Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-08-28
He Wished to Die
Before Twelve
BY CLARENCE v. kelly
(copyright.)

'iih uuy uuEht puuseu Dehlut nv
= relief to say goodnight,
"There's nothing one can do except
deaden their pain They're simply
waiting; not man In this ward has
a chance to live. There's enough med
lcine in those two glasses on the table
ting on the paper Is deadly in Its pres
ent strength. Dilute 1t in the proper
lions shown on the paper after you've
used what's In the other glass.
"That man by the window Is out of
his head. You'll have to give him
few drops frequently to quiet him. For
some reason he wants to die before
twelve tonight"
Left alone, the night nurse crossed
to the bed by the window. Seating her
self on camp chair, she fell to study
ing the young face turned toward her.
The mans eyes opened suddenly and
held her own.
"Whats todayf" he asked drowslly.
"June third"
ut isn't midnight YETI"
'No-scarcely eight o'clock"
-Four hours Listen I've got to
go before twelve can't live. Pm
shot all to-h-l! II | die before
twelve, there's girl In England who
gets my insurance. thousand pounds.
I've got no one else in the world. It's
all can do for her-just to die be-
fore twelve. My policy expires at mid
night and-she's going to need the
money. All you've got to do Is give
me medicine so that I'll go to sleep
for good"
He watched the nurse slip soft,
round arm under the shell-torn shout
ders of Ghurka, raise him gently
and hold a glass Of water to his lips
Then, from the table, she took a n.y.
podermic needle, filled It, and returned
to the Ghurka's bed.
When she came back to the man
who watched, he saw that her red lips
were trembling.
IT'S new to you-so much suffering
isn't it~
yes I'm only beginner. / want
TO help all can, butch there's
nothing one can do for man like
that !"
"There's something you can do for
me-more good than you've ever done,
perhaps. See how easy It would be.
Give me what you gave him, only take
It from the other glass"
81 can'tl can't do that. Good
God think OF 1t That would be the
easiest way so often"
"You would bless yourself always
for doing II. Here There's letter
under my pillow. Read 1t and you'll
understand"
The nurse read the letter through,
then looked at him. "She-she Is
your"
mo" he answered slowly, "she
would have been when I went back /;
she never will be now"
There was a sound of movement In
the room and the nurse raised her head
quickly. A doctor was making his
round of the wards. The girl left her
place by the bed and went as far as
the table to meet him.
Hes conscious now" she whis-
pered, noddlng toward the bed.
His vitality is wonderful, but he
hasn't chance" answered the doctor
Taking up a hypodermic needle, the
doctor bent over the two glasses.
"From which have you been uslngf"
he asked.
The nurse started slightly, then
glanced down. mot the one on the
paper-the other" she said slowly.
He filed the needle and went back
to the bed. When he Joined the nurse
a moment later, she stood by an open
window looking into the star-dusted
night.
'That will quiet him for few
hours I'll be In again ut midnight"
She nodded but did not speak, and
the doctor went y to the next ward
Presently the nurae left the window
and crossed to the mans bed. She
bent down, looking lntently at the quiet
face. Seating herself she rested her
fingers on the big wrist and waited.
An hour passed The girl stood up
and crossed Slowly 10 the table. With
steady HANDS s,g slipped the paper
from beneath one glass and placed II
under the Other She glanced at her
watch on the table.
Before twelve" she breathed. Then.
II will bless myself always for do