The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-11-05
CHAPTER I-Continued


Joan started and stretched out he
hands toward the tray, which CLEANED
afar off, elusively through a blacl
cloud.
1.-THE one 1 handed you. Don't
stare ct me like a 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 gasping signs, as if 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 it out. Then Lancaster's
hand closed over hers, tore it away,
and flung it back with splash. Joan's
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 pity the poor fellow
will never know how much l have
done for him."
Joan felt the visiting surgeons dis
gust at the execrable jest. Lancaster
seemed to sense it, too.
Unfortunately" he continued, "the
best of surgeons is not proof against |
the stupidity of nurse"
And he turned upon Joan fiercely. |
what is your name?" he demanded. |
Miss Wentworth, Doctor Lancas-
ter
"yell, you're no use here You're
wasting your time. You've killed a
man this morning." he beloved. "If |
I can't have women about me with
rati ,nal heads on their shoulders I'll
get a gang of Chinese chop suey men.
Get out and earn your living as ste
nographer or saleslady. That's all
your talents are fit for, Miss Went
WORTH"
Jan looked at him in amazement.
At lis first words. at his tone, she had
felt the shock of anger in her heart
gat. err itself and leap to meet his own.
But his rage frightened her, her head
ach',d. and she was sick from the
fumes which still penetrated the the
atel. She tried to answer him, but
lou d not utter word and broke into
eals instead, sobbing in complete
nervous abandonment
Lancaster turned from her with a
yry face. "Well, gentlemen" he said,
With an affectation of jovialness, bet
er luck next time. I'm sorry the
peration was not successful. but.
lfter all, the patients life is not the
principal thing. The method was cor
ect. you see, but l did not reckon on
n Incompetent assistant"
"'It the blame on the anesthetic,
)oct IF Lancaster" said white
eart'e ed surgeon, with chivalrous in
emf. with nephritis history opera
lor /, useless. Better let them die
eas afully." t
y did not quite grasp the technical $
you spoke of, Doctor Ian .
aster," said another. ITO my mind v
was the original Leonard operation, S
kept that" 5
"V'hy did you divide the arterial v
pats below the site of the aneurism?" II
ueried third.
Lancaster led them from the the t
ter, ',xpostulating and explaining e
lO uni n-hdicu girl ilnSeTeU WITH tne | W
'onges. The assistant surgeons had b
ready gone hurriedly out. Joan put p
'r tray ,way. She still was unable
control her sobs. II
Suddenly Lancaster reappeared, fu- p
ous after the cross-examination to n
hich he had been subjected He y,
me straign Mt toward Joan with face 1t
malice. Unconscious Of her pitiful
pect as child might have BEEN &C
e raised her streaming face and m
)ked at him. to
You had no right to speak to me il
e that, VIII ltever | did," she said.
Whatever you did? Whatever you OF
lied to do What do you think you ar
e here fer?" he stormed. M
He giared at her, turned away, hes be
ted, and then came back. Al
That's just the way with you
men," e cried. you lost that case me-