The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-12-03
CHAPTER IV-Continued

The GIRL after 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
iron. "Or perhaps you are tired and
would prefer to go to your room.'
mo, should like to see it. Have
you many patients?"
"Only Mrs. Dana. She's always
here, you know. There was boy
with 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
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 replica of
the one below. At the head Of the
stairs a little passage branched off
toward a large window in the wall,
with door to one side of 1t.
Mrs. Dana occupies this room,"
said the matron. Perhaps the doc
ter mentioned herr
doctor Lancaster said something"
"Sle is out of her mind, poor wom-
Rfi but she is perfectly quiet. You
see. Miss Wentworth, she Is like an
Infant mentally. She will not trouble
you. Excuse me moment"
She drew key from the bunch that
hung at her waist and unlocked the
door very softly. and with certain
forgiveness, Joan thought. Looking
In. the girl saw a strikingly handsome
woman of about seven and thirty
years, seated in chair beside Win
dow, with a shawl over her knees She
xas in dressing gown, and her hair
nung over her shoulders in two braids.
She did not look up or stir as the
matron entered, and Mrs Fraser, after
closing the door behind her, presently
came out and locked il again
I'll 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 her?'
mot in the least. Is she incurable?"
Eyes, quite. poor thing. She has
sat in that chair all day for nearly
three years."
And never goes out?"
"Out? No. we don't let her out. II
might excite her. But | 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 eleryone 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 intently. AS
their eyes met the matron lowered
her own In some confusion. There
was a furtiveness about her glance
that momentarily revived Joan's I'M
II was strange journey.
and Doctor Lancaster's behavior had
been strange. Then there was the
man Myers. Joan felt sudden sink
log OF the heart; she was almost re-
petfuI that she had come
A c'lored maid brought up her suit
,ase.
"Tl Ia 10 Lucy" said the matron.
'The VIII do anything rou tell her.