The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-04
AR BIZ TidG Hurst
.Stewardess
CHAPTER ONE.

y ~ 49,
said quietly. That's
that"
"Oh. darling" he protested.
Don't take it like that,
please, Can't you see my side
Of it,"
Il do" she assured him.
only too we'll"
Far above them flying over
the Preside an airplane
dipped and scared like dizzy
bird. =.
She watched it thinking, Il
wish | were up there"
I haven't changed" Bartlett
pleaded. I love YOU just as much
as ever"
III never see any airplane again
without remembering this Irene
unused. wondering why she felt no
pain. People were supposed 70 SUI
fer at moments like this but she was
conscious Of no sensation save sur
prise.
She had known such things hap
Dcnod Of COURSE One couldn't be
come a graduate nurse from one Of
san FranciscO's largest hospitals
without learning something about
life. But that 10 might happen TO
her-Irene Gardner-was a pOsSibil-
irv she had not even remotely con-
sidered
The dav had started perfectly. II
had been thrilling 10 waken to the
familiar family sntiseptIc OdOr OF
training school bed linen and realize
that for once she needn't jump ShIv-
rrinE upon the bare. clean floor. No
dashing NJ cold water across sleep
flushed cheeks before she struggled
into her uniform on this particular
morning. II was. she reminded her
self. Enclosing startling. black
dashed. green eyes. the dav for which
she had hoped and prayed and
worked for three long years.
I've done IT," she eXulted,
stretching her tired. Young BODY lux
uriouslv I've actually finished ny
training
There had been times. plenty Of
them. when she had feared she
would rot be able 10 do IL. DAYS
when fatigue and rebellion against
the seemingly unnecessary routine
had been almost strong enough 10
kill the ambition. Nights when she
wondered why she had ever chosen
a profession demanding such rigid
self-disCipline
She had even Wept at the stupidity
which had led her TO believe that
size wanted 10 be a nurse. when she
might have been a StenOgTapher or
telephone operator or any number Of
other things which permitted a girl
20 retain some fragment OF indie
pendence after business hours.
That had. however. been a long
time ago. Before her love for DR..
Bartlett RalSton had been woven
like a gorgeous crimson thread into
the fabric OF her life.
II OOKING back from graduation
Il dsv. the last year of her training
seemed only a background for the
pattern OF her romance. II had de-
veloped gradually. although Irene.
in common with every other girl in
training school. had been fascinated
BY her first glimpse Of the inferno 5
dagklv attractive face.
n was well known around the hos
pital that Bartlett RalStOn had
dent doctors we're frankly enviOuS
N the fact that DR.. Clifford Will
lamS. chief-of- staff. showed more
interest in the chief resident phySi-
rian than ne had ever evinced in
any one else Even Pete Evans,
Ireue's best friend among the grad
uate nurses. admitted that he had
the makings OF a darn fine sur
gron"
Pete prided herself on being hard
boiled. To hear her tell Il she had
no faith m any one. vet when the
doctors had a case which demanded
expert care and alert. unCessing at
truuon they always asked for her.
This. IN spite Of the fact that IN re-
turn Pete had no illusions about
them. Their peCuharlties and 7relu-
diCes. their failures and successes
we're an open book 70 her.
To win professional commenda-
ton from Pete one must be almost
superhuman. Irene thought. gloating
over her friends grudging admis-
SION 81 Bartlett's ability
H had been A secret idol Of
Irene's for months before he gave
her the first Of those searching
glanceS which sfterward she learned
- accept and return as a cares.
Looking over a chart one day their
hands touched and A fame seemed
70 fare between them. He admitted
sfterward that il vas the first time
he had seen her for anything more
than q pretty nurse but. little by
little. fed by their work together.
that inexplicsble spark had burned
into a steady FIRE
IRENE vas small and dark with
Il short. black hair and Slsnting.
gray-green eyes IN a piquant. heart
shaped face. From the top Of her
sleek. little head 10 her small. high
srched feet she possessed that mys-
FERROUS quality which Is known as
being a mans woman She was.
also. one O. the few nurses whose
appearance IN her own clothes was
NOT A disappointment. No uniform
could conceal her loneliness. but in
her own Smartlv tailored dresses and
plain dark suits she was. Bartlett
insisted. completely devastating.
Irene sdOred his choice Of words
Rows had made love N her ever