Evening star., 1938-02-19

moment, a time-Worn satchel in her
hands.
Give me a stethescope!" DR.. Nc
Cracken barked, and Joyce handed it
to him. In moment he looked up
at DR.. Bill. Internal hemorrhages,
he growled "A punctured artery
Have you sent for an ambulance" He
shook his head. Il guess there isn't
time"
Joyce didn't hear the rest, for she
was running toward the kitchen
With Joe's help she lifted tub of
water on the big range, told Joe to
stoke the fire and Feep stocking it. She
went into the dining room, moving
with automatic speed. showing the
dining table against one wall, kicking
back the rugs
She returned to the living room in
time to hear DR.. ,IcCracken say. I'll
have to operate here. There's no
time to take him to Washington. He
can't live like that 30 minutes!"
Joyce glanced at the uninjured pas
senger sitting in rocker, staring
stupidity at the floor She crossed to
him.
Il want you to help my father
carry table into the dining room,'
she said
AS his eyes raised to meet hers
Joyce was astonished. She had got
the impression that he was a dull
sort of a person, but his eyes were
alive and intelligent And yet she
decided quickly she didn't like them
or him.
He said quietly, my name is Jones,
lady"
I'm not interested in that" she
snapped. Help my father, and do it
quickly"
He got to his feet with surprising
swiftness, and followed her father
through the door. Joyce ran toward
the stairs again. She came flying
down in a moment, carrying sheets
and blankets. She went into the
dining room. to find that the kitchen
table had been placed in the center Of
the room.
DR.. Bill, at her command, got an
antiseptic solution from the store
room, and she sprinkled table and
floor literally with this. She placed
two folded blankets on the table,
placed folded sheet on top Of them.
"I'll want lot Of hot water" DR..
called. He was watching
her activities with rather bewildered
eyes.
You'll get it," Joyce snapped, and
was headed toward the kitchen. She
told Joe, Get dressings, a big box
Of them" and he headed for the stairs
on the fly. Joyce sterilized two trays
and returned to the dining room.
The patient was lying on the table
now, naked except for a sheet draped
from waist to ankles, and DR.. Bill was
placing two small end tables near by. |
On one of them Joyce placed tray |
of sterilized surgical instruments. Joe
came painting into the room with
box of dressings and Joyce put these
on the other end table.
She saw that DR.. McCracken was
dazed by the things taking place be-
fore his eyes. What had been a din
ing room in country home was now
a surgery, and very efficient one.
He shook his head groggily and di-
rected an admiring glance at her.
She smiled at him. "Well-get busy!"
DR.. Bill had placed napkin, folded
conewise, over the patients face,
lightly suspended and was allowing
chloroform to fall, drop by drop, onto
the cloth.
The patient sighed and DR.. Bill
stopped the anesthetic and got busy
with his stethoscope,' checking the
mans pulse. He nodded at DR.. Nc.
Cracken.
Inc famous surgeon stepped for
ward, and Joyce saw that he was
very pale. She had taken her stand
oy the small tables, holding the in
struments and dressing. As DR.. Nc
Cracken moved to the other side of
the long table she handed him the
proper scalpel, heard him take a long.
shuddering breath.
He pricked the patients skin with
the knife, nd nodded at DIR. Bill
BIZ used the stethoscope again, then
ms eyes were on DR.. McCracken,
holding that sharp knife poised over
the patients chest He blinked un-
bellevingly as he saw the hand
tremole, saw the knife almost slip
from the famous surgeons fingers.
LII. McCracken stumbled backward
1rom the table. His left hand went
to his trembling, ashen lips.
Il can't do it," he mumbled. II
can't"
DR.. McCracken sank into q chair
and looked up at them with dazed.
apologize eyes. II was more
shaken than I knew" he muttered.
His chin sank on his chest.
.Yovca 01arnd ~ nr nil1 ur1.A s.,,.., .,