Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-06-05
An Almost Total Loss

ilcI OIcdSt. ACooA. 1 haven't Ildu
much experience mean, at being a
charity case, but I'm naturally quick
at picking up little things like that"
The doctor told the interested Miss
Furness, Il can't make head or tail Of
her"
I'm sure" the nurse said. she's
some wealthy young society girl who's
run away from homeland she's GER
tainly plucky."
"She's a f1ippant, spoiled little brat,
he corrected her and turned away.
whirled back impatiently. Il don't
like to think OF her in there, some
how"
We'll try to make her comfortable.
doctor" Miss FurneSs promised meekly.
And so they did, so far as that Slight
and weary young body was concerned.
But its ego. But if pain and depres-
sion threatened to engulf her she was
careful not to let the spic and span
young doctor see it.
Twice more, before the lights we're
dimmed for the night, he made the
rounds of the ward. She watched him,
grave and immaculate, moving from
bed to bed. Noted, with q malicious
twinkle. the Difference of the nurse
at his elbow, the adoring eyes with
which the patients followed him.
When he paused beside her bed and
asked her, We'll, how's our nameless
patient tonight?" she gave him a sim
pering smile and said, Better, thank
you, doctor" in blatant imitation of
the old lady with the broken hip in
the next bed.
But it was wasted effort for he nod
ded and passed On. The second time
she was successful. She opened
fire with, 1T must be wonderful to
be 20 popular"
It's not unpleasant" he said cheer
fully. But I've no doubt you know
the sensation, yourself"
What makes you think SOP"
Because there are people in the
world who admire pert, self willed young
women" he said dryly.
She grinned up at him. "Well that
makes us love all" She shifted. Don't
l smell smoker"
Probably. They're building up the
fire." he told her and moved away.
Good night. Better go to sleep"
In the ever deepening silence. an
intolerable sense of ~desolation settled
upon her. She fought it hardly;
fought it in the end by planning the
humiliation of the snubby young doc
tor. But when at last she fell asleep,
the first person to walk into her
dreams was that Objectionable crea-
ture.
Its an excellent thing" he was
%confiding to her, ito smoke out pain.
It's my own discovery and especially
good for pains in the head if the pa
tient inhales it,"
But it's terribly choky," she OBJ
jected. Still she was admiring him
enormously, wanting to please him and
so she inhaled deeply. But it is
choky."
"ChOky," she repeated and opened
her eyes. Opened them to a ward
full of smoke shot through with startled
cries of FIRE." Doctor" "Nurse!"
She tumbled out of bed, slid her
feet into the list slippers beside it and
flew into the corridor. But what had
been the corridor was now a dense bill
lowing sea of smoke. Somewhere be-
yond it there we're sounds sounds that
sent her shrinking back in invOlun-
tary horror. The next instant she had
drawn the heavy doors to and turned.
The smoke filled ward was like q
dim tomb that had given up it's de-
mented dead. White figures were
wavering across the floor; misshapen
Jumps dragged themselves on all tours
from bed to bed. But many, like the
old lady with the broken hip who was
telling her beads in a shrill wall, were
helpless to move. 1t was from these
that reiterant cries came with blood
| curdling deSpair-'Fire!"
Teddy Lysle took in the scene, while
little icy rills of sweat trickled down
her spine. Then she lifted her voice.
Fire. your granny! Don't be silly!
Didn't any of you ever hear of a CHM
ney smoking before? Aren't you
ashamed Of yourselves to behave like
this? Hop back to bed, now, all OF
you! I'm going for the doctor and
if he sees you like this won't you be
sorry!"
Though they continued to humble
their fears, she had the satisfaction of
seeing them make for their beds as she
went-not too swiftly-the length of
the ward to the opposite corridor. Here
she found no smoke; no signs of life.
But the clamor Of an unleashed panic
hung over it, of hurrying footsteps,
slamming doors, voices sharp with sud-
den terror. She hesitated there un-
certainly and, around a bend of the
long corridor, a figure came running
The spic-and-span young doctor, coat
less, collarless. She gathered up the
too long folds of the coarse night
gown and trotted off to meet him.
Better get out" he said without
stopping. "Stairs are at the end of the
hall. Better take a blanket to wrsI
around you. Catch cold if you don't
"Listen!" She clutched his arm. rs
it a bad fire? Is there any danger?
Half of those poor things in there can't
walk, a they? And they're scared
stiff"
mo danger" he painted, If they
don't lose their heads before I gel
'em out"
You and who else?" she demanded
where's everybody, anyway? All the
nurses and"
Busy in the other wing. It's worse
there" He stopped short, glanced w
and down the deserted corridor. go
to find a stretcher somewhere"
I'll hold the fort while you're look.
ing for it," she said. "And how abou'
getting the others started-the one
who can walk?"
why, you-you'd better be gettinf
out yourself, child"
Listen" she said impatiently. &c.
can navigate, they can't. Go bring OF
fho cfratohorO