New Britain herald., 1923-12-01
Dr. Braithwaite Brought News
 of the Operation

Wed love to have you come home with us,' 1 ventured, when Alfred, Leila, Dicky and l had reached the street door of the hospital where lit tie Mrs. Durkee awaited the nor rows ordeal of a surgical operation.
 T know you would" Alfred re- turned, but we must be as close to the hospital as we can get for the next day or two. We have rooms al- ready engaged at that little hotel on the corner"
 Whittier l shall soon descend upon you with that bag of Leila's left at the apartment" Dicky inter- posed. Come, Madge, let's beat it" A Restless Night
 Suppose YOU beat it" Alfred suggested, "and leave Madge with us until you get it."
 AS hostage, eh?'' Dicky laughed. Well, I suppose my repu- tation DOES justify such slam. Don't worry, Madge, I'll redeem you within the half hour"
 He was as good as his word. ln- iced it was five minutes less than the time named when he appeared at the door of the tiny suite-siting room, bedroom and bath-which Alfred had secured. We remained but a minute or two afterward, only waiting to assert to Alfreds promise that we meet them at the hospital carly the next morning.
 That poor gink looks as if he had a ticket to the heated regions, with no return check" Dicky commented, as we waited on the corner for taxi. Its selfish, but I certainly am glad I'm not in his shoes. Sup pose it were MGher there tonight or YOU"-thC last word with an ex- pIosiveness which gave me com forting sense of his real affection for me, in spite of his Peter Pan wander ings.
 But I made him no reply save a tremulous smile. I could not have spokep without tears, for my nerves, keyed up for hours were perilousiy near snapping, and l was glad indeed that Dicky was too tired-or too ab- sorbed in his thoughts-either to talk or to notice my nervousness. neky tumbled into bed directly after he reached the apartment and was asleep in five minutes, But it was after midnight before I lost myself in slumber, and the rest of the night was succession Of fitful dozcs, shot through with fantastic. contorted dreams.
 Unrefreshed, with throbbing head and jerky nerves, l awakened early, and after preparing break fast, which l could only pretend to eat in order to deceive Dicky, l went with him to the hospital. Pnrposely we reached there earlier than the hour Alfred had named, in order that Leila might not be left to herself in the reception room even for a lew minutes. She came in with her hns- hand a few minutes later, and the re- lief upon Afred's face royalty re- warded us for the effort.
 "You people are the salt Of the carth," he said frevently, '1 won't be long, Sweetheart" he turned to Leila. You know they're only go- ing to let me stay a few minutes"
 Never mind me, dear,"s she an swered with brave attempt to hide tho trembling of her lips. 'I shall be all right, now that Madge is here.'
 Waiting For the News
 Dicky walked with Alfred as far as the elevator, and then came back 10 us for the tense quarter of an hour which elapsed before Alfred, pallid, ,isibly shaken, but holding himself in an iron grip, entered the reception room.
 Are they" Leila began trem- ulously.
 "They have just taken her into the operating room" he answered quietly.
 Did pr. Braithwaite say how long?" Dicky aueried.
 "He doesn't know, but it will be nearly an hour, at best, before they can tell us nything-unless-
 Dicky did not permit him to finish that sentence.
 Well, then" he said, there isn't the slightest use of all of us sitting |