Evening star., 1934-08-20

garage, so johnnie ana Dr. Gll-
lespie resignedly got out and changed
the tire themselves, but the few min
utes of delay had used up their mar
gin Of safety and 1t was minutes
after 10 when Mazda and Cookie
reached the door of the service build
ing. Miss Sims. who sat at the desk
Just where the stairs branched to the
two wings of the building, would GER
tainly be on the job and they would
be reported to the training school
Office In the morning.
"I suppose we will simply have to
take it." groaned Mazda. There isn't
any way out"
IF I haa only known, I could have
had my roommate decoy her to the
third floor while we got in" grumbled
Cookie. "Who would ever think those
dumbbells would make us be late
when we didn't do thing but ride
around?"
Il suppose it doesn't matter so much
to you, being junior, but we're sup
posed to get our caps soon, and I'm
afraid I have several other black
marks. couldn't bear it If this kept
me from getting my cap"
1T certainly does matter to me,
Probe, and don't you think I'm going
to let you sneak in without me. You
can just take the blame, too"
You misunderstood me, entirely.
I wouldn't ask you to injure yourself
on my account. Besides, didn't know
it was possible for one person to get
caught and not the other"
Mazda was so angry at Cookies un-
just suspicion that she marched on
a few PAGES ahead of her She nod
ded to Miss Sims and started to her
room, but Miss Sims called to her
and even came out from behind her
desk to speak to her.
do you know it is 10 minutes after
10. Miss Connell?" she asked.
I'm sorry, Miss Sims" she re-
piled. I'VE had breakdown that de-
layed us few minutes"
Il shall have to report you to the
training school Office. This is bad
time to break rules, when you are
about to be capped" Miss Sims
seemed genuinely regretful and Mazda
was really worried. Surely they could
not be so unreasonable as to refuse to
give her her cap because she was out
until 10 minutes past the hour, but so
much of the hospital discipline
seemed unreasonably severe that she
could not be sure.
She had forgotten Retta Cook un-
til she saw the skirt of her red coat
whiSking around the bend of the stair. |
What a sneaking way to act, after |
she had been SO indignant when she |
had fancied Mazda wanted to slip in,
with her as a screen. Mazda gave an |
involuntary exclamation.
What did you say?" asked the un-
conscious Miss Sims.
Good night" said Mazda, and
made her retreat.
Sure enough she was called to the |
Office next day and reprimanded Sc
verely. Miss Burns took pains to re-
mind her that the time was drawing
near when the caps were to be re-
warded, and intimated that q light
attitude toward hospital rules might
influence the office to withhold the
coveted honor from Mazda.
She and Bert we're indignant with
Cookie. If both girls had been caught
coming in late together, it would not
have been so bad.
ut wouldn't hurt her to take the
blame and let you sneak in" said
Bert. DIRTY sneak"
Maybe she Is in bad with the Of
flee now and doesn't want to risk add
ing anything to her record"
When last Mazda was sent for, she
went to the Office sure she would be
denied the cap, and 1t was almost an
anti-climax when, after a serious lit
tie talk on nursing ethics, Miss Burns
told her she was to have her cap with
the rest of them.
Don't try on your cap before the
ceremony" said the older nurses in
horror Its bad luck"
However, there was not q proba-
tioner who did not secretly perch the
little stiff triangle on her head, view
ing herself from every angle, seeing
herself at last like the romantic nurse
of fiction, smoothing brows more than
making beds, and making rounds in
state with doctors, instead Of damp
busting.
1t was simple, but somehow affect
ing-the little ceremony the next
night, the nurses marching in in
order of rank, the little class of pro-
bationers standing awed and excited
while Miss Burns addressed them and
then placed each girls cap upon her
head. There was new seriousness
in their faces as they filed out of the
little chapel, and more than one girl
ish head was filled that night with
dreams Of service, mingled DELIGHTFULLY."-
with anticipation of the surprise of
certain favorite patients when they
appeared on duty the next morning.
Somehow feel as If I'd got re-
ligion," observed Bert, dreamily, as
she stood before the mirror that night,
viewing herself. She was an attractive
figure in her full white apron, set of
now by the starched bib and cuffs and
the perky little cap.
you look like poster or a maga-
zine cover" answered Mazda. Come
on to bed or you will never wake up
in the morning in time to get your
harness adjusted"
say, Connell, watch your step for
a few days, will you? I think that
Cookie has something brewing"
Don't be ridiculous. I hardly
know the girl. Why should she pick
on me?"
Bert shook her head. "I wouldn't
trust that girl around the corner"
she said stubbornly.
(To be continued.)