The Washington times., 1937-02-13

1lrSt? asked Dr. SJdIIOTQ COLnpdu-
ionably. "Poached eggs on toast
and a cup of Coffee"
L think I'd like deep breath,
replied Paige, with a vince.
The doctor stepped forward, un-
buttoned the coarse white Jacket
and gently prodded him in the ribs
with inquiSitive finger p S.
"Hurt?" he asked.
Its deeper in, Doctor"
"Where does it seem to catch
you-internal intercostals?"
The doctor gave the nurse a
slow wink that tipped up the cor
ner of his friendly mouth. They
were sharing a little mystery
Paige thought he knew what it
was and decided to be dumb. Per
haps he could bluff it out.
You'll have to talk English to
me, Doctor" he replied, guileleSS
as a child.
Now don't you try to kid me-
my SON." DR.. Stafford pointed a
challenging finger close to Paige's
innocent eyes. when 1 took off
that splintage I found it to be the
work of an experienced surgeon
And you put it on because your
friend Ingram said so. He denied
that you we're a doctor, but l
know better. 1 have just seen the
plate and the adjustment is per-
feet. The fracture was slightly
comminuted, too, if you know
what that means-and I damn
we'll know you do Now! just
where does it grip you when you
inhale. You may tell me in Eng
lish' if you don't mean to come
clean about yourself Where?
Ribs or belly?"
"Cordiform tendon" growled
Paige.
"Attaboy!" Stafford nodded a
triumphant I-told-you-so at the
nurse. Now, how do you want
your eggs, Dr.. Paige"
Promptly HoW's Ingram"
Fit as a fiddle and asking about
you. That must have been a
frightful trip. You got your lame
diaphragm by heavy lifting. Mr..
Ingram says you not only had him
to look after, but had to keep
vigilant eye on your raScaNy gulde.
Nevermind-we're going to make
it hot for that fellow. I don't see
how you managed
MY dog helped. She stayed
very close to him with her nose
wrinkled and all her teeth on dis
play"
Il see she got her name in the
paper this morning" said the doc
tor. 1--WE had little accident in
the mine, late yesterday after
noon" he explained. Some tim
bers slipped and produced a
couple of cracked heads and
flock of bad contuSionS. Young
fellow here-Johnny Malloy-
wires mine news to San Francisco.
He droped in to inquire about our
patients just as your party was
arriving. We had a lot OF excite
ment. Your dog was racing about
in the hall with this piece of pants
in her mouth; you were dead to
the world; your friend wouldn't
talk. Naturally, Johnny was
curious"
Printed our names, too, I sup
pose" muttered Paige, rather
testify and revealing a good deal
of anxiety,
Move did not give him your
names. Your friend objected.
However, Johnny heard him call
to the dog. That's how he got her
name. And I think somebody told
him that the broken leg had been
uncommonly we'll looked after,
which led him to hint-as YOU
will notice-that the whole affair
seemed a bit mysterious"
Paige took up the paper which
the nurse had laid on the bed be-
fore scurrying away with the an
nouncement that she WOulC be
back presently with his breakfast.
The brief dispatch had dealt joe
ularly with Sylvia's revenge on a
disobliging guide who had refused
to be of assistance to an injured
friend Of hers.
The accident had occurred in
the mountains and a serious fraC.
ture had been eXpertly treated.
Both the injured man and his ex-
traordinarily competent friend,
who knew more about first-aid
than most. had seemed to prefer
that their names be kept out of the
news.
When he had finished reading.
Paige glanced up to find Stafford's s
eyes fixed on him interestedly. He
seemed to have something perpleX-
ing on his mind.
st feel forced to say'-he low
cred his voice-"that you two
strangers, and this long-nosed
Johnny Malloy, have placed me in
an awkward position. This hos
pital is maintained by the Gray
Lode Mining Corporation for the
exclusive use Of it's employees.