The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-12-31
CHAPTER ILContinued

uduuS lOWdTu lue tray, WHICH Sledlue'
afar off, elusively through a blacl
cloud
''The one 1 handed you. Don
stare at me like fool :"
Joan bent over the tray, putting gu
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 wa!
breathing the last wisps of life away
She fingered the instruments in the
tray feebly and nervelessly, and hel
hands seemed numbed and useless
Her fingers closed on something anG
brought it out Then Lancaster's
hand closed over hers, tore it away
and flung it back with a 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 bichIoride, 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
ho- ctr
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. Its a pity the poor fellow
will never know how much 1 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
sting your time. You've killed
man this morning." he beloved. IF
I can't have women about me with
rsti onal 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 !"
J,,an looked at him in amazement. |
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,sd, and she was sick from the
fumes which still penetrated the the
atel. She tried to answer him, but
cou not utter word and broke into
teals instead, sobb.ng in complete
nervous abandonment.
Lancaster turned from her with
wry face. well, gentlemen" he said.
with an affectation of jovialne SIS, bet
operation was not successful. but.
after all, the patients life is not the
thing The method was cor
rect. you see, but l did not reckon on
IN Incompetent assistant"
"l'1t the blame on the anesthetic,
Ooct If Lancaster" said white
bear, ed surgeon. with chivalrous in
emf. with nephritis history opera
iorr useless. Better let them die
,eas efully."
y did not quite grasp the technical
you spoke of, Doctor Lam
.aster," said another. ITO my mind
I was the original Leonard operation,
Except that"
"Vrhy did you divide the arterial
oats below the site of the aneurism"
uerit a third. -a--4--.--
Lancaster led them from the the
ter. ,,xpostulating and explaining.
he dal k-haired girl fingered with the '
ponges. The assistant surgeons had
lready gone hurriedly out. Joan put I
er tray ,way. She still was unable
D control her sobs.
Suddenly Lancaster reappeared. fu- p
ous after the cross-examination to L
hitch he had been subjected. He y
anne straig ut toward Joan with a face II
{ malice. Unconscious of her pitiful
spect as child might have been, c
le raised her streaming face and n
'oked at hin. Z
"You had no right to speak to me j
ke that, VIII ltever did" she said.
whatever you did? Whatever you OF
lied to dol What do you think you a
e here fer?" he stormed. NJ
He giared at her, turned away. hes d
tied, and then came back. A
That's just the way with you
omen," he cried. you lost that case m
= ,e. And now you are thinking ia