The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-11-19
Chapter III


room, with the sense of an institution,
though It was well furnished She
saw the white enameled table, the
glass case full of instruments, the
empty court outside; then John Lam
caster himself, alone, standing with
bent head behind a chair on which
he was leaning.
AS Joan entered an inner door be-
gan to open. Joan knew that the man
with whom Lancaster had been quar-
reling was inside room behind 1t.
She dreaded lest he should come in !;
but suddenly the door closed.
She looked at Lancaster again II
was still quite light within the con-
sulting room, but Lancaster, standing
with his back to the window, was in
silhouette, so that Joan could not see
his face clearly.
well, MADAME" he asked, raising
his head.
II came to speak to you about this
morning." began Joan hurriedly. 1T
means"
ne luulCdteO d CHdlI. ne was SdL-
ing at her with some embarrassment
Joan thought because of the scene in
which he had just participated. Tell
me the trouble" he began, as she
seated herself. drawing up his own
chair toward hers.
rIow Joan could see his face, and.
to her establishment, it did not bear
the expression of the Sinking bully
whom she had seen that morning, nor
vet of the man who had addressed
another man in such terms as one
might use to q slave. 1t was not an
unkindly face. And it was unmistak-
ably that of sick man.
For a moment she remembered the
stories told of his behavior in the OPP
Grating theater. of the gentleness that
seemed to transform the man, as If
he possessed a dual personality. Then
she was recalled to herself by Lam
casters repetition of his remark.
Joan rose up hastily. She realized
that the doctor had mistaken her for
patient. Her face meant nothing
to him. any more than her distress OF
the day had affected him. With a
nervous movement she unfastened her
clotk, disclosing her uniform.
81 am Miss Wentworth" she ex-
planned. 81 came to tell you'll came
to say" Then. treading out her
pride once more. 81 came to ask If
you won't reconsider your decision to
suspend me- My work means every
thing to me. 1t is my life work, my
vocation. l always wanted to be a
nurse. 1 felt that it was my task to
help alleviate suffering. Doctor Lam
caster, apart from my own interests.
want to graduate to be able to lelp |
others. Won't you give me another
opportunity?"
She spoke with her hands uncon- !
sciously clasped before her; the rec |
objection of her earlier hopes. the |
thought Of their Illustration brought |
a culver into her voice. When she |
stopped she saw that Lancaster was
looking at her with obvious interest. |
"Tell me about this morning" he
said quietly.
81 had to come away without
breakfast, and the fumes of the ether
made me faint. was nearly fainting
when you asked me for the scalpel.
and l couldn't see the tray. Indeed
II was not the operation that made
me Ill. I have never been reprimand-
ed before. The lady superintendent
had told me several times that the
hospital appreciated my work. So
hoped you would Be willing to over
ook my blunder and let me graduate"
Lancaster looked at her with sin
yular expression that seemed to mask
lis thoughts. She could not tell how
Ter plea had Impressed him. When
,e spoke she was dumfoupded by the
,arshness and casualness o. his tone.
"Why have you come to my house
tcat this3' he asked This Is not .