The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-07-12
CHAPTER V

All the rest of that day, after the terrible Top Sarge had surprised her and Bob Benchley in the in- strument room, Tran waited drearily
 for the summons to an interview with Miss ArmStrong-that fatefu interview during which the director of nursing would tell her, respectfully but firmly, that she was a misfit -. A "misfit" was Miss Armstrong; . euphemism for student nurse whc failed to click.
 Late that afternoon, hurryine along a corridor on an errand tc Central Supplies. Tran almost col lided with white-coated figure Dr. Bob Benchley halted her by the simple expedient of hooking his little finger through hers, and mur- mured swiftly, Heard anything from Armstrong;"
 Not yet"
 Maybe you won't" he encouraged her, but his voice lacked conviction Top Sarge dressed me down fol both of us - 'unprofessional con- duct'-'interference with nursing discipline were some of his rhetor- lcal high spots :. I'm still licking my wounds. Haven't time to tel you all about it now, but" - he glanced warily over his shoulder when are you off duty?"
 This evening at eight-but only till ten, of course"
 At ten, without special permission all f1rst-year students must be be- hind their own closed doors.
 Meet me at Borden's at eight he directed swiftly. We can slip over to the park"
 Borden's was the drug store around the corner. Well-regulated probes did not meet internes at Borden's or walk with them in the park-not if they really wanted to get their caps.
 No" Tran flung over her shoul- der as she tore herself away. But she knew she'd have hard time living up to that No" when he called softly after her, You're the sweetest thing God ever made, Agility"
 She hurried all the more after that, because the errand was for Miss Miller; and the icicle's" sense N timing was uncanny. She knew to a split second how long it should tale to get from any given spot to t2T other given spot in the hospital, and back again.
 When Tran got back with the tray of sterilized dressings from the Autoclave the great cylindrical steam sterilizer-Miss Miller, with a third-year student, was working in the service room off the corridor from which the private rooms open ed.
 Right now, Tran knew, Miss Mill Ter was on private duty. The pa- tient, one of the doctors from Saint Vhcents board of directors, had specially asked for Miss Miller.
 For Tran, that alone invested Miss Miller with halo. But on top of that, the case was one of Dr. Sargents. |. That lent Miss Miller wings of glory. Tran forgot her worry in an ague of eagerness to please Miss Miller.
 When she hurried, little breath less, into the service room, Miss Miller was saying, Of all the pa tients in the world, doctors are the biggest babies. They're always sure they're going to die. He's diagnosed 1aic our, ,,1 last six hours"
 T know" Miss Smart said. Miss French had one last week. Believe 1t or not, he insisted on taking his own temperature. How do you man. age yours?"
 "Manage?" Miss Miller's blue eyes held glint of cool amusement. q treat him exactly as if he were a bricklayer who wouldn't know a After all, I am the nurse. If-oh, here you are Dear born!"
 She turned to Tran.
 Lets see what you've brought Um-six towels. Right. Sheet Right . Laparotomy gown. Right . But, my dear child, you're positively white about the mouth How often must"
 "I know, Miss Miller" Tran q have no professional poise. But working with you is so 50 exciting that I-Well. l just forget about everything else"
 For once, out of complete inept- ness, she had said the right thing. Miss Millers smile was almost friendly.
 "Well, I must get back to my patient" she said. Now l wonder Smart is assembling the sterile articles for mel won der if I can depend on you to get together the unsterile? You'll want
 -"
 T know" Tran cut in breathless- ly, "Colodion. Two tourniquets. Tis- sue forceps in two per cent Lysol. Flask of normal saline. Board I looked it up when I heard it was to cc a transfus!on, l hoped you'd let me helf."
 Miss Miller looked faintly annoy ed. When Miss Miller was gracious Iy pleased to notice a probationer she did not like to have her words | CRAIsslM |