The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-12-11
CHAPTER IV-Continued


The girl. after a moments hesita-
ton, preceded Mrs. Fraser into the
building. She saw a long corridor.
with a number of doors on either side.
and the stairs in front of her.
you would like to see the build
ing, Miss Wentworth" asked the ma
tron. "Or perhaps you are tired and
would prefer to go to your room"
mo, l should like to see 1t. Have
you many patients?"
"Only Mrs. Dana. She's always
here, you know. There was a boy
with a broken arm, but he left this
morning. In winter. though, we're
often crowded. 1t isn't much OF a
place, Miss Wentworth. but we do a
little good. This Is the doctors apart
ment. He sleeps here; next door is
the clinic, and next to that the operat-
Ing room. Here we keep the supplies.
This Is my room. Mr.. Myers, the sec
rotary, has his room opposite the doc
tors. This is the dining room. and
here is the kitchen. Now I'll show you
your room upstairs. Miss Wentworth
The corridor above was a replica OF
the one below. At the head OF the
stairs a little passage branched OF
toward a large window I'm the wall,
with a door to one side OF II.
Mrs. Dana occupies this ROOM"
said the matron. Perhaps the doc
tor mentioned herr"
Doctor Lancaster said something
"She is out of her mind, poor wom-
an, but she is perfectly quiet. You
see, Miss Wentworth, she is like an
infant mentally. She will not trouble
you. Excuse me a moment"
She drew a key from the bunch that
hung at her waist and unlocked the
door very softly. and with a certain
furtiveness, Joan thought. Looking
In, the girl saw a strikingly handsome
woman Of about seven and thirty
years, seated In a chair beside win
dow, with a shawl over her knees. She
was in a dressing gown, and her hair
hung over her shoulders In two braids.
She did not look up or stir as the
matron entered, and Mrs. Fraser. after
CLOSING the OoOF utliiu bttf Ptt7thfJ
came out and locked II again
sT'lI show you your room now. Miss
Wentworth" she said "You will be
alone on this floor except for Mrs.
Dana, but you are not afraid OF herr
"Not in the least. Is she Incurablef"
Eyes, quite, poor thing. She has
sat in that chair all DAY for nearly
three years"
And never goes outT
"Out7 No. we don't let her out. II
might excite her. But I am not sup
posed TO speak about the cases. It's
very sad. though. She comes OF a
very good family, and they neglected
her when she was In trouble. Miss
Wentworth, and she's as good as dead
TO Everyone now. She never speaks.
but don't know whether she could
I've never heard her since came
here three years ago. This is the
ward. And this Is your room"
The open doors along the corridor
had revealed clean little rooms with
iron bedsteads and plain furniture;
the room at the end Of the passage.
however. was well furnished. with
heavy new carpet and old mahogany
furniture. Outside the window.
through the twilight appeared the
distant mountains
Jean. turning. was surprised TO see
Mrs. Fraser watching her intenfly. As
their eyes met the mstron lowered
her ouu In some confusion. There
was a furiiveness about her glance
that momentarily revived Joan's IN
easlne.s Is WAS strange journey,
and Doctor Lancaster's behavior had
been strange Then there was me
man Myers Joan felt q sudden sink
ing OF the heart: she was almost re-
greffui that she had come
A cIored maid brought Up her suit
case.
This Is Lucy" said the matron.
srfe win do anything you tell her.