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diff --git a/old/66017-0.txt b/old/66017-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 797fcd6..0000000 --- a/old/66017-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6947 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Jean Craig, Graduate Nurse, by Kay -Lyttleton - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Jean Craig, Graduate Nurse - -Author: Kay Lyttleton - -Release Date: August 9, 2021 [eBook #66017] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Stephen Hutcheson, Sue Clark and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JEAN CRAIG, GRADUATE -NURSE *** - - - - - -Jean Craig, Graduate Nurse - - - - -FALCON [Illustration] BOOKS - -_Jean Craig, Graduate Nurse_ - -BY KAY LYTTLETON - -As Jean Craig finished her training and prepared for graduation, -illness struck--first in her own family, and later in epidemics -that swept the village of Elmhurst. It was with a deep feeling of -satisfaction that Jean was able to give trained and efficient aid at -the hospital. It was with equal satisfaction that she watched romance -blossom between Dr. Benson, the fresh young intern, and Eileen Gordon, -the new Supervisor of Nurses, and discovered that her sister Kit was -practically engaged. But the joy of the family reached a new peak when -Doris, the youngest daughter, won a music scholarship. _Jean Craig, -Graduate Nurse_ is another heartwarming and happy story about the -Craigs of Elmhurst. - -_OTHER JEAN CRAIG BOOKS_ - - Jean Craig Grows Up - Jean Craig in New York - Jean Craig Finds Romance - Jean Craig, Nurse - - - - -[Illustration: _Dr. Benson spent long hours in Timmy’s room._] - - - - -_JEAN CRAIG, GRADUATE NURSE_ - - by KAY LYTTLETON - - [Illustration] - - THE WORLD PUBLISHING COMPANY - CLEVELAND AND NEW YORK - - - - - FALCON BOOKS - are published by THE WORLD PUBLISHING COMPANY - 2231 WEST 110th STREET · CLEVELAND 2 · OHIO - - WP 8·50 - _COPYRIGHT 1950 - BY THE WORLD PUBLISHING COMPANY - MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA_ - - - - -Contents - - 1. Illness Strikes! 9 - - 2. A Villain Unmasked 21 - - 3. Fresh As Paint! 30 - - 4. Emergency Operation 42 - - 5. April Wedding 52 - - 6. Dr. Benson Confesses 62 - - 7. Ralph Returns from Europe 73 - - 8. Jean and Ralph Discuss Their Future 80 - - 9. Polio Claims a Victim 89 - - 10. Kit at the Capital 99 - - 11. Kit and Frank 113 - - 12. An All Night Vigil 122 - - 13. The Doctor’s Dilemma 133 - - 14. Mercyville 145 - - 15. Graduation! 158 - - 16. Double Triumph 166 - - 17. Judge Ellis Is Trapped 174 - - 18. Just Among Girls 184 - - 19. Elmhurst vs. Mercyville 194 - - 20. Sweethearts’ Dance 205 - - 21. Summer’s End 212 - - - - -JEAN CRAIG, GRADUATE NURSE - -1. Illness Strikes! - - -The small village of Elmhurst, Connecticut, was enjoying a balmy early -spring. The March winds were soft breezes coaxing the New England earth -to life again. - -Night had settled after a long twilight, and gay sounds could be heard -coming from the nurses’ quarters at the Gallup Memorial Clinic. The -clinic, now almost two years old, was the pride of the community. -Before it was built, Dr. Gallup, gentle, wise and able physician, had -tended the sick, brought babies into the world and guarded the health -of the community with constant vigilance. - -Like the noble man he was, Dr. Gallup refused to retire from active -practice until he had helped to provide for the future medical care of -his beloved patients. And because the town loved and respected him, -they backed him solidly. Together the people of Elmhurst created the -Gallup Memorial Clinic. And now, the white clapboard house which had -once belonged to a wealthy native was a small but efficient combination -hospital and clinic for the community. - -Dr. Edward Barsch, eminent surgeon, had come down from Boston to serve -as head of the clinic. His staff was small but competent, and he had -managed to open an accredited nursing course. - -It wouldn’t be long before the first class of nurses would graduate. -Standing high in the class, Jean Craig, one of the very first girls -interested in the clinic, was looking eagerly toward the summer day -when she would win her cap. - -But tonight there was no thought of graduation. The nurses were -planning a party. For there was a wedding in the offing, and the -excited girls were wrapping presents and prettying themselves for Ethel -Simpson’s wedding shower. - -Ethel had come down from Boston with Dr. Barsch to act as supervisor -of nurses. As is told in _Jean Craig, Nurse_, Jean and her classmates -had been taught and guided by the lovely, competent girl through their -year and a half of training. They had also laughed and cried with her -during her courtship and subsequent engagement to Dr. Ted Loring, staff -pediatrician. And now they were planning many gay and exciting parties -to celebrate the coming wedding. - -The party was to be held at the Craig farmhouse just outside of