The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-03-04

To-day" she said, there were four of
us, First, lies goes. Now, Mrs. lies. That
IeuNes only two. If anything happens to
you or me therel be only one" .
As Nurse Cherry put Mrs. lies to bed she
renected that Nurse Silver was decidedly
not a cheerful companion. She made a nat
ural sequence Of events appear in the hght
OF a sinister conspiracy. Nurse Cherry re-
was due to her own carelessness, while his
wife was addicted to her glass.
Still some unpleasant suggestion re-
manned, like the sediment from a splash Of
muddy water. She found herself thinking
with horror of some calamity Detailing
Nurse Silver. If she were left by herself
she felt she would lose her senses with
1t was an unpleasant picture. The empty
hOuse-a dark shell for lurking shadows.
No one on whom to depend Her patient
a beloved burden and responsibility.
1t was better not to think of that. But
she kept on thinking. The outside dark
ness seemed to be pressing against the
walls, bending them in. AS her fears null
tiplied the medical student changed from a
human being with Il distraught brain to a
Force, cunning and insatiable@a ravening
blood monster.
Nurse SiIver's words required to her.
"They always know" Even so. Doors
might be locked, but they would ind a
way inside. Her nerves tingled at the
sound of the telephone bell ringing far
below in the hall.
She kept looking over her shoulder as
she ran downstairs. She took of the re
ceiver in positive panic lest she should De
greeted with a maniac scream of laughter.
1t was a great relief to hear the hOmely
Welsh accent of DIR. Jones. He had serious
news for her. As she listened her heart
began to thump violently.
Thank you, doctor, for letting me
know" she said. "Please ring me up d.
rectly you hear more"
Hear more of What!
Nurse Cherry started at Nurse Silver's
harsh voice. She had come downstairs
noiselessly in her soft nursing slippers.
ITS only the DOCTOR" she said, trying
to speak lightly. Hes thinking Of chang
@8Then why are you so white? You're
Snrse Cherry decided that the truth
would serve her best.
n be honest" she said, I've Just had
Lad news. Something chastity. ! dldnt
want you to know, for there's no sense IN
two Of us being frightened. But, now l
come to think Of it, you ought to be re-
assured"
you said there'd have to be another
murder soon. Well-there has been one y
where? Whoa? Quick!
Nurse Cherry understood what is meant
by the infection of fear, as Nurse silver
gripped her arm. In spite of her effort at
self-mastery, there was a culver in her
ITS "a hospital nurse. Strangled.
They've Just found the body in a quarry
r and they sent for DR.. Jones to make the
examination. Inc ponce are LISAHS "
establish her identity"
f Nurse Silver's eyes we're wide and star
SAnother hospital nurse? That makes
four!' =
sudden suspicion.
"Why did he ring you up?".
] Nurse Cherry did not want that ques-
S ton. ITO tell us to be specially on guard
she replied.
OCVOu maan-ha'g upar2"
"Of course not. The doctor said the
woman had been dead three or four days
Y By now he'll be far away"
"Or he may be even nearer than you
think!"
y Nurse Cherry glanced invOluntarily at thu
barred front door. Her head felt as II ]
t. were bursting. 1t was Impossible 20 Chlni
n cOnnectedly. Observation-Disclosures IT
a wings like a Gagged bird, was the i%ncessan
Of reminder. Something forgotten.
d. The sight of the elder wOman's tw1tchln;
lips reminded her that she had to be cain
GO back to the patient" she said
while I get the supper. Wen both lee
better after something to eat"
o. Quickly collecting bread, cheese, a rOun'
er Of beef, a cold white shape, and steve
pTunes, she piled them on a tray. Sh
added stout for Nurse Silver and mad
~ cocoa for herself. AS she watched the mil
er frOth up through the dark mixture and IN
IN hailed the Steaming OdOr, she felt that ne
al fears were baseless and absurd.
She sang as she carried the tray up
in stairs. She was going to marry GlendOwel
or "H0w's the patient?" she asked.
"All right"
er Gould have a peep?"
ly mo. You're off duty"
ne AS the wOmen sat down Nurse Cherr
was amused to notice that Nurse SllVe
kicked off her tight nursing shoes.
You seem very interested in the patlen
.pc. Nurse Cherry" she remarked sOurly.
Oh Il have a right to feel rather interested
VI Nurse Cherry smiled as she cut bread. II
~ doctor gives me the credit for his Deln
The All! But the doctor thinks the world
ar you"
lis, Nurse Cherry was not conceited, but 81
:, was human enough to know tnaC sne m9
made a conquest Of the big Welshman; ~
pc green glow of jealousy in Nurse Silver
ION eyes made her reply guardedIy. -
len She looked at her left hand, seeing the
pa the shadOwy outline of a wedding ring.
IN Don't think me sloppy, but l must e
some one! The professor and are golI
Os- to get married."
Fse If he lives
hat But he's turned the corner now"
ore Don't count your ch~1ckenS
act Nurse Cherry felt a stab OF fear.
ror. Are you hiding something from mes
rise No. He's the same. I was thinking tn
DR.. Jones might interfere. You've Ie9 d.
ma on, haven't you? I've seen you sml he
the him. It's light women IKE you ChaC ma
of the trouble in the world
o a Nurse Cherry was staggered by the
! to Justice Of the attack. but as she Iookeu
the elder wOman's working face she 5;
ring that she was consumed by jealousy. y
life lay In the shadow, the other IN the 81
Yell, The contrast was too sharp.
the We won't quarrel tonight, sue Z.
gently. "We're going through rather a .
ioOr time together, and we have only, ca
picy other to depend on. I'm just cIlnglhg
hort you. If anything were TO happen 10 y
low like Mrs. lies, / should jump out OF
skin with fright"
=, Nurse Silver was silent for a minute.
st never thought Of that" she said pr
w. W. emily. "Only us two. And all these EN-
hO0 rooms, above and below WHAT'S Una
che From the hall came the sound OF muLl
d" knocking. Nurse Cherry sprang 20 her Il
"SOme one at the front door,"
Nurse Silver's fingers closed round
,bt - arm like iron hoops.
"Sit down. It's himF'
my CTO Be Concluded Next Week.
= an Copyright: 1927: By e. l.. White.)