Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1925-07-25


cars approach to all within hearing;
bell sounded; the front door actually
banged. The great doctor blew into
the room Ike the spirit Of the au-
tumn storm itself with him came
Morris, who. aroused by the noise OF
his entrance, had hurried down stairs
Ia time TO meet his colleague In the
hall.
Behind the two lurked jerks, visit
full hands ready for the doctors over
coat. Stanley Jerked It or and tossed
II to him with one efficient gesture.
The next moment he was at his pa
tents bedside, grunting acknowledge
ment Of the presence Of Verify and
Renshaw, but looking at neither OF
them. Renshaw observed that an
other figure had Joined the doctors,
the figure Of an efficient-looking young
woman still enyeloped In heavy mo-
tor coat-obyiously the trained nurse
Doctor Stanley had brought with him.
He put a gentle hand under Verlty's
elbow and helped her to her feet. She
had been awakened by the entrance
Of the doctors, and was blinking rather
dazedly. He drew her away from the
bed. There was nothing they two
could do now.
They waited In silence, hearing the
voices but not the words OF the doc
tors. In q very short time Stanley
came forward and formally shook
hands with them both His figure
seemed TO fill the room, and, though
he was well past seventy, ne radiated
vitality, from his mass OF thick white
hair to the big feet planted so firmly
on the floor as he faced them.
Things might be a lot worse, nv
dear" he told Verify with brusque
kindness II think wen bring him
around all right. but it will take
time"
He looked at the girls face. Every
feature was qulvering under the sud
den relaxation Of the strain she had
been through.
There. there" he said, patting her
hand You're tired out and fright
ened, but you1l be all right tomorrow.
I've got a first-rate nurse here, and
another Will come in the morning.
Miss Watson will take charge. She's
gone OFF already to get into her uni
form. Go 10 bed, my child. I'll see
you at breakfast. You too, Renshaw.
Clear outl Your works done for the
night Sleep late II you can"
He gave the young mans shoulder a
| friendly little push, shot a straight
/ look into his eyes, and nodded com.
placently. as II the glance had con-
tirmed an earlier impression.
Go 10 bed" he repeated "Jenks
says you've both been on the watch
ever since it happened. It's our turn
now"
He listened with interest to Rem
shaw's report Of the patients flicker
| OF consciousness. He was in excellent
spirits, evidently greatly relieved to
discover that his old friend had what
he called "a id good fighting
chance"
Hell fight, too" he chuckled to
Morris a little later. Hes made up
his mind to outllve me. That viii
help him"
Renshaw escorted Verify to the
door of her rooms. There, to his sur
prise. she put her hand In his. At
the touch OF the small fingers his self
consciousness returned. He held the
hand vaguely a moment, as II he did
not know quite what to do with 1t,
then gently gave It back TO her.
Goodnight" he said. "Sleep well.
I'm almost sure there's nothing to
worry about now"
She nodded. Il know" she said.
Goodnight. And thank you again.
I'm sorry / was so horrld."
He shook his head "You were not
horrid, he protested.
She entered her room and closed the
door, but she did not Immediately lose
the sense Of his presence. They had
been together for hours. and an in
credible thing had happened. Not
wlthstanding her dislike for him, her
lack OF faith In him. her half scorn Of
him, she knew that throughout that
time she had depended on him. She
| had, In way. leaned on him-on
| something in him which, in those hours
at least. had seemed like strength.
| TIE knowledge both puzzled and en-
harraSsed her. She should have been
equal 10 the emergency. For. after
all, he had actually done nothing ex-
cept carry her grandfather to his bed.
| He had done that well and easily. He
had been a stunning figure u his
soft rich dressing gown,
She addressed thoughtfulIy. She
was no longer over anxious about her
| grandfather He was In Doctor STAN
| ley'S care. and Doctor Stanley had viz
| tually promised her that he would get
we'll But It was not OF Stanley she
thought. nor did she even recall her
own long vigil by the bed. with the
patients hand so svidly clutcling
| hers. With singular persistence. one
picture filled her mind-the plctuEe Of
the moment when the young man had
| lifted the old man as II he we're a
| little child. and with flying garment
and the swift, splendid stride Of 3
/ trained athlete, had carried her strick.