Evening star., 1934-08-22

staff made rounds, the two rows OF
white beds must be In q rnathe-
naatically straight line, the bedclothes
| In their precise folds exactly the same
on every bed, the bedside stand and
chair not one inch out Of line, the
patients fed. bathed. lying in the i'm
maculate beds, and woe to the patient
who disarranged his spread at the
foot for q mere trife like desire to
have foot room.
At 10 precisely Miss Halverson sailed
down the middle OF the ward by the
side Of the chief OF staff, followed
by doctors, internes and students,
and the nurse with the dressing tray.
When rounds were over and orders
written every one breathed q sigh Of
relief. The rest OF the day was busy
enough, but after the fierce intensity
of the early morning hours there was
q let-down.
One of Maida's favorite patients,
q cheerful fellow with q broken leg,
she discovered, was q chauffeur. She
liked his cheerfulness, and his re-
spectful manner was soothing, after
the breezy familiarity Of some OF the
men. She never quite got used TO
having them shout at her from the
end of the ward. Hey, nurse! Come
herel"
Once Duggan, the chauffeur.
sharply rebuked the man next to him,
who was being unpleasant about the
food, and when Mazda brought Dug
gan's tray he said to her: Il told
old Whiskers where to get of. He's
a garbage collector and he gets pretty
choosy about his eats. Amt that so,
old-timer? But you don't run this
hospital. I bet they don't feed you
nurses any too good, either"
Visiting hours were from 2 to
and then it was time for the after
noon toilets and the alcohol rubs.
1t was certainly saving Of time
when you could 60 down the ward
passing out basins and towels to every
one, then filling all the basins from
a big enameled pitcher. On the pa
vilion you could not do things whele-
sale. \
One afternoon Mazda had Just
started on her back rubs when q
pretty girl, dressed with expensive
simplicity, and man who bore him
self as If he were . parsonage. came
toward Duggan's bed. 1t was only .
few minutes after 8, but afternoon
toilets were In progress. There was
an uninviting pan Of soapy water
on Duggan's stand, which the nurse
who had passed the pans had not had
time to remove, and Duggan himself
was lying on his side while Mazda
rubbed his back with alcohol.
Visiting hours are from 2 to g."
said Mazda to the intruders.
I'm sorry we are late, nurse, but
you won't mind, will your We viii
only stay minute and Miss Burns
said it would be all right"
Certainly, If you Have permission
from Miss Burns" replied Mazda, un-
graciously. ~
How did she get that way, upset-
ting the whole routine of the ward,
because-well, probably her father
was on the board. Perhaps 1t was
sheer effrontery and the afauence OF
her belongings that had bluffed Miss
Burns. The girl was spoiled, but she
had meant no harm, and Dugsan Ger
tainly seemed glad to see her.
ITS my boss daughter. nurse" he
told MAZDA, fairly beaming with Joy.
IT told you I had q fine boss"
eyes, you did" Mazda kept stub
bornly on with the = back-rubbing,
giving 1t q little more time. than
necessary, as she felt the eyes of the
strange girl looking at Duggan, lux
uriating in q back rub. It was not
. supercinous look; she was really
quite q nice girl; but the casual
glance Of this exquisitely gowned girl,
no older than Mazda herself, turned
the exciting business of being q nurse
into something momentarily common
and tawdry. What was she doing
here, washing the bodies of common
buns, cutting fingernails, of senile old
men, putting their false teeth In
glass of water?
I'm sure YOU are taking awfully
good care Of Duggan, nurse. ne
looks as If he could get I'D and walk
before long. wouldn't you accept q
little gift, Just to let us show our
appreciation" Smiling sweetly, con-
fidently. she reached for her purse.
Mazda was 80 incensed that she
shot withering glance at the girl
which passed unnoticed, except by her
escort, who smiled slightly as at an
enjoyable scene In, play. Mazda
wanted to say, I'm not o waitress.
Do you offer the doctor . tip? This
Is my profession. venture to say
my breeding and family is as good
at least as yours, although you are
too stupid to see it."
She hated the girl for daring to
patronize her, but 1t would be too
ridiculous to really come out with Q
melodramatic speech like that. So
she merely flushed and said, I'm
afraid you have made q mistake"
The girl looked Unexpectedly child