New Britain herald., 1926-12-10
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CHAPTER I.

bound from Chicago, was speeding
 through the black drench of a rain
 swept night in late October of the year 1898. It was 10 o'clock.
 For an hour and more Martha Dalton, from her own seat in the
 brilliantly lighted Pullman car. had
 been furtively studying the woman
 beside the window.
 Not only was her professional in- terest aroused and her Eve-like cur iosity piqued, but her womanly sym
 pathy. ever alert and forever seek ing an outlet somewhere. had been challenged again. It was the old mother call" and it was hammer ing at Martha Dalton's heart.
 But why" she kept asking her. self with a whimsical sort of humor that old doctors used to say was better medicine in sick room than any physic-" why should l con- cern myself with the possibility Of every woman's troubles? Lord knows I've got troubles enough Of my own and to spare"
 | Thus Martha Dalton - Mother" Dalton they had affectionately nick named her back there in the big maternity hospital where for four years she had battled with life and death. with internes, with graduate and undergraduate nurses. from the citadel of her arduous steward ship as ward supervisor. Mother" | Dalton Martha of the Hoosiers- whose cry to arms might have been, come all ye nameless babes and unfortunate mothers and dam ned be them that forsake vel" 1 The woman who had aroused these ! thoughts in Martha Dalton on that memorable night, woman young, beautiful and alone, and wearing the ! badge of culture in the poise of her proud head, occupied deep leather chair drawn close to window. Spread across the back of her chair was a sealskin coat. The handsome suit Of brown broadcloth she was wearing bore the unmistakable stamp of New York tailoring. Her ungloved hands were clasped @ghtly over a portmanteau resting in her | lap.
 On the floor at the side of her chair ] lay a highly plumed Gainsborough hat. A splendid diamond sparkled on one finger. On another gleamed a 1 heavy wedding ring. A great mass of bronze tinted hair like the rippling flow of spun copper graced the shapely head, and the face, turned slightly away from the rain-lashed window pane, was tragic in it's ex- precision. In the depths of the dark eyes looking straight ahead was written a tragic story that seemed to tell of wrecked hopes and shat tered faith.
 At times, as she watched. Nurse Dalton would see the woman's clasped fingers grip the knuckles in convulsive clutch. The mobile mouth would grow strangely distort- ed for fleeting moment and into , the handsome eyes would leap 1 frantic gleam, to hold for a brief count and then gradually fade out again.
 That woman," the watcher final ly told herself. lis suffeffring both mental and physical torture. Unless I am greatly mistaken, she ought to be got into hospital and that pret- ty quick. So reckon. after all, that it's up to me to get busy"
 At that instant the train began to slow up. They were nearing the sta- ton of Martha Dalton's own home town. Camdenville. She rose with quick determination and crossed over to the woman by the window.
 Please pardon me madam" she began, getting to the heart of her purpose on the jump. T am nurse. as you can see. l live in this town we are now entering. You need help and you need it quick. This is no time or place to bother about for malities. If you'll come with me III take care of you"
 | The woman looked up and into the nurses eyes. What she saw there seemed to soothe for moment both 1 her tortured brain and body. She tried to smile, but it was a crooked. l pitiful little smile that was wiped out when the slender body twisted and then suddenly crumpled in the chair. The bronze-topped head drop ! ped over to one side.
 Nurse Dalton bent down and caught the dropping form in her arms. A second later the train drew up at the station and stopped. She looked around. Several men were sitting closely by but none made any offer of aid. A porter rushed up from the rear of the car. Gan I help you. ma'am?" he in- i quired soicitously.
 Nurse Dalton flashed him grate- ful look.
 Indeed you can," she replied swiftly. You can help me get her off the train and into the waiting room. She must have . doctor at once. She is very Ill.,"
 | The porter, big and strong. took the limp figure from Martha Dal- tons arms. He held the woman erect while the other wrapped the uncon- scious form in the sealskin coat which she fastened In front. Then the porter lifted the woman and carried her to the cars exit. Down the steps he went, and across the platform into the waiting room. Nurse Dalton followed closely, lug | ging her suitcase and the womans portmanteau and hat.
 The station agent mouth agape and eyes staring. rushed out of the l ticket office.
 Whats tho matter, Miss Dalton?" he gasped.
 We've had to take this woman off the train. Charlie" she replied, talking fast. She is very i'll. The case is urgent. There's no time to | take her clear ont to St Mary'a