Evening star., 1935-06-09

She walked timidy into desolate recep-
tion room equipped with rows of bare brown
benches and desk. A mournfu baritone was
singing a refrain about the Lone Prairie
Winifred coughed twice, then ventured into
the adjacent Office.
tall man in a white coat stopped singing,
placed a sharp instrument in a glass Jar,
and turned around There was a shock of red
hair over his forehead. A challenge to frivolity
were the tortoise shell glasses astride his nose.
Behind them, the amberish brown eyes were
judicial. Without doubt, Wnifred decided,
this must be DR.. MacMurtre
Miss Tucker?" he inquired 1t sounded.
when he said it. like an unwelcome epidemic.
Winifred nodded, and inhaled the stringent
odor of anaesthetic.
I've been wanting to work in hospital
ever since saw Men in White"
Afraid you can't preserve any pretty
Illusions around here
His voice was twangy western drawl
Winifred wondered whether she would ever
be able to coax twinkle of friendliness out of
those frankly harsh eyes
"Oh. know it's going to be exciting work."
II may as well be frank, DR.. MaCMurtrie's
eyes became fixed on her hat, a pert little
affair that was like blue halo. This is no
place for girl like you. In the first place, it's
no fun. In the second place, | probably
couldn't depend on you
Winifreds smile faded. leaving trace of
hauteur around her cherubic mouth
Il wonder why you are so prejudiced
If,,,t
gladly do any job you see fit to give me-
Really" His mouth, twitching now with
Slight smile, was singularly maddening How
about scrubbing floor?'
Winifred proudly concealed her dismay
ANY time you say. Doctor!"
Very well, III give you a try-out"
He banged with his fist upon the bell on the
desk. Winifred was enveloped by a hot wave
OF humiliation. She was tempted to walk out
but she hated that implication of defeat
stout. patient faced nurse in crisp white
uniform hustled in from the supply room
Miss Cater this is Miss Tucker" His look
toward her implied the Worst Nuisance in the
World. "She has volunteered to scrub our
reception room floor. Will you give her a
bucket and brush?"
Miss Cater darted startled look at Wini-
fred, who was beginning to feel like culprit
caught at prank. As she followed the nurse
out of the room she glanced back at DR..
MacMurtrie, and caught him grinning.
In an adjacent room, Miss Cater handed
Winifred a voluminous mother hubbard.
"Scrubbng floors isn't my idea of good
time, dear" Her puzzled eyes travelled over
Winifred's handsomely clad person
II didn't exactly come for good time,"
Winifred retorted, "but had hoped for some
thing more - suitable
She dazedly donned the mother hubbard,
distastefully surveyed the bucket and scrub
brush.
'Oh dear, you'll be certain to dirty your
knees, Miss Cater moaned sympathetically
why on earth does Mac let you do it?''
Winifred was trembling with fright and
rage when she sank down on her knees on the
reception room floor. and sloshed the brush.
with showing of bravado. in the sudsy
bucket. The brush struck the floor furiously.
Dirty suds dubbed in its wake Grimly Wini-
fred imagined Bill Sutton's amazement if he
could see her working zealously across the long
boards. attired in spattered mother hubbard,
with wisps of hair struggling over her fore
head.
Soon dull ache began to attack the
muscles of her arm and back. She wondered