town. -And while the girls were getting ready, Mrs. Craig was making a final -inspection of her home. When she was satisfied with the preparations, -she threw open the front door of the farmhouse and took a deep breath -of the fresh spring air. - -It would be a happy spring, Mrs. Craig thought. Each year that passed -seemed to push the war and the hardships that followed farther back in -the shadowy memories of the family. Here in this simple village they -had found peace and happiness. - -She smiled as she thought of her family. It was truly growing up. -Jean, her oldest daughter, was an adult. In a few months she would -be twenty-one. It was exciting to have an adult daughter, Mrs. Craig -thought fondly. Jean would be old enough to vote. She would be a -registered nurse, and lastly, but most important of all, she would soon -be a bride herself. - -Five years ago, when the Craig family had moved to Elmhurst to forget -the misery of the war years, Jean had met Ralph MacRae, a handsome -young Canadian boy from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. _Jean Craig Grows Up_ -tells how Ralph sold his Elmhurst farm to the Craig family, and lost -his heart to Jean in the bargain. - -Next came Kit. Mrs. Craig smiled in spite of herself as she thought of -her nineteen-year-old impetuous daughter. Kit was the family scholar. -She had been sent to Hope College in Delphi, Wisconsin, by a crotchety -old uncle, and she had endeared herself to the elderly scholar by -turning into a scholar, herself. The tale of Kit’s entrance to Hope -College is told in _Jean Craig Finds Romance_. Mrs. Craig chuckled as -she remembered how Kit and Uncle Bart had stumbled upon a secret while -they were examining an ancient Egyptian mummy case, and how the money -awarded to Uncle Bart was now providing her daughter with the chance -for her education. Although Kit was many miles away from her family, -Mrs. Craig could almost feel the vitality of her daughter halfway -across the continent. - -Doris was the youngest daughter. Mrs. Craig thought of her sweet, -pretty seventeen-year-old with tenderness. Doris was shy. In her -demure way, she often made her mother think of girls of generations -past. There was something almost old-fashioned about the feminine -child. But Doris was also very talented. Right now, while Mrs. Craig -waited for the guests to arrive, she could hear Doris softly playing a -Debussy etude. The music blended with the soft evening air and made the -atmosphere nearly perfect. - -As Mrs. Craig thought of her son, Tommy, her mood changed. No one could -think of fifteen-year-old Tommy without smiling in amusement. Tommy -was all boy. His head was full of eager projects, and his legs were -long and still awkward. But he was a businessman, too. His chickens -had provided him with enough money for spending and for a good start -on his future college education. During the years that Mr. Craig had -been invalided after the war, Tommy had been the man of the family. -But though he knew the value of a dollar and the rich returns for hard -work, there was mischief and play in the boy. Baseball season was just -around the corner, and this, to Tommy, was as important as the money -he was putting away for the future. - -Mrs. Craig frowned suddenly. She was thinking of Jack, the Craigs’ -adopted son. Several years before, the homeless waif had found his way -to the Craig’s home and into all their hearts, and he had never left. -Jack was now thirteen. Two years ago, Mr. Craig had formally adopted -the boy, and he was now as truly a member of the family as any of the -other children. But Mrs. Craig was worried about him. Perhaps he was -growing too fast. For the past month, Jack had been listless and pale. -His appetite was poor ... a sure sign that something was wrong. - -As she fretted about Jack, Jean came out on the porch and slipped her -arm around her mother’s waist. She was wearing a simple, pale blue -party dress which set off her sparkling eyes and curly brown hair. - -“Everything’s ready,” she said. “Doris and Becky have organized the -whole party. And whatever are you baking in the kitchen? I can hardly -wait to find out!” - -Mrs. Craig squeezed her daughter’s hand. “I wonder if we’ve ever tried -to have any sort of party in this house without Becky’s help,” she -mused. - -Jean laughed. “Aunt Becky would be positively insulted if you didn’t -ask for her help, and you know it,” she answered. - -“Aunt Becky would be lost without the Craig family to look after, you -mean,” Mrs. Craig laughed. “Ever since she urged us to come to Elmhurst -in the first place, she’s been watching over us like a mother hen.” - -Jean giggled. “I would give anything to be at the hospital now. Did I -tell you that the doctors have taken over for the nurses tonight? So -that the girls could all come to the shower. I can just see Dr. Daley -and Dr. Jenkins running to answer patients’ calls.” - -“It was lovely of them to volunteer,” Mrs. Craig