The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-06-08
By George Carroll

from the infirmary tomorrow yes
Six months in bed. They finally scai
ed pneumo-thorax .. getting aAone
now!"
Another voice: Bob Williams gets
his discharge tomorrow. Back 10 "ofh'
too! Apparently arrested"
Butter, pleased" the blonde girl oe-
manded.
With a murmured, "Sorry!" valerie
put down her napkin, got quickly to her
feet, and left the table. "Whatever
happens, don't get discouraged" sne
heard a voice saying over and over. 6ut
the forces of unhappiness were surfing
within her, and she must get back %
the cottage before her defenses rumpl
ed. All across the O she a an
odd feeling that those somber, haunt-
ed eyes were following her.
One sunshiny morning Valerie Iouao
DR.. Hanlon waiting for her in the foyer
outside the dining room.
"How much exercise do you haveF"
he asked abruptly. At Baldwin 'exer-
cise' meant nothing 10 strenuous
than walking. It was as much q part
of the routine Of the place as food or
bed-rest; and it was doled out in fifteen
minute bits by the resident physician.
When Valerie had told him, Hanlon
said, Good! that's enough. It's 60
ing to be a perfect day. How about a
drive somewhere? Well be back early
so you won't have to ask them at the
nurses office"
U0ID yTo1oria told him Ufhara iS a
Justice, after ALL"
Bowling northward through rugged
country, drenched with sunshine and
redolent with lilac, Hanlon seemed con-
tent to drive in silence and Valerie was
silently grateful. Leaning back against
the cushions she soaked up the suns
warmth. A little river of wind eddied
about her. She felt herself ~unaccount-
ably buoyant. Without weight. It was
not that she went back, somehow, and
repossessed herself that had been be-
fore-before all this. But rather she
seemed to achieve for the time a state
Of being beyond illness or humiliation,
or fear even
Somewhat past noon they pulled up
finally at a faded ramshackle inn
standing at the head of a small deep
seeming lake. On the far side Of the
lake a mountain rose, sheer and sparse
ly timbered. And the mountain had
another life, if a topsy-turvy one, in
the clear waters.
Inside they had the place to them
selves. 1t was cool and a certain air
of antiquity chung to the room.
"Tired?" Hanlon asked.
Valerie shook her head. I'm all
right, thanks!"
Hanlom Lit a cigaret.
well, I must say, you're looking bet
ter than you did a few weeks ago!"
Tn afraid" Valerie admitted, IT
must have seemed pretty much of a
pain! It was all so grotesquely impos-
sible at first. And there were other
factors. I couldn't seem to adjust my
self"
1T takes time" Hanlon agreed.
you've had a profound psychological
shock. But you'll COM through all
right"
"The other day." Valerie went no, II
went up to the infirmary. Prof. Wen
dell-at my table you know. They put
him back in bed for some reason. It
seemed such a pity. II took him some
books. When I left I was ashamed Of
myself for the first time in years. I'd
been such a child about-well, about
everything! But those people up there.
Courage. Patience"
Silence. Beyond the open window a
man in overalls was painting a small
boat drawn up on the shore. After a
space Valerie said quietly:
you've been here a long while, have
MT you?"
"Six months. I'm not on the general
staff, you know-or do you? Other
wise" Hanlon grinned boy1shly. I'D
hardly be chasing around the country
side with you, a PATENT"
20! I'm afraid I never thought Of
that"
"A thing called medical ethics" Han
lon explained, smiling. "But I'm in the
research laboratory. Makes a differ
ence that way. Brushing up on some
things while waiting for opportunity to
knock back in Boston,"
BOSTON," Valerie echoed duly.
by Wisconsin out of Harvard Medi-
cal school," he told her. "And a
chance next fall to 60 in with a form
er teacher Of mine. Big city practice.
Plenty of hard work-and not much
by way of fees at first! But fame and
fortune ultimately. perhaps. Anyway
I'm keen to try it."
Another pause. The maid came and
went with dishes.
Il suppose you know all about me?"
Valerie hazarded at length.
Hanlon seemed slightly abashed.
That place back there" he said final
~, "a gigantic sounding board. Every
whisper q o Not malicious, un-
derstand. It's simply that there's so
little to occupy ones time!"
Valerie nodded. She had a sudden
impulse to let him hear the story from
her " lips. He did seem to under
stand somehow. And it might help her
to shake off the wretchedness that
fingered at the core of her being.
So, not easily at first, but with in
NH00cfr~