Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-23
Number Thirty-Eight.
. HE report of the beautiful wom-
an assigned to room No. 80
was already spreading through
il the Belvidere Hospital. She

an assigned to room No. 81
was already spreading through
Il the Belvidere Hospital She
was In her early thirties,
Clark hair, an olive skin, pale as
death, but it was beauty unadorned.
There was the operating room con-
ference. with three of the specialists
shaking their heads obviously. 1T
can't be DONE" said DIR. Talbot. the
heart specialist. with emphasis. That
bullet went through the heart and is
now lodged in the back. To remove
il would only mean death sooner. She
may linger hours in this slater They
accepted DIR. Talbott's verdict as final
and orkiered the patient back to her
roonL
Dr.-SafIborn, the surgeon in charge,
was determined there should be last
effort made. He had an uncanny
friend who had a trick of hauling
back hopeless, given-up cases. He
stopped at the desk and commanded,
call the exchange and find out If
you can locate MacGregor"
After a few minutes the operator
had the information, MacGregor last
reported at the Union Club; but he
left there about 1880
And it's . now" unused the doc
tor.
TELL Blaine and Sanderson to re-
port at once commanded the sur
geon CURLY.
The two internes came almost inn
mediately. Gaunt and tall. they
stood, ready for orders, as would men
of war.
Confidently and quietly he talked
to them oe the tragedy. There is
only one man who can save her even
hr,, alo l1a &c R{rrpOnrb' He
talked quickly. with an eye on the
time limit HE was last seen at the
Union Club. Look in at Schenley's
and along the docks; he has queer
ideas when he is doped.
MacGregor left the apartment on
Spring street in a taxi shortly after
IL. going directly to the Union Club,
where he was reported to the eX
change. For an hour he sat at a
small ebony table in secluded corner
staring into space. He clutched the
slender table with his left hand. his
right hand on the glass; now looking
out of the windows into the misty
April night, now half turning in his
chair, alert for some sound from the
entrance Except for occasional in
corners the lobby was empty. Mac
Gregor undoubtedly was a sick man;
his pale face reflected a gauntness in
his shadow on the wall. Cad. If
the room were only red or white
ANYTHING but this CHASTITY gray.
This gray made him feel cold and sick;
all drawn out, as though his feet were
out in the street and cold; his head up
near the ceiling and dizzy with the
height of it!
It was late. but he needed some OF
the bracing air. Down the avenue
he went, muttering and arguing with
himself in a monotone. He could not
remember distinctly just what it was
he should do or did do, but II was
wrong. He guessed he wouldn't do 1t.
If he could only think clearly enough
to remember. All. here was the river;
he would sit here; perhaps the idea
would come to him: water was inspi-
rational. He sat on the edge of a
pier piling. A small tug nosed sleep
ily against it. Not wasn't trip he
should take or anything he should
get from the boat. A gunnysack
dropped from a higher piling to his
head. He brushed 1t impatiently into
the river and with it his soft hat. A
hat more or less meant little to him
as he waved it an indifferent good-by.
The hat glided away from under the
light with a grace and ease Mac
Gregor enVled. II only ne could get
away as easily as that hat. He could
swim-yes, he would swim. With the
thought he pulled off his oxfords and
coat. standing free in his shirt sleeves
AS he gathered himself on the edge |
of the pier q bluecoat demanded: |
What are you doing, my MANI"
Have a little swim" said Mac
Gregor in the same monotone.
And where are you swimmin' to-"
inquired the officer.
HE'LL" mnttered the lone figure,
''but I'm goin' alone"'
Guess you'll have to-" returned the
intruder, but first you better come
with me-"
And so with Blaine and Henderson
on their station trip. MacGregor ar
rived at Belvidere Hospital at in
the morning.
Sanborn talked to him as only San
born knew how. After a half-hour
MacGregor was as DIR. Sanborn knew
he would be-ready to move the
world. A life to save and he the only
one who could do it; well he guessed
he could! There was too much Mac
Gregor pride about him to refuse such
a thing as trying for lifei Yes, in