Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-02-23
III HIGH COURAGE ID
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most lost sight of that pin point of
light which 1t seemed she must strain
towards. It had grown larger as she
struggled, until It became torchlike.
And then there had been some one
near the torch who insisted that she
carry on.
Anne opened her eyes. A pleasant
faced girl stood watching her. At the
sight Of the opened eyes she moved
swiftly across the room, then returned.
A few moments later the door opened
and man came in, stepped to the
bedside and looked down.
STOOD the change all right" he de-
cided. Don't put her back in the
oxygen chamber unless you have to.
Now about" he moved away, his
voice fading into the vague cloud that
settled over her.
Anne fought to keep her eyes open.
There he was, going toward the door
now. He opened 1t. She caught
glimpse of second figure arising from
a chair beside the door. A policeman
in uniform.
A shadowy smile tugged at the cor
ners Of Anne's lips. AS If she could
escape! And then she realized she
could. There was another door,
through which she might slip and
evade them all, forever.
The nurse was standing at the bed
side, bowl in her hand, a glass tube
tinkling against the edge. Nourish-
ment. If she refused that other door
would be opened. 1t would be easier
to 60 that way; 1t took courage to live.
The nurse placed the glass tube to
her lips. "Sip it," she ordered.
Anne looked up at her. Sip" re-
peated the nurse.
Anne sat on the broad veranda Of
the hospital, fanked by uniformed
policeman, the jail matron and her
day nurse.
This is adventure" she told them.
Just to look out on the purple hills,
the blue river, to watch the seagulls
wheeling. to feel the beat of the hot
sun on her body, to smell the dry
scents Of early Autumn in the air.
She was terribly tired of green
walls and liquid food. At that, she
had been unconscious so much of the
time that she had escaped much of
the monotony of her incarceration.
Am I never to have company?"
she asked the matron. Here I've
been Ill for a whole month and con-
valescing week and three days"
Whenever the doctor agrees" the
nurse interposed.
And the sheriff puts his okay on
them" added the man in uniform.
Anne smiled at him. "He needn't
be afraid of my friends delivering
me. I know those bumps down there
are supposed to be feet, but I don't
think they know they belong to me.
They wouldn't move if ! ordered them
to. Besides" she added thoughtfully,
II don't want to escape. I want to
stay and face the charge. know I'm
innocent"
Whom do you want to see?" the
officer asked.
Anne hesitated. She wanted to see
John Neuman, but somehow she
couldn't admit this. If she saw Tecla
she could tell her all of the news
and then she could ask her to send
| John up.
my nurse, Tecla sorki," she an
swered.
Maybe tomorrow" temporized the
matron.
On the morrow Tecla Sorki ap-
peared, a mere shadow of her former
self. Cautioned to be careful, she
tiptoed into Anne's room and sat at
the bedside afraid to speak.
'Tecla," laughed Anne when she
opened her eyes and discovered her
there. you tempt me to say boo and
| see If you'll jump"
''NikH." All of the pent-up worry
and woe of the past weeks were re-
leased in that word. "And would
have saved you from this worry, this
sickness. with myself"
Il know you would Tecla, but don't
worry, you had nothing to do with 1t.
Cheer up, everything will be all right.
They won't let you stay long, SO begin
telling me the news right away. How's
Lisa? How many times has she
locked herself out since I left?"
A little laugh escaped Mrs. Sorki.
But once" she confessed. THAT
time she make to go in the kitchen
window and stuck she was in the
middle, with both ends Tapping. Only,
her head, 1t was inside so we do not
hear her call"
Anne goes to trial, tomorrow.