The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1937-01-01
CHAPTER IX-Continued
II.

looked at MIN quickly. but she
said nothing, asked no question, con-
tinued like a machine to supple
ment in every way his efforts with
her own.
And presently, as his senses
cleared, Doctor Breeding began to
feel, with that fine instinct of the
surgeon which is so often right with
out any tangible reason for its con-
illusions, that Dan might be saved.
All went so smoothly. The bullet
had been driven by light powder
charge-by a target, rather than
a service-load. Also, the ball had
struck Dams belt and thus lost
somewhat of its force, so that its
destructive effect was less than
might otherwise have been the case.
Thus the wound itself was as
mild as possible-though deadly Sc
rious enough. But also there seemed
to Doctor Breeding ground for hope
in the fact that this absurd, irregu-
lar surgical procedure insisted on
performing itself without the least
hitch. Razor-blades instead OF the
knife, blunt scissors for dissection,
thread and needle in place of snaps,
clumsily bent spoons for retractors,
each in his hands so incredibly
shrewd and skillful served their pur-
pose well; and at the moment the
supply of gauze for sponges neared
exhaustion, Terrell and Thomas
came racing up the path, bringing
all that might be required.
When Doctor Breeding saw the
end of the task in sight, he spoke
to Nancy. Enough ether-take the
towel away now" She obeyed, and
lie finished, sure that what he had
done was well done; with a nod to
Mary Ann, he withdrew from the
table where Dan lay. He went to
the sink to wash his hands. Nancy
was there, leaning back against the
drain-board, white and still. Doctor
Breeding looked at his daughter.
and he asked gently:
"Head ache? It's the fumes. Get
out of doors. We must keep Dan
warm, can't open any windows
here"
Nancy went obediently toward the
kitchen door, and Mary Ann said:
''We'n move him into the dining
room, arrange some sort of screen
around him there to keep off
drafts
Doctor breeding nodded. He said
YEARLY: ''It's been a strain. My
heads whirling. A surgeon should
never operate on his friends!"
"You did all that could be done,
did it perfectly" Mary Ann assured
him; and she asked, with a sudden
weakening in her tones, her first con-
fession of fear: "Tell me what you
Think"
Doctor Breeding hesitated. "Ev-
erything was as fortunate as posi-
ble," he said. "There are many per-
forations, as you saw. That was in
evitable. But not much poisonous
matter free. Of course, all we could
do was repair the damage, and
drain the wound, and-wait. You
know that as well as l." He added:
''Yet-I believe he will get betterl"
With Thomas and Terrell helping,
they carried Dan into the dining
room, and laid a mattress on the
table for his bed, and set fire on
the hearth.
And thus began the vigil that must
endure for days. Doctor Breeding
assumed command. "Another pro-
cedure may be necessary later" he
explained. "Pll get whatever we
are likely to need, have it ready"
He telephoned to Boston and ar
ranged that full kit should be dis
patched by messenger. He suggest
ed a nurse; but Mary Ann mega
tived that.
II shall be within call always"
she said. Sand Nancy will want to
help. Any unnecessary people could
only add to the confusion. He needs
quiet, needs to Sleep"
He assented. eyes, that's true"
he agreed.
"But I must let Father know"
she remembered.
Doctor Breeding said quickly:
of course" And he urged: "Have
him come up here, Mary Ann" He
was suddenly and for no tangible
reason eager to see Professor Car
Isle again.
Terrell took this matter in hand;
he volunteered to drive to Boston
and fetch Dams father. 'It's bet
ter than having him make the trip
alone" he said. "And-I must con-
fess my fault to him, Mary Ann"
She treasured him. tIt wasn't
your fault. 1t was an accident"
she urged. Yet she let him 90.
Thomas took him in the boat to
the landing where he had left his
car. He would, they decided, return
next day.
Dusk began to creep across the
lake and cloak the island. Dan
was drowsily conscious, murmur-
ing absurdities and realizing their
absurdity and chuckling at himself:
and Nancy, close by him, holding
his hand, laughed with him ever so