The Washington times., 1937-12-29

Her fresh, girlish, pink and white
face rose from the round little col
lar like a flower from its sheath
On the back of her FURNISHED golc
hair perched an absurd, butterfly
like cap.
"It's because of her heart, Dick,
said Karen. Her body is worn-out
but that heart keeps on beating
like a trip-hammer."
well, it's getting me down.
hardly ever see you any more. But
this will be your last case, Karen
After thiS-the altar"
"Says who?"
"Says me. You've been putting
me off long enough. If you want to
Join me on our wedding journey
you'd better dust off your trous
seau and be ready to start next
month. On account as how I have
plans"
What plans, Dick?"
I'm fed up on this town" Dick
growIed. I'm going to get out OF
it for a while. forget the banking
business and see if l can't do some
thing else. Maybe I can write, who
knows?
Anyway, I want to travel.
want to go down to the sea in
Ships I want to go rolling down
to Rio and all that sort of thing.
And you'd love it, too, darling. You
know you would.
THE SURPRISE
$50. here's the Surprise-T have
booked passage on an old freighter
that chugs down to the Virgin
Islands and I'm liquidating all my
assets CHATS good one) and
we're off for parts unknown on the
thirtieth of next month"
. Karen stared at him as If he
had suddenly gone crazy.
Richard Hale Jenney," she ex-
claimed, II never heard of such a
wild idea! Throwing over a per
fectly good job for the-for the
life of a beachcomber!"
And expecting me to do the
same. Why, people just don't DO
things like that"
They don't? Well, do. Listen,
Karen, if we don't break away
from Putney Corners now we
never will. We're both young,
we're healthy, and now is the time
for us to enjoy life to the full.
Where's your love of advell.
ture? Aren't you willing to gam
BILE just a little?"
Just then Karen happened to
see the face of her wrist watch
and without more argument she
was out of the car and running
up the drive.
I'll talk it over with you later, p"
she called. I'm late. Call me
tomorrow, Dick"
Karen closed the side door
softly. spoke in whispers to the
day nurse who was just going off
duty, then quietly mounted the
stairs to old Mrs. Tartan's room.
This idea Of Dicks was going to
complicate things.
Shed have to tell him that she
not only was not going with him.
but that she did not intend to give
I'D her nrofeSSion
She loved him with all her
heart, but with all her head she
clung to her job of nursing, for
1t meant something she had al
ways been taught to prize, secu
rity.
She turned and silently entered
the sick room.
There was the familiar smell of
flowers mingled with the acid odor
OF medicines. A faint breeze was
stirring the white curtains.
Even before Karen's eyes OBJ
served her patient, lying propped
on immense white pillows on the
high, pineapple four-poster bed she
knew that this was the night.
FATAL NIGHT
1t was tonight that old Mrs
Tartan would die. The girl felt
death in the room. Not once had
she ever failed to sense its pres
ence. 1t was close to her now
as she walked calmly over to the
bed.
Good evening. Mrs. Tartan" !"
she said.
The aristocratic old head turned
on the pillow, the misty faded blue
eyes under the white trans.
formation stared at Karen.
Well, young lady," said Mrs.
Tartan, who are you, and what
are you doing in my bedroom?"
Now, Mrs. Tartan, you remem-
beE me. I'm Karen Adams, your
night nurse. Don't you remem-
ber?"
What time is it? This day
has seemed so long. Why don't l
feel any better?"
Karen busted herself with small
duties. talking cheerfully, answer.
ing the same questions she had
been asked for the past 42 nights.
MY son, Geoffrey, came to see
me this afternoon. He was wear
ing one of his new suits. He sent
to London for the material.
He says you can't get good
woolens in this country. He's just
like his father was, years ago. Mr.
Tartan always wanted the best
and he had it.
" The best or nothing he usec
to saw You SEQ that nhotOOronL