The Washington times., 1937-01-15

fore her d1m1nutlVe mlrror In the
nurseS's home.
Unfortunately there had been
almost nothing to report so far.
DR.. Paige had been visiting Mrs.
Dexter at least twice daily ever
since her arrival for observation
two weeks ago. She was not his
patient. DR.. Endicott had brought
him in, that first day, to present
him.
'I want you to become ac-
quainted with my associate, DR..
Newell Paige, Mrs. Dexter" he said
breezily, you two should know
each other. It is no secret. Mrs.
Dexter" he had added. that DR..
Paige Is in line to be the chief
of staff here when the old fellow
retires to the Lido or Waikiki
Beach"
The acquaintance ripened quick
ly into an unusual comradeShip.
Sometimes DR.. Paige stayed with
Mrs. Dexter for an hour or more.
AS her disability was neither pain
full nor fatiguing, there was no
reason why she should not re-
ceive callers If she desired. No one
of her family was in town. Her
husband, an investment broker in
a huge midweStern city, would
come on call if an operation were
decided on. A daughter, Grace. at
home with her father, would accom-
pany him. There was another
daughter, Phyllis, In Europe for
the summer with a party Of VaSsar
classmates. The trip was Phyllis
commencement gift.
So little had Bunny learned
about her interesting patient who,
contrary to custom, had been dis
inclined to discuss her private af-
fairs with her nurse. AS for the
sudden friendship which had de-
veloped between her and the
young surgeon, Bunny was regret
fully unable to enlighten Miss
Ogilvie. No-she hadn't the faint
est idea what they talked about,
for she was always promptly ex-
cused from attendance while these
conservationS were in progress.
Today she was resolved to stay
in the room with them until def
nitely and firmly invited to leave.
She had just learned that Mrs.
DeXter's operation had been put
off until tomorrow. After that,
there might be a week or more
when conversation would be i'm
possible.
One thing seemed sure: it was
not a filtration. Mrs. Dexter was
nearly old enough to have been
DR.. Paige's mother. And she GER
tainly wasn't the sort to initiate
or encourage a guSty little ro-
nance for the sake Of passing the
time.
Quickly shifting her search to
Mrs. DeXter'S face, Bunny tried to
interpret it, but realized that she
had arrived the fraction of a sec
ond too late. Mrs. Dexter'S sensl-
tive lips were parted as if she had
just asked an inarticulate ques-
tlon with them-Some Single-Word
query that might have been ex-
pressed with the lips only. If so
they had a very good under
standing between them, these two.
Mrs. Dexter had the eyes Of
a thoroughbred; steady, grayish-
blue eyes that never widened sud-
denly in surprise or alarm or
curiosity; serene eyes that never
gave her thoughts away. Her
hands were young and slender,
and she could say things with
them. DR.. Paige had the same
slow-moving eyes and the same
speaking hands. He had taken one
of Mrs. Dexter'S expressive hands
in both of his and had seated him
self at her bedside. These people
were somehow related. Bunny felt.
He said something to her in an
undertone, and she replied, with
smile, What does it matter?-
today, tomorrow, the day after.
Don't be troubled about this little
delay. I shall not be fretting. No.
not isn't a pose, I assure you.
am quite in earnest. It doesn't
matter in the least and I'm con-
tent"
You are a very fortunate
woman" responded DR.. Paige.
Last night was mulling over
some of the things you had said
and it occurred to me that if
somehow it could be reduced to
simple terms and communicated,
1t would practically revoIutionize
the whole problem Of human hap
plnesS. But I doubt whether il
could ever be made elementary
enough for the ordinary intellect,
I admit it's too much for mine =
think I get spasmodic little tugs of
it-and then it is gone. One would
have to be something of a mystic,
I presume"
Ito Be Continued