said. - -Jean nodded. “Oh, they’re all like that. I guess you have to cooperate -if you have such a small hospital. Oh golly,” she sighed, “the wedding -makes me want to cry.” - -“I know how much you miss Ralph, dear,” Mrs. Craig answered. “Just a -few more weeks and he’ll be back again.” - -“He’s in Norway now. Did I tell you, Mother?” Jean asked. - -Mrs. Craig laughed. “Yes, dear. You told me. In fact, you read me his -last letter.” - -Jean blushed. “That’s right. I guess I’ve told you a hundred times.” - -Mrs. Craig smiled. “I think it’s wonderful that you want to talk about -Ralph so much.” - -Doris came out on the porch and breathed deeply of the fresh air. “What -a night for a party!” she exclaimed. “It’s just about perfect!” - -“Where’s Becky?” Mrs. Craig asked. - -“Oh, she went upstairs to see Jack for a minute.” - -Mrs. Craig sighed. “Has Jack gone to bed? So early?” - -Jean turned around to face her mother. “I thought he and Tommy were -going over to Billy Ellis’s for the night.” - -Mrs. Craig shook her head. “Tommy went, but Jack said he didn’t feel -well.” - -Doris sat down on the porch swing. “Becky went up to give him a tonic. -She said something about springtime and sulphur and molasses....” - -“And sulphur and molasses never hurt anyone,” Aunt Becky said as she -came out to join them. “I tell you, you have to get winter out of a -growing boy’s bones. The way that youngster has been mizzering around -lately just proves it. When he passed up the chance to spend the night -with us, I knew something was wrong.” - -“Is Jack in bed, Becky?” Mrs. Craig asked. - -“Yes, he is. He’s just plumb tuckered out. No wonder. He didn’t eat -enough supper to keep a bird alive.” - -Mrs. Craig said, “I’ll go up to him in a few minutes. After the guests -arrive.” - -Just then a car turned into the Craig driveway. Doris stood up. “Here -they come. Don’t forget, Mother, Becky. This is a surprise party.” - -The car door opened and Hedda and Ingeborg hopped out. The student -nurses ran up the steps while Ethel switched off the ignition and -headlights and climbed out after them. - -“Evening, Mrs. Craig, everyone,” the girls called as they came up to -the porch. - -“Good evening, girls,” Mrs. Craig replied, grasping their hands. -“Ethel, dear, you look lovely this evening.” - -Ethel slipped off her white wool jacket and displayed her silver-green -party dress. She whirled around. “See the skirt,” she laughed. “Ted -helped me pick this out.” - -“He has lovely taste, then,” Mrs. Craig said. - -“For a man,” Hedda added. “It’s simply gorgeous.” - -Ethel smiled as she thought of her fiance. “You know, it’s wonderful,” -she said softly. “I haven’t any father or mother to help me prepare for -the wedding, so I have a fiance who can be so helpful and wonderful in -these things!” - -Mrs. Craig smiled fondly at the girl. “Well,” she said briskly, “let’s -go inside.” - -The girls drifted into the living room. Doris sat down at the piano and -began to play a popular tune. They all grouped around her and began to -sing as Mrs. Craig slipped out to the kitchen. - -Jean heard sputtering and backfiring in the driveway. “Here come Helen -and Eileen,” she cried. - -In a few minutes, the two girls appeared in the doorway. “Old Bessy -made it up your hill,” Eileen giggled. “There’s life in the old -rattletrap yet.” - -“How’re the doctors making out over at the clinic?” Ingeborg asked. - -Helen chuckled. “Oh, just fine. Can you imagine Dr. Jenkins making -formula for the babies? He certainly looked fussed and awkward.” - -“Wait till Ted’s bachelor dinner,” Jean teased. “Then I suppose we’ll -have to do all their work.” - -“Dr. Barsch is at the desk,” Helen continued. “Any calls tonight are -going to be answered by St. Peter himself,” she said irreverently. - -Lucy Peckham and Sally Hancock came in the door just as Mrs. Craig -brought in a large bushel basket decorated with white and gold paper. -The basket was heaped with shower gifts for Ethel. - -“Here you are, my dear,” Mrs. Craig said. “And you know we all wish you -great happiness with every gift.” - -Tears glistened in Ethel’s eyes as she looked at the basket. - -“I sort of knew it would be a shower,” she admitted. “But I never had a -basketful of presents before in my life. You just shouldn’t have done -it!” - -Doris started to play the _Wedding March_, and the girls clustered -around Ethel as she slowly opened her presents. Mrs. Craig waited till -the first gift was opened, and then she slipped out into the hall. -As she started up the stairs, the door opened, and Mr. Craig and Ted -Loring came in. - -She turned around and came down to greet her husband and the young -doctor. “Why, Ted,” she said fondly, “how nice to see you!” She smiled -at her husband. - -“Ted and I have some things to talk over, Marge,” Mr. Craig explained. -“We thought tonight would be a fine time.” - -“Then you didn’t come to join the party?” - -Ted stared at her in mock horror. “Heaven forbid!” he