Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-04-24
INSTALLMENT Xxx.

THOMAS had observed that Fried
erike and Stephenson had left
the ball room. These two and
i many another couple had left.
Doctor, you are wanted In
the hospital"
Thomas stared at the steward. Hos
pital-oh, yes-why, isn't the whole
ship riot Of pleasure and Joy? Hos
pital-old Mrs. Weber is lying there,
probably mean the end Of her. She
would never see her son again.
There's a rainbow round my shoul-
der" the Negro drummer's megaphone
beloved as he was passing the jazz
band to 60 out.
To get the hypodermic. That was
about the best he could do for the poor
old woman Still, that did not matter.
Get on with the job!
On the way back an idea flashed into
his head. It would not mean any delay
If he just had another look into the
ball room. The people In the CORRIDORS
made way for him in his white doctors
coat.
The door to the ball room was open:
In a space between the bass VOL ana
the piano, Thomas was just able TO
.
of fumes and cigarette smoke.
A couple OF young people had leaped
upon a table and were dancing as well
as thev could there, and singing, too.
Mill Lensch had climbed upon table
also. She was dancing with her Dutch
frock well raised above her gamin legs,
shooting out her toes, now at Wolzogen,
now at Exl.
With a wild moan Of the saxophone.
the music stopped. The dancers stood
and madly clapped their hands. More,
more!"
Among them was Sybil!
She was only three PAGES away from
Thomas. her partners arm still around
her shoulders, and she was clapplng
her hands: More, more!"
Everything had happened just ex-
actly as he had imagined 1t would:
After he had left she had taken of
her mask All night long he had felt
that she was in the hall. And as to
Shortwell? Was he perhaps in his
cabin, or in the dining room or else
where, so as not to betray her presence?
Sybil was standing three PAGES away.
She was dressed as Rosenkavaller, with
close fitting white trunks and a white
peruke of curls. Her heated race
showed beneath the white hair. and
she still had the same childishly sur
prised, innocent eyes which had been
hers as a young child. Why does Ma
ture put up with a lie like this? Why
did it lend this faithless. heartless wo-
man the tender expression of flower
this expression Of helpless need for pro-
lection which awakened such gentle
ness and inextinguishable tenderness
in man?
There she stood, three PAGES away. at
the very moment when he had to go
to Mrs. Weber. Did he really have to?
Was he not a patient himself, man IN
imminent danger of death? Had he
not during the last few days again and
again taken the revolver from us
drawer, had he not stared down into
the dark waters. his own life hanging
only by hair? He was still young,
haps somehow he might once again
find happiness. Mrs. Weber, however
would definitely and certainly be under
the sod in a couple Of weeks at the
most.
It was a moment thrown up by des-
tiny. At this moment and never again
might he grasp Sybil by the arm, draw
her into his cabin. and never again re-
linquish her to any one else. All ne
had to do was to send the hypodermic
by a boy to the hospital. Sister Martha,
the nurse, knew as well as he how 10
handle tt
But he had the cursed heritage OF
sense of duty in his bones. He was
doctor first, and human being second.
This was the law Of his profession. He
staggered down the stairs, cursing him
self, calling himself fool who de-
served his sufferings, and yet step by
step and from stair rung to stair rung
he was increasing the distance between
Sybil and himself. His only consola-
ton was that he might be back in 10
minutes and still find her. 1t was
hardly likely that after her days OF
boredom she would leave before the last
electric light faded out
ITS very bad this time" Sister
Martha whispered to Thomas.
Thomas motioned her aside. Quick,
quick! A single look at the ashen-gray
face Of Mrs. Weber, bathed In sweat,
told him how serious it was this time.
1--WE shall give her a small injec-
ton" said Thomas, land then, mother.
you will have a quiet night" He had
already taken out the hypodermic.
broken the top of the ampule and
sterilized the needle.
Very weakly she shook her head. and
in barely audible whisper said: mol"
Was the woman conscious? Thomas
sat down on the edge of the bed.
why don't you want me to help you
like the last time? You will fall asleep
at once and tomorrow"
And Mrs. Weber again shook her
head. mo, not sleep any more"
Thomas bent down close to her so as
to better understand her whisper;
mot sleep any more-till get to my
boy Franz-if I sleep, won't wake up
again"
Profoundly moved, he put away the
hypodermic. He took Sister Martha
aside:
THE intense sensativity Of the alb
dominal wall indicates that we may ex-
pect the ulcer to burst through the
stomach wall at any moment. With or
without morphine-we shall not get
her ashore in any case If her general
condition were better, would try an