The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-11-12
CHAPTER II-Continued

habitants Joan was as isolated as sh
Her life was as unsophisticated an
as simple, and she was so unacquaint
ed with the conditions and circum
stances of existence that her dismissa
seemed to her an irreparable disaster
She had won good opinions. she hat
been praised. and ii seemed monstrou
that her faintness at a critical momen
should have ruined her whole life
prospects. What made the tragedy
the less tolerable was the admixturt
of the farcical. There was a simple
and absurd explanation. Mrs. Webb's
colored cook, Amanda, had quarrelet
with her mistress thai morning, and
Joan had had to go to the hospital
without her breakfast.
She got UP and walked slowly home
ward without having resolved her
problem. Inside the boarding house
the air was like a furnace, and the
smell of cooking was triumphant and
dominant.
Inside the kitchen, seen through the
open door, was Amanda, the cook, and
Mrs. Webb, the landlady.
Here's Amanda again! :" Mrs. Webb
called to Joan. my dear, the idea
of your running away without your
breakfast this morning! Now. you sit
right down and have your lunch, Miss
Wentworth -
Joan was not hungry, but it was i'm
possible to oppose the resolute insist
ence of Mrs. Webb, backed by the
penitent cook, whose black face, as
she fitted from the kitchen to the
dining room. radiated remorse and
good intentions.
Zone can't get along without the
proper food at the proper times" said
Mrs. Webb as she set down the
dishes before Joan. But call 1t real
sensible of you TO have come home
early. Some girls wouldn't have
thought of that"
Joan choked suddenly, and Mrs.
Webb perceived her distress. She
bent over her and placed a kitchen
roughened hand upon her shoulder
MY dear. what is it? What is the
matter? Something gone wrong at
that old hospita?" she asked. Tell
me now, honey!"
1T isn't anything, Mrs. Webb" said
Joan, striving valiantly to keep back
her tears "Well, then, rm-Pm dis
charged"
Mrs. Webb withdrew her hand and
placed 1t upon one hip. bringing the
other into corresponding position. She
glared at Joan, as the convenient
focus of her Indignation.
II never heard of such a thingi" she
cried. who's dared to discharge you.
Miss Wentworth? Why, it was only
yesterday Miss Gray was saying you
were the only one in the hospital that
attended to her work instead of trying |
to make dates with the doctorsl I've |
had the nurses two years now. Miss |
Wentworth. and they amt a snap bet |
ter than the salesladies used to keep. |
A pack of featherheads If some of |
them had been discharged 'twould |
serve them right. But not you. my
dear. It's that old Doctor Lancaster"
ut was. and think. he was right.
felt faint from the smell of ether"
"Of course you did," cried Mrs.
" ebb. 81 always knew the day would
,ome when you would. Those smells
make my head go round and round
| take the short cut that
side of the park. | always said you
weren't cut out for that sort of work.
rs all right for them strong he-horse
drls that's made for it. but what you
iced is to marry some good man who
an take care of you. not TO go nurs-
ng lot Of dock-hands and seeing
'eople's insides opened up. It's my
elief that when the Lord put our in
idey inside and our outsides outside
e otant 'em to stay there" snorted
IRIS Webb.
I" vell." said Joan YEARLY. ITS end
d low. And | don't know what I'm
OH e to do"
tut say ii isn't ended" cried ,
fri Webb. concentrating all her in
ign ition against Lancaster in ven I
me is glare at Joan. ''Ifs only just
egt1. If that old Doctor Lancaster S
ar..i to discharge you. I'm going TO '
I'll everything know about him. |
lis Wentworth. that mans no more {
t 10 be at the head of hospital. with {
ldi ts under him. than he's fit to fly. t
III 4. is he? Nothing but fast liver r
nd a common drunkard." /
q" lever mind. Mrs. Webb !" |
81; ut do mind. To think of man
Ike that. who went about with b
ing of common tramps for years, b
iss Wentworth, just breaking away a
ON his job and hoboing II up and (
Nv n the country and then coming h
,ct and getting his job again and
=. is. y