exclaimed. He -peeked through the entranceway into the living room. “They do look -lovely, don’t they?” - -Mr. Craig smiled at the sight of the radiant girls. “Yes, they do,” he -agreed. “Now Marge, if you’ll excuse us, I’ll just take this young man -into the study.” - -“Oh, of course,” Mrs. Craig said. “I’m on my way upstairs. I’ll bring -you some hot chocolate later, if you like.” - -They both smiled and nodded as she went upstairs. - -“Come in, Ted,” Mr. Craig said, opening the door to his study. They sat -down in comfortable chairs and pulled out their pipes. - -Mr. Craig smiled disarmingly at the boy. “You might call this a trial -run for me, son,” he said. - -“I don’t understand, sir,” Ted replied, lighting his pipe. - -Mr. Craig leaned back and stared out of the window. “I guess you know -that our daughter will be getting married pretty soon. When young -MacRae comes back from Europe, probably. I guess he’ll want a few -words with me beforehand. So I thought I’d ... well, I’d practice on -you.” - -Ted nodded. “You don’t know what this means to me, Mr. Craig,” he said -warmly. “You and Mrs. Craig have been like a second father and mother -to Ethel, and this gesture just about completes the picture.” - -Mr. Craig nodded. “Fine girl,” he mused. “I can’t remember knowing any -finer girl, as a matter of fact. Well, I guess all young people have to -listen to some old man recount the blessings and pitfalls of marriage -sooner or later. Your mother is still living, isn’t she, Ted?” - -“Yes, sir. She will be here next month for the wedding. She and Ethel -have been corresponding for several months, now. Needless to say, -Mother is thrilled.” - -The older man nodded. “I’m glad to hear that. Now, Ted, I’m in no -position to ask you impertinent questions about your bank account or -your ideas about marriage or anything else. But I just want to give you -a little advice. Advice which I think you can use. In some ways, you -and I are very much alike. Before I went into the Army, I was pretty -absorbed in my work. Perhaps I knew as much as the average husband and -father about what was going on in my family. But it took a war and a -serious illness to prove to me that no work in the world is one quarter -as important as a man’s wife and children. - -“I know what medicine means to you, Ted. I have some idea of the -demands it makes on you. But never forget that you will have a wife who -will stand beside you and will help you fight whatever battles come -along. Just don’t forget to let her help you in the fight....” - -Mrs. Craig knocked softly at the door. - -“Come in, Marge,” Mr. Craig called. “We could use some hot chocolate.” - -“I’m sorry,” Mrs. Craig said as she closed the door behind her. “I -didn’t intend to break in on you quite so soon. But, dear, I’m worried. -Jack is upstairs in bed. He isn’t feeling at all well.” - -Mr. Craig tapped the heel of his pipe in his hand. “Something he ate -for supper?” - -Mrs. Craig shook her head. “No, it’s a cold, or, well, I don’t exactly -know what. He has some fever.” - -“How high a fever, Mrs. Craig?” Ted asked. - -Mrs. Craig smiled almost apologetically. “Hardly any at all. His -temperature registers just over ninety-nine. But he feels so bad. He -says he aches all over.” - -Ted started for the door. “If you don’t mind, Mrs. Craig, I’m going to -take a look at him,” he said. - - - - -2. A Villain Unmasked - - -Jack was lying face down on his cot when Ted and Mr. and Mrs. Craig -came into his room. He turned his head with a grimace and looked up at -them listlessly. Ted walked quickly over to him and sat down on the -floor beside his bed. - -“Just let your head down, Jack,” Ted said as Jack tried to look up at -his mother and father. “Now tell me where you hurt.” - -“All over,” Jack whispered. - -Ted nodded. “Does it hurt to talk?” - -Jack nodded. - -Ted looked up at Mrs. Craig. “How long has he been feeling this way?” - -Mrs. Craig said helplessly, “I don’t think it’s ever been this bad. -He’s been sort of listless ever since he had a cold last month.” - -Ted picked up Jack’s arm gently. He pressed against the elbow. Jack -winced. - -“What kind of cold was it?” Ted asked. - -Mrs. Craig smoothed Jack’s forehead. “Well, he first had the sniffles, -and then a sore throat and then a cough. Pretty much like all his -colds. Then, a while later, he got another sore throat. He ran some -fever.” - -“Uh huh,” Ted said, nodding his head. - -“Mother, my head aches,” Jack moaned. - -Ted sighed and stood up. “Well, we can’t do anything here. If you don’t -mind, I’d like to run him over to the clinic and let Dr. Barsch and Dr. -Jenkins have a look at him. I came on a social call, and I don’t even -have a stethoscope with me.” - -Mrs. Craig straightened up. “Is it serious, Ted?” she asked. - -Ted hesitated and then nodded. “It might be, Mrs. Craig,” he said. He -picked up Jack’s wrist and looked at it. “There’s some swelling here. -You see?” - -Mr. and Mrs. Craig both nodded. - -“Well, let’s