The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-11-06

mp his work here"
Joan ignored her; she had sonccn
trated all her attention upon Lancas-
ter's probable demands; she was re-
solved not TO be found wanting. II
was said that Lancaster was abso-
lutely merciless and had ruined many
a girls career by refusing 10 allow her
10 complete her graduating course. He
was tyrannical. overlooked nothing.
and never appreciated good work Ru-
NOR went that when certain nursa
had once handed him benzlne instead
of alcohol he had taken her by the
shoulders and run her bodily out of
the hospital. forbidding her to show
her face there again.
HE can't last long n ne leads that
sort OF life" the dark-halred girl re
peated. "You'd think he'd be old
enough 10 have learned how TO pre-
tend TO be a gentleman even II he
isn't one"
Joan shook her OF mentally as one
chases away a persistent fly. For the
tenth time she counted the lnstru-
ments in the tray. Lancaster picked
up a scalpel. and MACPHERSON and
Ivers took up their positions. one on
either side of him. The operation was
beginning.
The visiting surgeons watched with
an occasional whispered remark. The
assistants already were swapping the
little forceps upon the ends OF the d.
vided arteries. Lancaster issued his
commands from time to time. without
looking back:
"Sponges ~
Conceive" whispered the dark.
haired girl. ''Three-four-fve
"Bistoury. Scissors. Dilator. Num-
Der four Simms"
Joan never faltered. She felt easier
In her mind, her quick hands found
the instruments in the tray the mo-
ment Lancaster demanded them
Meanwhile the dark-halred girl never
ceased counting the sponges:
n-eight-nine-"
Suddenly Lancaster stopped. wheeled
and turned fiercely upon her. For
Gods sake. stop that chatterl" he
cried
The girl let n sponge fall, snatched
II up, and shot an apprehenslve
glance M him. Joan saw that she was
losing her nerve in spite OF her brave
talk OF a few minutes before. II was
the critical time of very DANCE, Gus
and difficult process. She tried TO Gull
herself together.
Yet. without looking up, she rial.
lied that a sense OF general apprehen-
sion had stolen through the operating
theater. The nurse at the head NJ
the table. looking like yelled vestsi.
had not shifted her position since the
beginning Of the operation. except
that from time 10 time hes hand
shifted slightly as she let one cr two
drops of ether fall upon the mask
MACPHERSON and Ivers stirred busily
their heads bent level with their
chiefs as they moved to and no al
their work The patient began TO
mutter. Then hand. upraised in
weak protest. struck clamp from
Ivers' fingers II ratified upon the moor
Keep him quiet. Miss Symons. con
found youi" shouted Lancaster.
Doctor Lancaster. the pulse" she
began. But, after a quick glance nj
the head surgeon. she shrugged her
shoulders. tilted the bottle. and DELHI
erately poured out nearly all the ether
remaining in II. The renewed stencil
of the anesthetic filed the room. Joan
saw the benches swing. the cranine
faces seemed 20 become multiplied I.
Lancaster and the two assistants. the
visiting surgeons were tiny gnomes.
an immense distance away. surround.
ing a tiny table on which a doll-like
figure lay extended She tried TO
hiring them lack into focus. but corle
not; and. what WIS worse. she felt
that she had lost her nurses sense OF
divIning the surgeons requirements
before he gave expression 70 them.
The feeling Of suspense was grow
Ing Something was wrong. and al
though nothing had been said. even
the students on the top row Of benches
farthest from the table we're awnre
az II The assistant doctors appeared
as busy as ever. and yet they seemed
al q loss. and once or twice looked
up NJ Lancaster as II his technic was
puzziing them Joan saw two Of the
visiting surgeons exchange brief
gIances. one with inquiry. the other
answering. with uDlifted eyebrows
Once Lancaster stopped; he resumed
bis work. stopped sgain. and stood
staring NJ his work. Then be wheel 8
round upon Joan, the upper part Of
his body seeming 90 move upon q
pivot while his lower limbs remained
stationary