me my