get him to the hospital,” Ted said. “If we can wrap him up -in blankets, we don’t need to bother him with clothes.” - -Mrs. Craig picked up Jack’s blankets and wrapped them around the -bewildered boy. Ted smiled at him and said, “Cheer up, son. These -things happen to the best of us. We probably won’t keep you at the -clinic very long.” - -Mrs. Craig started for the door. “I’ll get my coat,” she said. - -Mr. Craig caught her arm. “Let me take the boy over, Marge,” he said. -“The girls will need you for their party.” - -Mrs. Craig whirled around. “I can’t leave him now!” she cried. “My boy -is sick, and I’m going to stay with him!” - -Mr. Craig put his arm around his distraught wife. “Of course, dear,” he -said. “And please don’t worry.” - -“Get your car ready,” Mrs. Craig said to Ted. “Mr. Craig can carry him -downstairs. We’ll be ready when you are.” - -Mrs. Craig ran downstairs and took her coat from the hall closet. She -looked into the living room where the party was in full swing. After a -minute she caught Jean’s eye. - -“Jean,” she said softly, as her daughter came to the doorway. “Jack is -sick, and Ted and I are going over to the clinic with him. Don’t tell -the others. I don’t want to break up their fun. But you’ll have to -manage without me.” - -Jean gasped. “Oh, Mother! I’ll go over with you!” she cried. - -“No, dear,” Mrs. Craig said firmly. “You stay with your guests. I’ll -call you as soon as we know anything.” - -Mr. Craig bundled Jack into the car, and Mrs. Craig and Ted started -off with him toward town. Ted drove slowly, avoiding the bumps in the -country road. Mrs. Craig supported Jack tenderly, trying to brace him -against the swaying of the car. She noticed that Ted was scowling -angrily, and she suddenly felt cold with fright. As if he could sense -her terror, Ted reached over and patted her hand. - -“I think everything’s going to be all right, Mrs. Craig,” he said -reassuringly. - -Dr. Barsch was at the desk when they came into the hospital. Ted -exchanged a few words with him. The head doctor nodded gravely and came -over to Mrs. Craig and the boy. - -“So you’ve caught yourself a bug, Jack,” Dr. Barsch said. “Well, let’s -get you upstairs, and Dr. Jenkins and I’ll go over you, and see just -what is the matter. If Dr. Loring will take over at the desk, I’ll have -an orderly take you right up.” - -“May I go, too, Doctor?” Mrs. Craig asked. - -Dr. Barsch hesitated, and then Mrs. Craig said, “No, I’ll wait here. I -shouldn’t have asked. I’m sorry.” - -Dr. Barsch nodded. “It’s all right, Mrs. Craig. I know you’re worried. -I’ll let you see Jack as soon as I can.” - -After the orderly had taken Jack upstairs, Ted sat down behind the desk -facing Mrs. Craig, who paced nervously back and forth. - -“Please sit down, Mrs. Craig,” he begged her. “You’ll just wear -yourself out.” - -Mrs. Craig smiled and sat down in an easy chair across the desk from -Ted. “I must seem like a foolish mother hen,” she said apologetically. - -Ted looked at her in wonder. “I wish there were more mothers in the -world like you. Some of the mothers I’ve seen wouldn’t be this anxious -about their own children, let alone an adopted son.” - -Mrs. Craig thought a moment. “I wonder why people don’t understand,” -she said softly. “Jack is every bit as much my own child as if I had -given birth to him.” - -Ted nodded. “Of course _I’ve_ always thought of him as your own, -because he’s been with you as long as I’ve known you. But I’ve often -wondered, Mrs. Craig, why you and Mr. Craig adopted another child. I -mean, when your family is as large as it is.” - -Mrs. Craig smiled softly as she remembered Jack when he first came to -her house. “We didn’t exactly adopt Jack. He adopted us. He turned -up one day looking for work. When he was just a bit of a thing. His -mother was dead. And his father!” she made a face as she remembered the -distasteful man. “He was frightful! He dragged that mite of a child -along with him on box cars! He ... he rode the rails, I think the -expression is. And then he found that Jack was too much of a nuisance, -thank God! And he dumped him off at Elmhurst.” - -“You mean he ran away from his own son?” - -Mrs. Craig nodded. “And so Jack came to us. Then, just about two -years ago, his father turned up again. I suppose that was fortunate, -too. He wanted Jack back. You see, Jack and Tommy make quite a bit of -money from their chickens. So he wanted Jack’s money. Mr. Craig made a -settlement with him, and he gave us permission to adopt Jack. So, you -see, Jack is our very own child. And that dreadful man has no claim to -him, whatsoever!” - -Ted smiled. “Jack was lucky,” he said quietly. - -“And so were we. I can’t imagine how, but that boy, brought up in -filth and horrible conditions, was as fine a boy as you can imagine. -Right from the very start. Oh, Ted, if anything happened to Jack, we’d -be lost!” - -Ted smiled again. “Nothing will happen, Mrs. Craig,” he reassured her. - -“What ... what