The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-11-13
CHAPTER Continued


afar off, elusively through a black
cloud.
''The one | handed you. Don't
stare at me like fool"
Joan bent over the tray, putting out
one hand TO the table TO support her
self. She was conscious that every
thing was suspended and that every
one was watching her. In the inter
minable interval she heard the pa
TENTS gasplng signs, as II he was
breathing the last wisps of life away.
She fingered the instruments in the
tray feebly and nervelessly, and her
hands seemed numbed and useless.
Her fingers closed on something and
brought II out. Then Lancasters
hand closed over hers. tore II away,
and flung IL back with a splash. Joans
hand dropped to her side, paralyzed
by the painful pressure. The next In
slant Lancaster had the scalpel and
whirled swiftly back toward the table,
upsetting the bichloride, which Tapped
over the patients feet.
The moments went by like hours
At last Joan became aware. through
the sudden unraveling of the suspense,
that the crux of the operation was
over. Her head grew clear again. She
saw the assistant surgeons unfasten-
ing the artery clamps. The head
nurse rose to her feet, not looking at
the patient. Joan realized that she
was crying. and her strong. epicene
face looked grotesque in grief. The
orderly came up. and together they
placed the patient on the stretcher.
And suddenly Joan knew that the
man was dead.
As the stretcher was wheeled out OF
the theater Lancaster turned toward
his visitors.
"A very successful piece OF work.
he said. "It's a pity the poor fellow
will never know how much have
done for him."
Joan felt the visiting surgeons dis
gust at the execrable jest. Lancaster
seemed TO sense II, too.
UNFORTUNATELY" he continued, THE
best of surgeons is not proof against
the STUPIDITY VI u hui &c.
And he turned upon Joan fercely.
'what is your manner" he demanded.
Miss wentworth, Doctor Lancas-
ter
"geII, you're no use here You're
wasting your time. You've killed
man this morning" he beloved. III
l can't have women about me with
rati ,nal heads on their shoulders III
get a gang OF Chinese chop suey mem
Get out and earn your living as a ste
nographer or saleslady. That's all
your talents are iii for. Miss Went
worth 7"
loan looked at him in Amusement.
AT lis first words. at his tone, she had
felt the shock OF anger In her heart
gat, or itself and leap to meet his own
But his rage frightened her, her head
ach ID. and she was sick from the
fumes which still penetrated the the
atel. She tried to answer him. but
con not utter word and broke into
teas instead, sobbing In complete
ner 'ous abandonment
Lancaster turned from her with a
wrv face. "Well, gentlemen" he said,
Will an affectation of jovialness, bet
ter luck next time. I'm sorry the
one alton was not successful, but.
after all. the patients life is not the
mir cipal thing. The method was cor
rect. you see, but did not reckon on
an Incompetent assistant"
.1sut the blame on the anesthetic'
Doct n Lancaster" said a white
bear, ed surgeon. with chivaIrous In
tent with a nephritis history opera
t,op, useless. Better let them die
pear fully"
II did not quite grasp the technical
innovation You spoke Of. Doctor Ian
caster.- said another. ITO my mind
II was the original Leonard operation.
except that"
-vrhy did you divide the arterial
coats below the site Of the aneurismf
ouerss d a third
Lancaster led them from the the
.tsr consolidating and explaining.
The dan K haired girl fingered win the
xnonges. The assistant surgeons had
already zone hurriediy out Joan put
her tray way she stili was unable
10 control her sobs-
I slddeni, Lancaster reappeared. fu-
rious after the cross-examination to
viii n be had been subjected HE
came straight toward Joan with face
Of malice. Unconscious % her pififui
aspect as child might have been.
she raised her streaming face and
look ed at hIu-
you had 40 right TO speak to noe
,pse that. VIII itever did" she said
-yFhafever you didr Whatever you
failed TO do what do you think you
are here fer7- he stormed
he gfarsd at her, turned away hes
ltsfcd, and then came back
that's just the way with you
v,u ME cried you lost that case