Evening star., 1924-11-02

he's been walking around with it fol
a couple OF days.
why" said Ann, ''he might die.'
Williams says he's got a fifty-fiftJ
| chance. It's only the right lung sc
far-if the other one goes it's all Off >
Ann got up and hunted for clothes
He'll need a night nurse and a da.
nurse"
mo chance" Brenda said "wil
liams said he'd be lucky to find US on.
nurse. Epidemic, you know. It looks
as II I'm elected"
But you can't" Ann cried.
NO" Brenda said. II can't let hin
die. either"
Ann looked at Brenda sharply.
'Tll be ready in five minutes" she
said. You go on to your Office"
Brenda read manuscripts, edited
scenarios. wrote continuity for the
Consolidated Film Company. She
was always swamped with work. She
earned her salary.
"All right" Brenda said. "I'll be
back by l at the worst"
She came back in a taxicab, with
two tall tanks Of oxygen that Hiram
and the chauffeur dragged up the
stairs.
WILLIAMS says the crisis probably
won't come for a week." she explain.
ed to Ann. but l can't see myself
ordering oxygen sent over and being
told they can't deliver it for two days
because Of the snow"
=
THEY got a day nurse the next
= morning and started a chart
Dick got steadily worse In his deli
rum he talked about crude-oil en-
pinoa MI hor L>;
really maternal at heart and graceful
scamps. Williams insisted on a con-
sultation Monday night. He recon
mended specialist. Ann and Hiram
went up when the great man made
his examination.
He turned Dick over on his left
side. Dick gasped and protested. The
doctor held him firmly with his left
hand while he gestured to Williams
with his right. The gesture said as
plain as speech: "The other lung Is
going" He let Dick drop over on
his back and shrugged his shoulders.
Brenda and Ann followed him down
stairs to the vestibule. Brenda
handed him his $50.
You think he isn't going to ge,
throughc" Brenda ask ed.
Il don't think he's got one chance
in ten said the doctor.
Brenda glared at him.
She went back upstairs and go,
Williams to tell her exactly what to
do IL the crisis came-the fan. the
oxygen tank, the hypodermic injec-
ton. When the day nurse and Will
liams had gone she sat down by
Dicks bed and took his hand in hers.
Ann stood watching. The scene
touched her heart: Brenda so pale
with want of sleep and so determined
Dick so helpless, with four days
beard on his face. his lips cracke ed
with fever, his skin a pale unwhole-
some yellow, his hair disheveled.
He stirred. opened his eyes. "Bren-
da." he said clearly
She leaned over him. Yes" she
said tenderly.
You won't ever leave me. will
you?'
mo" she said
Not ever?" His hand ciasped hers
tightly.
Never" she said.
Ann started out of the room to hide
a tear. Brenda smiled at her. Ann
smiled back.
He doesn't know what he's say
ing" Brenda whispered.
He knows what he wants." said
Ann.
=: \ X
TWO nights later, while Ann and
Hiram were sitting over their
coffee after dinner, a whistle shrilled
through the house.
That's Brenda" Ann said.
They ran upstairs.
Dick Richards had turned a curious
pale deathly green; his lips were blue (;
his breath came in quick gasps.
n II
air into him with folded newspaper.
ann" she said. take the fan. Hi
ram, get that tank open. The wrench
is on the mantel"
Ann took the fan. Brenda jumped
for the bottle of alcohol and a bit of
gauze. With quick fingers she wiped
his upper arm with alcohol, caught
up a fold of skin in her thumb and
finger. plunged the needle of the glis-
tening silver syringe.
Hiram swore at the tank. Three
times he had opened the valve too far
and the rush Of gas had blown the
rubber tube off. The fourth time he
got it right Brenda picked up the
little wooden nozzle and put 1t be-
tween Dicks teeth.
For five minutes they watched,
while Dick lay as IL dead After five
minutes his color began to change.
Hes coming back" Brenda said
coolly. Call the doctor"
By the time the doctor came Dick
was bathed in sweat.
Well" said Williams, hes passed
that" He smiled. THE boys going
to get well,' he said confidently.
Brenda looked him in the eye. You
mean that?" she asked.
The young doctor nodded.
Brenda turned and rushed out ~
the room. Ann ran after her, caught