The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-01-05

back, ashen, mottled skin, and q
terribly twisted, misshapen cheek.
As Mrs. Tully tore the mirror
from her hands, Mary was vaguely
aware that the woman kept saying,
The very thing DR.. Lenox warned
me about. The very thing. He'll De
furious. You mustn't mind, dearie.
You're lucky to be alive"
The Cabling was lost ON Mary
as, crouched In her pillows, she
saw Vincent's steps bring him
closer and closer TO her bedside.
Vincent's lean face was haggard,
haunted look IN his eyes. His
arrogance, were like black arrows
broWg, no longer cooked IN amused
across his forehead.
FOR a minute, the wards shaded
green light, the beds in even rows
seemed TO drop away. Mary Car
roll was alone, her very heartbeat
silent.
Vincent looked at her - q feet
ing, Indifferent look and walked
on. There hadn't been q sign Of
recognition In his glance. Only
utter WEAKNESS, as II he were In
a trance, driven hopelessly on.
Mary buried her face under the
sheets. Vincent hadn't known herl
She hadn't known herself. Per-
haps Mary Carroll was dead.
Mrs. Tully was trying to be
comforting. There's people COM
ing In here all the time looking for
survivors. Poor devils. Those Of
us that are alive have all been
accounted for by now, I guess"
She claSped her hands piously.
THE others have gone to their
rewards"
Mary remained motionless until
she heard Vincent,s familiar steps,
slow and dragged now, return
from his search through the ward.
Then she moaned, low, despair
ingly.
A nurse rushed quickly to her
side. Soon, she felt the cool fingers
Of DR.. Lenox on her pulse. She
heard Mrs. Tully say, Honest, DR..
Lenox, / wouldn't have let her see
the mirror for the world"
DR.. Lenox ignored the woman
and spoke quietly to Mary. I'm
sorry. I'd hoped to prepare you
for 1t slowly. It seems pretty bad
you've been through"
MY facet" Mary struggled to
make herself heard. "Tell me the
truth" Her hands ciutched his.
DR.. Lenox drew q chair to the
bedside, his red hair subdued and
russell In the shadows from the
night light. Mary saw his gray
eyes looking into hers, kind but
unfiinching.
This Is going to be hard To
take - but I think you can stand
1t. In time, ! believe you are going
TO be all right. The injury TO your
face when the Moravia was tor
pedoed seemed superficial at first.
But shock, coupled with the sting
Ing blow when you were appar-
emily pitched forward on the deck,
has caused a facial paralysis. The
nerves on one side Of your face,
reaching to the mouth, have been
rendered temporarily lifeless. That's
why it's difficult for you TO talk"
Mary pressed her hand to her
mouth to hold back o scream. DR..
Lenox went on, Speech will come
back gradually, I'm sure. AS for
the paralysis, there's q new treat
ment that can help YOU. Please
believe me when ! say nothing
will be left undone to help you
recover, Miss winters"
Miss Winters2" Mary repeated
Miss Winters?"
She stopped, more terrified than
ever. The doctor had not UNDER
stood what she was trying to say,
but she knew, Of q sudden, what
had happened. Her hand touched
the big, black pocketbook on the
bed. Anna Winters bag. She saw
the tattered gray dress across the
chair. Anna winters dress.
Instantly, everything became
clear. Anna Winters had dressed
that night In Mary's red gown.
0AAC " SaAAASSA AhuA BVAA pdA0C
with Its identifying contents. Anna
had a serious heart condition.
Shock Of the torpedoing and the
stampede that followed had perhaps
permitted her TO die quickly and
mercifully.
That's how the ghastly mistake
had been made. Mary Carroll was
listed us dead - Anna Winters as
q survivor.
Yes, she was suposepd to be
Anna Winters. In the shabby black
handbag was Anna's passport and
visa, and the letter-"To Whom It
May Concern"
Had II not been for the terrible
Disagreement, Mary Carroll would
have cleared II all UP ct once. AS
II was, she was too mute, too
stunned to know which way to
turn.
She closed her eyes. Dear Anna
who had been so tragic
and so beautiful N the flame red
dress.