Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-02-22
~ ROE ~FuLKERSON

had decided to move her to her
private room before putting on the
cast. The plain white garment she
wore had been supplied by the nos
pital: Betty wondered how she
could get a night gown from her
room.
They moved her out into the hall
and 10 the elevator. then to the
small, but nice, room. A huge doc
tor came in. and after saying Good
morning" told her he had come to
put her leg in a cast. The next
half hour was given over to the
spiral wrapping Of the bandages
and the application Of wet plaster.
While working. the doctor explain
ed that both her knees had been
thrown out Of Joint when the car
was wrecked. One dislocation was
much worse than the other: thP
right n did not need a cast. II
was band7Fed with adhesive tape.
and he was sure IL would be all
right.
Was the car wrecked7" asked
Betty.
Didn't hear. But you surely
werei"
Don't worry about that. dear"
added the nurse. You have
enough to worry about getting well"
How long must I stay here?"
asked Betty. thinking Of the hos
pital bills and what she would have
to pay the doctor.
"Oh, a week or ten DAYS" This
doctor waved his plaster-covered
hand.
But. doctor. 7 ran never pay
| you or the hospital bills"
Don't let those worry YOU, The
man who called me in on the case
guaranteed the hospital bills. 7
guess you know who 1t wasi" He
laughed as he spoke.
That was good Of Andy He was
taking care of her in reality. She
learned later that the nurse was 10
attend her alone. She was still
more grateful when the girl gave
her a bath. combed her hair, and
tidied her up.
Il must have someone to 60 to
my house and &c some clothes"
said Betty. When I left home I
didn't expect to come to a hos
pital!'
Il have no people" sighed Betty.
She could have added that she had
no girl friends. Lois. all the girls
she had known at school. had
drifted out Of her life when she
began TO dance. The girls she had
known ct the Iron Door. the Or
pheum and at Jack Parker's had
not been friends. only acquaint-
ances. Dancing had limited her
friends to men, and Andy was the
only one she could depend on.
George Harris had broken with her
over the publication OF the story of
Andy's fight with Jake Daubert.
The story Of the automobile wreck
had undoubtedly been in every
newspaper in town. OF course he
would never look at her again!
She had never felt so lonely and
forsaken. She closed her eyes for
fear the nurse would go on talking;
she would cry if she had to speak
again. Half an hour passed.
Are you awaken" asked the
nurse. Betty feigned sleep and the
nurse left the room. Betty had
her eyes open when the girl re-
turned. in her hand the little over
night bag in which Betty once car
ried her dance costumes.
The boy friend brought it," she
smiled. Hes so thoughtful. He
went to your room and had some
of your things packed in it. We
can put a night gown On you now,
and have YOU all prettied up when
he comes again. He said he would
come about eight tonight"
Betty was ready to cry again,
partly out of gratitude for Andy's
thoughtfulness in getting her things
for her, partly in evaporation AT
missing him by pretending to be
asleep. She was glad she would
have on a pretty gown when he
came.
The bag contained the toilet
things she always took when she
danced, several night gowns and a
pretty negligee she used TO wear be-
tween her dances. When these
were arranged on the dresser and
in its drawers. Betty was as happy
as possible under the circumstan-
ces. The black and blue SPOTS here
and there on her body were less