The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-02

/ the entrances Of buildings, seeking
relief from the heat indoors. Dark
ness hid much of the streets ugi-
ness.
Chris and Norma turned a corner
and cool, refreshing wind whipped
their cheeks.
"Why-how wonderful" Chris
cried. Why didn't we come down
stairs before?"
Norma raised her face to the
wind. Lets stand here on the
corner for a whileg' she said.
They fingered few moments,
then started on. Half way down
the block big raindrops began fall
ing.
The girls turned back. BY the
time they had reached the apart
ment building, the rain was coming
rapidly. Safe in the shelter Of the
entrance, the girls waited and drank
in the chill, fresh air.
There was no more said that eve
ming about Norma's forebodings or
the promise Chris had made. The
rainfall continued several hours and
even the stuffy apartment became
less like an oven. BY morning the
! heat wave seemed definitely broken.
II n
IT was two weeks later to the day.
Il The long hospital corridors
smelled unpleasantly of diSinfect-
ant. The halls were cool and still.
No one was in sight, but from rooms
beyond there came hints Of muffled
activity.
Chris stood in the doorway of a
waiting room, looking down the hall.
She was pale and her hands were
gripped together. Her lips were a
bright red line that wavered I'M
steadily. Chris eyes, eager, fearful,
sought the end of the corridor.
No one appeared.
She turned to the young woman
at the desk. Are you sure you'll
know right away?" she asked.
won't they let me see her now?
Surely it most be time"
I'll tell you as soon as the report
comes" the young woman said tart
ly. mo, you can't go to her. You'd
better sit down and quiet yourself"
The tone in which she spoke was
both arrogant and bored. Chris
eyed the other with hostility. Then
she crossed the room to chair and
sat down.
A nurse entered, her stiffly
starched uniform rustling crisply.
Chris Strengthened, alert in every
muscle.
She could not understand the two
voices as the nurse spoke to the girl
at the desk. The nurse wrote a few
words on a card, turned and left.
Again Chris eyes sought the
large square clock on the wall. Five
minutes? Oh, but it must be more
than that! Why, it must be fifteen
minutes at least since she looked at
the clock. Deliberately she turned
her back on the timepiece.
A man III a brown suit appeared
and presently another nurse. The
man followed the nurse from the
room. A blond youth Scarcely more
than boy), who wore white coat,
stepped inside the doorway.
HAS DR.. Stebbins come in yet?"
he asked.
''He won't be here far another
hour. His secretary just telephoned,"
the girl at the desk announced.
THERE followed an interval of
l. several minutes. Then the first
nurse reappeared. She said to
Chris, you're Mrs. Travers' friend,
aren't you?"
"Yes!" Chris was on her feet in
stantly. How is she? Oh, is any
thing wrong?"
The nurse was smiling. That
smile treasured Chris even before
the words came. Mrs. Travers is
resting. She has fine son. Six
pounds, and as nice a looking baby
as I've ever seen. Tn sorry can't
let you see him. Later in the day
you may.
But, Norma" Chris asked
anxiously. "She's-you're sure she's
all right? Can't 7 see her just for
a minute? Oh, please let mel"
The nurse shook her head mega
lively. I'm sorry" she said. "You
couldn't possibly see her now. But
there's no reason for you to worry
about your friend.
"Dr. Russell was jusA speaking
about how we'll Mrs. Travers came
through. If you'll come back this
afternoon, you can see both. of
them"
"Both?" Chris looked puzzled.
"Why, yes, of counsel The mother
and the baby" The nurse spoke as