do you think it is?” she asked timidly. - -Ted hesitated. “I don’t know, of course,” he said. - -“You mean, you don’t want to tell me?” she asked. - -He drew a long breath. “Very well,” he said. “I’m afraid it may be -rheumatic fever.” - -Mrs. Craig drew a long sigh of relief. “Oh, good heavens. And here I’ve -been really worried. I was so afraid of polio. I know it isn’t the -right season for polio, but you don’t know how a mother worries about -such things!” - -Ted ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t think you understand, Mrs. -Craig. Do you know what rheumatic fever is?” - -Mrs. Craig shook her head. “A sort of rheumatism, isn’t it? That would -explain the aching and the tiredness and swelling of the joints.” - -Ted sighed. “It’s a type of rheumatism, all right. But compared to -rheumatic fever, polio is a pink tea party.” - -Mrs. Craig gasped. “Oh, no!” she cried. - -Ted drummed his fingers against the desk. “I don’t mean to under-rate -the seriousness of polio. But almost always polio can be diagnosed ... -at least the mother knows the child is really sick. But this mean -villain of a germ which Jack may have is one of the slickest criminals -of the medical world. Rheumatic fever doesn’t cripple outwardly ... -doesn’t disfigure a person the way polio does. But it can cripple and -kill.” - -Mrs. Craig caught Ted’s hand. “Oh, Ted!” she cried. - -Ted covered her hand with his. “Now, it’s not going to kill Jack. I can -promise you that.” He ran his fingers through his hair again. “But you -have no idea how many youngsters contract the disease and no one ever -knows it.” - -“How does it work, Ted?” she asked. - -“It usually starts in the form of a strep throat. You remember you -told me Jack had not one but two sore throats with his cold? Probably -he caught the infection while his resistance was low from his cold. -Then, after a while, the throat heals and the patient is presumably -well. Only he doesn’t really feel good. He hasn’t much appetite. He’s -listless. He aches in the joints. He isn’t exactly sick, but he isn’t -well, either. Lots of people ignore these symptoms. So the strep then -attacks the heart. If the patient is lucky, after that, he manages -to fight off the infection, or arrest it, and survives with a badly -damaged heart.” - -Mrs. Craig covered her mouth with her hand. “And if the patient isn’t -lucky?” she asked. - -Ted shook his head. “Let’s not talk about it any more,” he said. - -“You mean, he dies?” - -Ted nodded. “But you must remember this. Jack doesn’t fit either case. -Thanks to you, we’ve caught the villain. Jack’s going to have help in -his fight.” - -Dr. Jenkins came down into the lobby and nodded to them. “I think we’ve -found the root of the trouble,” he said calmly. - -Mrs. Craig shook her head as if to fight off a bad dream. “Dr. -Jenkins,” she said slowly, “your specialty is heart trouble, isn’t it?” - -Dr. Jenkins smiled. “Of course I’m just past my internship, Mrs. Craig. -Someday I hope to be a heart specialist, though. But for right now, I’d -like to call in a specialist from Boston. We want to be very sure to do -exactly the right things.” - -Ted looked at the other doctor. “I was right, Fred?” he asked. - -Dr. Jenkins nodded. “And if Mrs. Craig wants to see Jack now....” - -“Oh, please!” Mrs. Craig cried. “Ted, will you call Mr. Craig and tell -him? But please don’t let him tell the girls till the party is over.” - -Jack was lying flat on his back in a small single room near the -pediatric ward. He managed a grin as Mrs. Craig came into the room. - -“Jeepers, you should see all the things they did to me,” he said as -gaily as he could. “Mother, it sorta makes a guy feel important with a -couple of doctors fussing over him.” - -Mrs. Craig knelt beside his bed. “All right, baby, everything is going -to be fine.” - -Jack grimaced. “I’m not a baby,” he protested weakly. “They gave me -some aspirin and stuff. My head doesn’t ache so much. Hey, will you ask -Tommy if he ever had a car--cardio--you know what I mean?” - -“A cardiograph? I’m sure Tommy never had one. You’ll be able to tell -him all about it in a few days,” Mrs. Craig smiled. - -“They gave me a pill. I feel sorta dopey. But don’t hang around all -night or anything, because I’m gonna be okay.” - -Mrs. Craig caressed his forehead gently. “Of course you are, Jack.” - -Jack dozed off. But as he relaxed, a spasm of pain hit him, and he -cried, “Mother!” Too near to sleep to act like a man any longer, -he whimpered like a young child. Mrs. Craig stroked his black hair -tenderly. - -Dr. Barsch appeared in the doorway. “I think he’s asleep, Mrs. Craig. -If you want to stay here tonight, there is a room next to this one....” - -“Is it all right if I stay right with him?” she asked. “I’m not very -sleepy.” - -Dr. Barsch came in and sat down beside the bed. “You’re a wonderful -woman, Mrs. Craig,” he said softly. “This boy is so lucky. And what a -boy he is! The exam we gave him wasn’t very