The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-10-03

| racket last night! He can't keep up
that gait much longer unless he gives
up his work here"
Joan ignored her; she had conccn-
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 to allow her
to complete her graduating course. He
was tyrannical, overlooked nothing.
and never appreciated good work. Ru-
NOR went. that when a certain nurse
had once handed him benzine 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 If he leads that
sort of life," the dark-haired girl re-
peated. you'd think he'd be old
enough to have learned how to pre-
tend to be gentleman even II he
isn't one."
Joan shook her Off mentally as one
chases away persistent fly. For the
tenth time she counted the instru-
ments in the tray. Lancaster picked
! up 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:
"Spongesl'
"One-two," whispered the dark.
haired girl. Three-four-6ve-
"Bistoury. Scissors. Dilator. Num-
Der four Slmms."
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-haired girl never
ceased counting the sponges:
/ n-eight-nine-"
| Suddenly Lancaster stopped. wheeled
and turned f1ercely upon her. "For
Gods sake, stop that chatterl" he
cried.
The girl let sponge fall. snatched
It up, and shot an apprehensive
glance at him. Joan saw that she was
losing her nerve in spite of her brave
talk Of a few minutes before. It was
the critical time Of very dangerous
and difficult process She tried to pull
herself together.
Yet, without looking up, she real
lied that sense Of general apprehen-
sion had stolen through the operating
theater. The nurse at the head Of
the table, looking like yelled vestal,
had not shifted her position since the
beginning Of the operation, except
that from time to time her hand
shifted slightly as she let one or 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 fro at
their work. The patient began to
mutter. Then hand. appraised in
weak protest, struck clamp from
Ivers' fingers. 1t ratified upon the floor.
keep him quiet, Miss Symons. con-
found you'll" shouted Lancaster.
Doctor Lancaster, the pulse" she
began. But. after a quick glance at
the head surgeon, she shrugged her
shoulders, tilted the bottle, and DELHI
erately poured out nearly all the ether
remaining in It The renewed stencil
of the anesthetic filed the room. Joan
saw the benches swing, the craning
faces seemed to become multiplied !;
Lancaster and the two assistants, the
| visiting surgeons were tiny gnomes.
i an Immense distance away. surround
j ing tiny table on which a doll-like
! figure lay extended. She tried to
i bring them back into focus. but could
not; and, what was worse. she felt
that she had lost her nurses sense of
divining the surgeons requirements
before he gave expression to 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 were aware
of it. The assistant doctors appeared
as busy as ever, and yet they seemed
at a loss, and once or twice looked
up at Lancaster as If his technic was
puzzling them. Joan saw two of the
visiting surgeons exchange brief
1 glances, one with inquiry, the other.
answering. with uplifted eyebrows.
Once Lancaster. stopped; he resumed
his work. stopped again. and stood
staring at his work. Then he wheeled
round upon Joan, the upper part Of
his body seeming to move upon a
/ pivot. while his lower limbs remained
stationary.
iii Ill