The Washington times., 1937-01-18

MY fault" gasped Paige. as
the flood broke. Il should have
drawn it tighter. My Cod"
The hemorrhage was instantly
out of control. Sponges would
have been equally serviceable at
q crumbled dam. The increaS-
ing tempo of the splash of big
drops falling from the table to
the floor quickened to brisk
patter and accelerated to a
steady stream.
The chief seemed suddenly to
20 to pieces-a shocking sight to
those who had never seen him
panic-stricken. He painted for
breath and his hands shook. Ogil-
vie thrust a huge bunch of gauze
into the pouring wound. He
shouted to her to remove it, and
frantically CROPPED in the depths
of the geyser with his clamp.
hoping to recapture the spouting
pedicle by mere blind chance.
"A donor-immediately!" he
commanded hoarsely. Here,
Paige" handing him the clamp,
see what. you can do" The fren-
zied graphing continued.
"How's she holding up, Lane?"
mumbled Endicott, half incoher-
emily.
Lane shook his head and closed
the valves. Miss Tweedy collapsed
on the slippery floor in a dead
faint. Larimer dragged her out
of the way. Ogilvie sponged the
sweat from Paiges white face
The hemorrhage was SubSiding
now. 1t had almost stopped.
There was no further energy driv-
ing it.
Endicott and Paige washed up
at adjoining basins without the ex-
change of a word or a look. The
chief was still breathing with an
asthmatic wheeZe. Paige was so
shaken that his tears ran unre-
strained.
Paige made a quick task of his
ablutionS. dashed to the dressing
room, and changed to his street
clothes. Nothing seemed to mat
ter now but a prompt escape from
this place at top speed. His hands
shook so violently that he could
hardly manage his buttons.
Frances Ogilvie was waiting for
him when he came out into the
corridor. He pretended not to no
tice her, and moved quickly to the
elevator. She followed, clutching
at his sleeve.
Wait" she cried. Il know ex-
actly what happened and I'm go
ing to tell everybody the truth"
you're going to mind your own
business" retorted Paige, measur
ing his words. sternly. 1T was my
fault and I've admitted it. And
that settles it. And you're to stay
out of it. And keep your mouth
shut"
The sluggish elevator was in use,
its remote rumble threatening a
long delay. Unable to bear any
more of the tempest that had re-
duced the Ogilvie girl to a tear
smeared Sputter of protestations.
Paige suddenly pushed her out of
his path and started for the stair
way. She pursued him, sobbing
aloud. He lost her somewhere be-
tween the third and second floors,
and ran on. The last he heard
OF her was an hysterical scream,
You'll be sorry"
Walking swiftly to the gate, he
hailed cruising taxi and ordered
the driver to take him home.
The apartment was cool and
quiet. Inagaki was out. probably
attending to his marketing.
Paige flung his hat onto the
table in the small vestibule and
walked through the livingroom
into his library. Although tenn
perate almost to the point of
abstinence, he maintained a cab
met OF choice liquors for the use
Of his guests. He went directly
to it, poured himself a stiff drink
Of cognac. and gulped it raw.
Telephoning the garage. he in.
structed Pete to go out to the hos
pital for his car.
"No-nothing the matter with
1t. Drive it back to the garage
and bring Sylvia here"
For long time he stood at one
of the front windows of his quite
luxurious living-room. beating
tatto on the sash with restless
fingers.
The tragic affair of the fore
noon clamored for appraisal. but
1t was all too painfully recent for
sensible survey. On the trip
home in the taxicab. the one
blistering fact that mattered most
was the wanton destruction of his
Idol. AS they had stood there, side
by side. almost touching elbows,
scrubbing off the blood that had
been so needlessly shed, he had
momentarily expected the big. dy-
manic. generoush hearted fellow to
turn to him and say, courage
ouSly: Il was to blame. Newell.
We both know that. I shall clear
you of any responsibility, you may
be sure" And he had already com
posed the quick reply. Better let
the matter rest the way it is"
But Endicott-dan1n him had