pleasant for him. He’s in a -lot of pain. But he joked and grinned and ...” he turned his head away -a little. “I don’t know. Sometimes a youngster like this can make one -proud to be part of the human race!” - - - - -3. Fresh as Paint! - - -Billy Ellis and Buzzy Hancock dashed up the driveway to the porch of -the Craigs’ farmhouse. Tommy was sitting on the porch swing jotting -down figures in his account book when his pals joined him. They jumped -up on the porch, and Billy cuffed Buzzy playfully as they sat down on -the swing. - -“Hey, take it easy, you guys,” Tommy said. “I’m trying to add up my -accounts. I want to give Jack an exact report of how much money we made -while he was gone.” - -Billy stretched his long legs out in front of him. His voice, which -wavered between soprano and baritone, was full of sympathy as he said, -“Jeepers, what a break! The poor little guy’s going to miss all the fun -this summer.” - -Tommy looked at his two closest pals. Billy, Judge Ellis’s son and -Aunt Becky’s stepson, was a few months younger than he. Ever since -the Craigs had come to Elmhurst, both Billy and Sally Hancock’s young -brother, Buzzy, had been involved in every project Tommy and Jack had -undertaken. - -He shut his book. Stretching lazily, he said, “I guess it’s up to us -to see he has as much fun as possible. It’s a real tough break for -the ball team, though. I don’t know where we’re going to get a good -shortstop now that Jack’s out for the season.” - -“Can we see him soon?” Buzzy asked. - -Tommy shook his head. “Mom says no company for a while. He’s coming -home this afternoon, but you guys can’t see him for some time.” - -Billy sighed. “Seems to me there isn’t any use in being sick. It isn’t -any fun no matter which way you look at it. What’s the guy going to do -with his time?” - -“Oh, read, I guess. And study. He’s going to have a tutor, Mom said,” -Tommy answered. - -Buzzy whistled. “You mean he’s gotta have school work? Jeepers! That’s -terrible!” - -Tommy shrugged. “It would be worse if he had to stay back a term in -school.” - -“Yeah, I guess so,” Buzzy said thoughtfully. “But about what we guys -can do. You think about it, Tommy. Let us know, won’t you?” - -Tommy stood up. “Will do,” he said. “And listen, you guys, one more -thing. Mom said those letters you wrote were just about the nicest -things you could have done for him. Keep it up, will you?” - -Doris came out to the porch. “Tommy, have you seen Mother?” she asked. - -“Sure. Mom’s upstairs getting ready to go over to get Jack. What’s up?” - -“Where’s Dad?” - -Tommy stared at her. “At the office, of course. Where else?” - -Doris giggled at herself. “I guess I got so used to having Dad around -the house that I forgot he does go to work regularly now.” She pulled a -letter from her pocket. “It’s from Kit,” she told him. - -“From Kit? Hey, let’s see it!” Tommy cried. - -Doris put it back in her pocket. “It’s to Mother and Dad,” she said -severely. - -Tommy shrugged. “Come on, gang,” he cried. “Let’s get some cookies.” - -The boys disappeared into the kitchen, and Doris went upstairs. - -“Mother!” she called. “Letter from Kit!” - -Mrs. Craig was putting on her hat when Doris came into her room. She -smiled at her daughter and held out her hand. “Good news, I hope,” she -smiled, taking the envelope. - -“Kit’s news is always good,” Doris said. “College seems to agree with -her.” - -Mrs. Craig hastily scanned the note, nodding and then frowning as she -read. “Kit has spring fever,” she decided as she folded the letter and -slipped it back into the envelope. “Claims she’s bored with life.” She -smiled to herself. “But after her trip to Washington, I think she’ll -feel better.” - -“What trip to Washington?” Doris asked. - -Mrs. Craig grinned at the thought. “Kit has been elected president of -the Hope College Historical Society, you know, dear. There’s a large -history convention in Washington after classes let out in June. There -will be girls and boys from all over the country.” - -Doris grinned. “And of course there will be Frank Howard in Washington.” - -Mrs. Craig sighed. “I think that’s what’s wrong with Kit. I think she -misses Frank more than she will admit.” - -Doris sat down on her mother’s bed. “Do you think Kit will marry Frank, -Mother?” - -“Good heavens!” Mrs. Craig exclaimed. “How should I know? They _are_ -very close friends ... and they have been for several years.” - -“Ever since Kit caught Frank in the berry patches,” Doris giggled. -It was typical of Kit that she should have trapped the bright young -entomologist in an effort to catch a berry thief. A bantering -friendship had grown out of this episode, and lately there had been -sure signs that the friendship between Kit and Frank was ripening into -affection. - -Mrs. Craig powdered her nose. “Do you want to ride with me to the -hospital, Doris?” - -“Yes, I’d like to,” Doris said. “I want to talk to you about something, -anyway.” - -On the way over to the clinic, Doris said, “There’s a sort of contest -at school, Mother. A music contest.” - -Mrs. Craig smiled. “That’s nice, dear,” she said. “Are you going to -enter it?” - -Doris frowned slightly. