The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-01-22
OHApTER xITx

N uA0MemenKY curiosity. From her 0bst back of the grin, she had look 60 Into tragic faces many times be- Gore.
 ~I want to see Dr. Stanleyl' Dnua gagped.
 The girl hesitated and Dana cried irnporingly, Please. I'm Mrs. nlanIey. He sent for me"
 ~Oh, Mrs. stanieyI" The girls Voice changed. '.Dr. Robertson left word he was to be called when you arrived"
 Dana whispered, Please hurry"
 @y1st Q moment" The alert NOung woman went to a desk and lffted the receiver of Q house nhone. She smiled at someone across the desk as she did so.
 People in hospitals became so ac- custOfned to suffering. Things that meant life and death to other peo- pie were routine to them. Scott was hurt. He might be dyingl And this girl was smiling at someone.
 Dana,s pleading voice reached the clerk again, "oh, won't you hrrryp
 The young woman at the phone xkOwned slightly. She thought, sshe's llysterical. Maybe she's a mental case. Anyway, she looks like one with her wild eyes and hair flying that way"
 Someone on the fifth floor was answering, and she said, "Dr. Rob- erts0n is either in 514 or 536. Please tell him Mrs. Stanley is waiting here."
 She felt relieved when she saw Dr. Robertson coming, his face wearing the professional calm which might mean good news, or news that was very bad indeed.
 Right this way, Mrs. Stanley" :" Dr. Robertson said. He was feel- ing an immense surprise. He hadn't expected her to show up. And here she was, looking ready to col- lapse. She was probably the emo- tional kind. But even with her haiS tumbied, her face white and her eyes strained and anxious, you could see she was beauty.
 There probably hadn't been any truth in the report that she was going to marry Bonnie Moore to- night. 0arbled stories got out. Only heaven knew how.
 They got of on the fourth floor. The pungent smell of either filled the long han. Through open doors there were glitnpses of wan faces against pillows. Tn other rooms, relatives and friends grouped about cOnvalescentS. Tn another room, Dana saw Q haggArd woman keep ing lone watch by bed.
 1r. Robertson had brought her to C stnporch. "I'll come back for yoU," he said, batting her hands re- asaiiringly. Tt won't be long now"
 "Can't I see him now?" Dana asked brokenly.
 He shook his head, his eyes meeting hers in surprise.
 SIt isn't allowed" he said. "You couldn't go to the operating room" Then Scott was in the operating goOmI
 'Everything's going to be fine." pr. Robertson said. "I'm betting pn Scott"
 ne was betting on Scott! But he didn't know. No one could know szutil-until later. Dana shuddered. aud sank down in 6 chair.
 From her position she could watch the hall, could see smiling, serene-faeed nurses coming and go- ing. How could they be smiling and serene?
 Patients were wheeled out on the porch and back to their rooms. The long minutes dragged while Dana sat tensely, anguished, waiting.
 A woman in front of Dana, mid- dle-aged, gray-haired, was tapping her chair with nervous fingers. 'sScmeone sick?" she asked.
 My husband" Dana answered. It didn't occur to her that it was strange to be calling Scott her husband.
 "rs he real sick" the woman persisted.
 I'm afraid so," Dana said. "It was an automobile accident and they had to operate" Her voice trernbled.
 The older woman nodded sym pathetically. T wouldn't worry so much. He'll probably be all right. My daughters in the maternity ward. It's her third. She always comes through beautifully, but I can't help but worry. We women are made that way The restless tapping of her fingers continued.
 Marking time, Dana thought with Q flush of understanding and sympathy. Men wandered of at times like these. But women stayed on, keeping anxious vigils. Mark ing time. Smiling. as this mother was smiling, as these nurses were smiling. Playing Q courageous game.
 A door had opened somewhere and two nurses were coming down the hall, rolling @ stretcher. AS they came nearer Dana could see that the patient was a young man. A blond youth of about 18. A wave of ether drifted through the door and she closed her eyes, physically and mentally sick.
 The woman who had spoken to Dana said, "That must be the boy who was hurt in dreadful acci- dent. They said the best man in the hospital was operating on him. one of the nurses said he was wizard with Q knife. It was his car that crashed into the young fellows automobile, and they said