Evening star., 1932-11-20

lets not talk ike Jnat, MI SlOan Sne
chided gently, for Jud Sloan, she saw, was not
delirious
But Jud Sloan licked his dry lips fercely.
He took a long breath-tried to- The cast about
his chest caught it-wouldnt let his lungs
expand
THE dirty sneak!" he repeated
| ATER, when Jud Sloan had been fed, Keller
l. went to the chart room. Here she carefully
recorded Jud Sloans temperature and the other
data concerning him. Then Brownie came in.
Two hundred and sixty-two had gotten well
long since, and gone home. So she, too, was
specializing new case.
"How's your patient?"
"Better-regained consciousness a little while
ago"
"Goodl" Brownie was, as her name suggested
plain, and small, and brown-eyed. Now she
was genuinely glad. "A long two weeks, wasn't
it?"
You bet" Keller was fervent, "but DR.. Pea
body says he'll get WELL That's all care about
hate to lose 'em. How's things in 41?"
About the same" answered Brownie gravely
hunting through pile of charts. I'm wor-
ried about him. Seems to feel badly about
something-mentaly, mean. It's holding him
back"
Keller nodded seriously. TITS pretty tough to
know you'll never move again-to know you'll
just lie there and then finally die"
But it isn't that" said Brownie soberly.
"He took that news like a soldier. No, it's
something else-as though he feels himself
guilty Of something. Oh, hope nothing worse
happens to him! He's such brave old man."
Brownie was having trouble keeping her pro-
fessioral calm.
Keller finished her charting and sat quietly
Finally she spoke, musingly:
Aren't patients funny? Yours is fretting
over something and mine hates some one. And
neither of them sure of living. You'd think
they'd forget"
Brownie nodded her head. Patients are
funny" she agreed sagely, especially accident
patients. They have a sort of hangover. They
are doing something outside, and then, all of a
sudden, they find themselves helpless in hos
pital Guess it isn't so easy to forget"
Guess not" said Keller
1t was two months later. Dr. Peabody. max
ing rounds had just finished in 241 He entered
the chart room. Brownie followed him in
Almost as well as I am Miss Brown ex-
cept for the paralysis. That is permanent. He
won't ever move hand or foot. If he were a
younger man I wouldn't hesitate to operate
again. But at his age" DR.. Peabody shrug-
ged there's no chance. We've got to be con-
tent with saving his life"
Brownie studied the surgeons face before she
spoke again: II wish he wasn't SO lstless-he
still seems to be troubled about something
doesn't hep
He is troubled about Something-its the ac-
cident. He believes that he is the cause of
young Sloan's injuries
80 that's it," Brownie was amazed
Yes" said the surgeon, II thought you
knew"
mo, he never speaks of what happened-.juSt
lies there quietly until change his position"
said Brownie
We'll it seems he ordered Sloan to move the
log that fell on both of them. That weighs on
him. And Sloan's father was killed in the mill
too. So the old man had had his eye on young
Sloan-meant to make something of him Then
this happened. That he himself will remain
hopeless invalid he doesn't seem to consider.
He just feels guilty and can't snap him out
of it."
But Mr.. Sloan is getting WE'LL"
Certainly but can't convince him of that.
He thinks I'm lying to comfort him."
For time Brownie silent, thinking.
Then she spoke: why can't we bring them to-
gether some way? I mean when Mr.. Sloan
gets up"
Because sloan's full of hate. He doesn't
even know the old man was hurt and don't
dare tell him. If he created a scene which he
would, the old man in the next room would
surely hear, and" again DR.. Peabody shrug-
ged we'll, our fight has been tough enough"
Brownie stared soberly. "Somewhow it
doesn't seem fair" she commented.
The surgeon smiled Life is sometimes like
that. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving day. I'm
leaving an order for Miss Keller to get Sloan
into wheechair. He should be happy, thank
full But he won't be. He's too full of that
hate. And I'll bet it stays with him. even later
when he finds out"
Brownies eyes were wide, moist. She was
staring at the desk without seeing.
"And he" she said, "can only he-and
waiti"
"Yes Miss Brown, Just that"
IT was Thanksgiving morning at T.
] Good morning Mr.. Sloan"
Morning Miss Keller"