New Britain herald., 1927-01-07

happens to be within easy, reaching distance.
 If some Lurse chances to be near. he is just as likely as not to try out his initiative powers on her. | The doctor laughed huomorously. 'The strange factor in this initiative tendency is that this Elwell seems to be equipped with a discriminating | faculty for sorting out the good look ing ones."
 The interne laughed, too. "It would seem to De a little method in the mans madness"
 Ut has aroused a good deal Of speculation. Could it be instinct that would lead a man to pick out good looking girl, rather than highly developed taste? You know, even among normal men there of ten exists a total disability to select q pretty girl.
 This nurse, Miss Downing. now. She's with the patient considerably -devotes nearly all her off hours to him or his parents Naturally. she has come in for share of these at tentions from Elwcll. And the funny part of it, man, is that she seems to like it.
 five seen the thing happen couple of times myself-when mo- body was with the patient but her self, and she did nothing to try to discourage him.
 The interne ventured to say that it looked as if Nellie Downing had found considerable of an attraction in the good looking soldier with the lost memory.
 As far as looks go. she could have picked far worse. you'll ad- mit."
 "I do,' said the doctor. If she hasn't fallen in love with hiul-a lit tle bit. at least-then it is one of the strangest cases Of unselflsh devotion on the part of a nurse that I have ever encountered. Why man. shes been through hell over in France. She's seen so many terrible cases men torn to pieces, men turned idiots, all kinds of men and hulks of men--that her interest in the Elwell case is--well. it's surprising, to say the least"
 You think there's any chance of his getting back on his feet?"
 The doctor shrugged. One mans guess is as good as another on that Co f1,or stopped. I've seen shell-shock pa tients that seemed hopeless and seen them recover. But I've never seen one exactly like this"
 It is true that Nellie Downing had come in for some of these "atten- course, as she told Jim's mother one day when Mollie chanced to observe Jim's newly acquired proficiency. 1t didn't mean anything.
 Mollie, however. was not so sure about this. At least, there were cer- tain aspects Of the thing that puzzl ed her. She remarked about them later to Prof.
 T don't know that it would be so altogether improbable" she went on after telling of the incident she had l witnessed, that girl might get to caring for man even In Jim's con- dition when she Is with him as much as Nellie Downing is with Jim. You know, Prof. dear. Jim is un- commonly good looking. You've got 10 admit that"
 Prof smiled. Every mother thinks that of her son."
 But Jim really is. Of course. 50 far as he is concerned he doesn't 1 realize in the least what he does. | Even so. 1t is likely to cause talk l just the same. And Nellie Is a dear girl and has been awfully good to us. I should be very. very sorry If anything were to occur to hurt her. | think I shall have to try to un- teach Jim one of the things he has learned"
 ''I wouldn't worry, Mollle," Prof |, told her. What If the girl does like him? She realizes what condition | he is in. And Jim, If he does re- cover, will remember that his sweet heart Is back in Indiana"