The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-07-25

with a search warrant, woman. and
I'll open every door! Good night!
think I'll take a shower"
The shower rooms were down the
hall. Two girls, wrapped in kimonos,
their faces shining, came out. They
were laughing softly-and gave
Chickie a friendly nod. They also
were beginners. One said in a whis-
per: Are you scared stiff? I am.
Everything did was wrong-Hush.
you're scraping your feet! Better not
turn the water on too hard"
Chickie wished that one of these
had CHANGED to be her roommate.
For they were both young, fright
ened, eager.
She saw in their eyes the meek
yet feverish enthusiasm she felt In
her own thoughts. She stood a long
while, letting the hot water, then
the cold, dash against her face; she
held up her arms, delighting in the
thin silver streams pouring over her
shoulders. Odd that she was here
almost like a new life-like birth
into a different world. It would be
this-all of this for her-she would
make it so.
When she came back to the room,
Myrtle was in bed, reading. She be-
gan Immediately to talk: "Say-why
can't they use plain English in these
darn books? Listen to this-gastro-
entro-Lord, give it up-that's
only hail oi IT,
Chickie was in the habit of speak
ing with herself when she lay in bed,
Just now she was full Of converse
| ton such as: "Ho-tomorrow-excit-
ing-I'll work. I want to get up
early-but why was Jake so ironic
about it? He doesn't really trust ME.
He thinks I'm weak-well-but I'm
not going to be"
Myrtle kept interrupting her, even
though she pretended to sleep.
Finally Myrtle said: You're devilish
sociable, aren't you? Lord. just
about begin to wake up at mid
night" In &. few moments, she was
snoring with a catchy breath that
sounded as though she would
strangle.
Chickie got out of bed and looked
great star just above a great tree
and all the sky was Of midnight blue.
She looked at this until her eyes
grew warm with tears. Yes-how
blessed that there are tomorrows!
And that, at last, the yesterday Is
done!
It seemed to her in those first days
in the ward that the work was a con-
secration, and she. even more than
others, fitted for it.
So her plumbers were more tragic
than anothers might have been.
Mrs. Quinn was the little woman
who looked like Jennie-the one who
said when Chickie combed her hair:
You're so gentle" 1t was Chickie's
fourth day that this patient called
for water again and again. When
Chickie smiled at her, she shook her
head. She was taking short, heav-
ing breaths and her eyes wavered so
that Chickie was frightened.
Once she said in vague, lost way:
mo one comes for memo one cares
for memo one-my legs are heavy,
dear-awfully heavy-move the
blankets"
There were blue, tortuous veins in
these poor, aching limbs. Chickie
had almost tainted once. seeing
of ho q
veins would burst. Now Mrs. Quinn
begged: Battle them-you stay here
never mind them-no one cares"
| Chickte said: ''Yes-of course they
| do
The woman smiled. It made
Chickie's throat clutch the way she
smiled: "No-dear--no one"
A little later she called for water
again. Then she reached with help
less, distracted gesture under the
| pillow and took out q pima little
brassy scarf pin with a red stone.
She moved it to Chickie: Keepsake
you're good to me-there-"
Even as she held the glass of
| water her hand trembled violently.
Her eyes that had been wandering
about the room fixed in a stare of
mortal anguish. They riveted on
Chickie in a pitiful bewildermont.
| Then a gray blueness like a living
shadow went across her mouth.
That was all-her jaws parted-ter
head dropped back. ,-
| Chickie went white with terror.
She started in a little run down the
ward. She said to the supervisor:
Come quick-hurry-she's dying"'
The supervisor got up quietly and
walked to Mrs. Quinn's bed. She
looked at the blush face, got a
screen and walled it about the bed
In the same cold, measured way she
phoned for the inferno.
And, while she waited for his com
| ing, went back to her charts. This
seemed monstrous thing to
Chickie. She was shaken to the
heart and wished to rush back to
the bed ito speak to the dead
woman; even touch her face-oh,
make sure Of 1t
A strained, miserable silence like
a covering thing had crept into the
long room. From other beds, eyes
were fixed on the curtained screen.
The doctor came. He was there
but few moments. Then the nurse
phoned again.
And this time a. man entered the
ward pushing a guerney. He had a
II
went behind the screen. Chickie