Evening star., 1934-08-23
NURSE
BY
KATHERINE
CARSON

bath until she had removed both
sheets. Then, on the bath blanket,
she bathed him carefully, taking pains
to see that the water was really hot
and the waShrag not wet enough to
drip unpleasantly. Still old Wantupp.
although surly, had not swore or
snarled at her. Mazda then rubbed
his bony back with alcohol and pow
dered it carefully. She put on clean
binder and soon had him clean and
comfortable under his fresh counter
pane, and was turning to carry the
soiled bedclothes to the clothes chute
when the old man grabbed her arm.
whats your name? You are a
good girl. Know how to rub backs" :"
Mazda thanked him gravely and
then hurried away dumbfounded. He
was a pitiful old creature; she be-
lieved the other girls had been slight
ing him because he was cross and un-
attractive, and just now he was par
ticularly unpleasant to care for. In
several weeks he woul have his sec
ond operation, which meant that they
could look forward to about q month,
in all, of his company.
did he skin you alive?" asked Nal
smith, when they met In the hall.
"Oh, we got along all right. I really
feel sorry for that old man."
She grew increasingly sorry for him
as the days went by. He never had
visitor, he made no friends among
the patients, he mistrusted the nurses
and doctors. Only for Mazda did
he show a wary friendliness. At last
she discovered that he understood
nothing Of his own case, but con-
vinced he was to die of his second
operation, was waiting for the end and
dreading it as she would not have be-
lieved poor old derelict, with moth
ing to live for, could dread the end Of
his weary life.
why, Of course, you are not going
to die. Didn't Mr.. Raile 60 out cured
just the other day2 Men your age are
always having this done; it isn't seri-
GUS at all"
Her evident sincerity heartensd him.
II believe you," he said, a gleam
Of satisfaction in his faded eyes.
When you say a thing it is so, you
mean it."
That's right, Mr.. Wantupp,' said
Mazda, arranging the blankets in his
wheel chair, land now that you can
be up in a chair you will like the hos
pital, won't you?" o."
wantupp beckcned to her to come
closer, and with glance around to
make sure they were unobserved, he
fished a quarter out of his stand and
whispered, You buy me some snuff?"
I'm afraid Miss Halverson wouldn't
like it. why don't you ask her?"
+ Wantupp was plainly alarmed. He
scowled at her and said fiercely,
Don't ask her."
1t seemed a pity to deny the old
man his solace, and after all, Mazda
knew of no rule against it.
81 give you nice present some time, "
urged Wantupp.
You don't have to give me q pres
ent. I'll get it for you, but don't let
any one know or 7 might get into
trouble. Keep your money; it shall
be my present to YOU"
Next morning she felt Wantupp's
eager gaze upon her as soon as she
entered the ward and at the first op-
portunity she slipped him the coveted
snuff.
wantupp showed his yellow teeth
| in a grin.
you're good girl. wantupp won't
forget you"
After that she was in high favor
with the old Indian, who had an
alarming habit of pointing to his
mouth in q meaning way in the pres
ence Of Miss Halverson or the chief
of staff himself. One morning, when
ting her patients done up and was
trying to be at the same time expe-
ditious and unobtrusive in making her
getaway before ward rounds should
start, she halted at Miss Halverson's 3
frown, expecting a few biting SEN
tences anent punctuality. Wantupp's
bed was near the front Of the ward,
and he called out in his harsh voice,
Here, you'll Why you look mean at
that girl?"
The august Miss Halverson could
hardly credit that she was the per-
son he was addressing as Here, you'll"
That's a good girl" went on the
old mans strident voice. BEST girl In
hospital. Just wait. I do something
nice for her sometime"
The chief Of staff laughed out
right, and Miss Halverson said icily:
"You may 90, Miss Connell.'
"How's your flame. Wantupp?"
asked Johnnie the next time he saw
her. What is he going to do for YOU
give you a million or something?"
"He's really a pitiful old thing,
Johnnie. He doesn't seem to have
| friend or relative, and I don't know
how he can afford to stay in the hos
pital unless he is charity case. He
Is always promising something for
me, but you get used to that. To
hear them tell 1t, all your patients are
going to do something wonderful for
you"
ANY chance Of Duggan having
callers again?" asked Johnnie, elabo-
rately careless.
"I don't know. What's the matter,
Johnnie, did you like her looks?"
did II She's a whiz. Who Is
she, anyway"
| MAZDA stared at him with the
amazement women usually feel at the
women their men admire. She had
thought Norine good-natured, but
dumb, and her prettiness too obvious
to be interesting. Yet here was the
nonchalant Johnnie growing heated in
her praise. Perhaps she had been
| misjudging Stanleyi perhaps he, too,
was genuinely charmed with the girl.
shes the daughter of Duggan's
boss, and incidentally the girl Stanley
has been rushing all Summer. They
are new people, from the Southwest,
believe"
"I'll be darned! Stanleyl I don't
suppose a hard-working inferno would
have much chance against that social
butterfly" said Johnnie with the
frankness of old friendship. But
| that's funny. When she was here, I
mean