The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-10-22
Chapter 1

81 let him see | wouldn't stand for
he understood, even if l didn't have
to say much" remarked the dark
haired girl to Joan Wentworth. at
doesn't seem to have occurred to Doc
tor Lancaster yet that a nurse is a
human being under her uniform.
eff he'd treat us half as nicely as
he treats some of his lady friends"
she added, in q suggestive tone that
changed into the accentuation of ordi-
nary speech under Joans discouraging
look. "Ive seen him driving them
round town nights in his auto, and
I've never seen the same one twice. i
guess he takes it out on US when
they've been mean to him."
Joan did not answer her. She was
watching the head surgeon as he came
into the operating theater. At his en-
trance the general buzz of converse
ton ceased, as If the outpouring of
words had been cut off with a knife.
The students on the benches settled
themselves in their places and craned
their heads forward intently. The two
assistant surgeons. Ivers and MacPher-
son. assumed attitudes of constraint.
for everybody was constrained in Lam
casters presence. The orderly, who
had been peering through the crack
of the swinging door into the anes-
thetic room. where the head nurse was
holding the patients wrist and watch
Ing the face beneath the mask intent
Iy, Strengthened himself and stood up
In military fashion. Only the visiting
doctors seemed at their ease as they
advanced to shake hands with John
Lancaster.
They had come from several neigh
boring cities, drawn by the news that
ope, alton of arterial excelsior. which
was Just then the subject of discussion
In the medical press. Plenty of sur
geons had tried TO remove section
of one of the larger blood vessels. but
only Lancaster had succeeded in
bringing down the mortality to 10 per
cent
Lancaster was something of mys-
tery both to his colleagues and TO the
nursing staff. The Lancaster fund
supported the Southern hospital. and
John Lancaster was firmly established
at the head OF the institution. The
board of guardians. which existed nc
cording to the terms laid down in his
fathers will. had apparently only an |
advisory capacity. and 1t was supple |
md plastic in Iancaster's hands. And |
John Lancaster was more feared and |
admired than any doctor in the |
Feared by most for his tyranny, ad-
mIred by very few on account of his
skill. he seemed to have |
a dual personality. The man whose |
fast life was the scandal of the con-
servative little southern seaport. who
was ostracized by the better families.
whose infrequent appearances In the
hospital were usually the occasion for
In Justice, storms and dismissaS
changed In the operating theater into
D max whose gentleness and humility
and skill made him adored for the time
~ all who came into contact with him.
But II was only rarely that case
secured that required his attention.
On such occasions his manner was
IN itself remarkable. He would slip
stealthily into his private room. dress
here. and emerge masked like n
to perform his miracle almost
II silence. and afterward to make his
escape in way suggestive Of his hav-
ng performed some shameful action.
So much Joan Wentworth had heard.
Naturally she watched his entrance on
Ids. her first day Of surgical work.
With absorbed interest. Put Lancaster
tme In unmasked. and Joan could dis
'ern nothing humble or secretive In
he self-sstisfied face or the brisk