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. -It’s for a scholarship to a music school. I don’t know whether I want -to try for it or not.” - -Mrs. Craig stared at her. “But good heavens, why not? What school is -it?” - -“Timothy College in North Carolina. It’s very small--all music, you -know. It’s awfully far away, too. And with Jean getting married and Kit -away at school, well, I don’t know whether I want to leave home or not.” - -Mrs. Craig slowed down the car. “Let’s talk about this with your -father. But, dear, I think you should at least try out. It would be a -shame to let your talent go to waste.” - -Doris hesitated. Then she said, “But Mother, I don’t want to go away! -I’m not like Jean and Kit. I’d just like to stay right here in Elmhurst -forever and ever. I like it at home.” - -Mrs. Craig tapped the steering wheel with her fingers. “Doris, I want -you to enter that contest. Why shouldn’t you have the right to go away -to school? We were able to send Jean to New York for a year of Art -School,” she said, referring to Jean’s experiences which are recounted -in _Jean Craig in New York_. “Then Kit won herself the chance to go to -Hope College. Now, it’s your turn.” - -“But Mother....” Doris began. - -Mrs. Craig shook her head. “I don’t know very much about art or music, -my dear,” she interrupted, “but your father and I have always felt -that you were extremely talented. Frankly, I’ve always felt that you -were the most talented of all my daughters. Jean is a good artist. -Competent, I think she calls herself. But she has no illusions about -being a great artist. I think perhaps you have the ability to develop -into a fine musician.” - -Doris shook her head. “Oh, golly,” she said, “I just don’t want to go -through what Jean and Kit have gone through.” - -“What do you mean?” Mrs. Craig asked, surprised. - -“You know. You get yourself all ready to do something important in this -life, and then you fall in love with some man and want to get married. -Look how mixed up Jean was. And look at Kit now. She’s going to college -and has even talked about doing graduate work. But you and I know she’s -mad about Frank Howard and that she’ll probably just get married.” - -Mrs. Craig repressed a smile. “Darling, you don’t just get married,” -she said gently. “Both Jean and Kit are much better prepared to become -good wives because they did develop their talents. I think you should -do the same.” - -Doris sighed. “Maybe so,” she agreed. “Oh, golly! I’m selfish! I know -you’re worrying about Jack and his homecoming. It’ll be _so_ good to -have him home again!” - -Jack was waiting when they arrived at the hospital. Jean and Sally -Hancock were in his room gathering his few belongings. Mrs. Craig shook -her head as she saw the thin, pale boy lying on the bed. His black -eyes seemed even larger than usual, but they were no longer dull and -glassy. They sparkled when they saw Mrs. Craig. - -“Oh, Mother!” he cried. “I thought you’d _never_ get here! Golly, but -I’m tired of this room. Not that they haven’t been swell here, though. -Dr. Jenkins and Dr. Caulfield from Boston have been here almost all the -time. They talked a lot to me.” - -“That’s fine, dear,” Mrs. Craig said briskly. - -“But, gee, I sure missed Tommy. And the hens. Tommy doesn’t know how to -keep track of all those hens. I ... I don’t know what he’s gonna do, -now that I can’t help him.” - -Jean patted Jack’s shoulder. “You’re learning young that no man is -indispensable to his business.” - -He looked up at her. “Huh?” he said. - -They all laughed. “Jean means that business has to go on no matter what -happens,” Mrs. Craig said, smiling. “And it usually does. Billy Ellis -and Buzzy Hancock were over this morning. They want to see you as soon -as you can have company.” - -“Yeah, I know,” Jack said. “They wrote me. Jeepers, what a swell gang -they are! Those dumb letters! They made me laugh till I hurt!” - -Ted Loring brought in a wheel chair. “Here’s your chair, my lord,” he -called from the doorway. “Oh, good morning, Mrs. Craig. You’re looking -fine this morning. I’m going to ride over with you and help get our -patient back to bed, if that’s all right with you.” - -Mrs. Craig smiled. “That’s very thoughtful, Ted. Mr. Craig is in town -this morning, and we could use a strong back.” - -Ted grinned. “I heard about Mr. Craig’s new position. I think it’s -swell. We need an architect around this town, although I sort of like -these old New England designs.” - -Mrs. Craig smiled. “He’s glad to be back at work, too.” - -“I found out about it from Dr. Daley,” Ted explained. “I guess you know -he kept a pretty close eye on Mr. Craig while he was working on the -veterans’ houses. A nervous breakdown is nothing to fool around with. -But Dr. Daley seems to think he’s now in fine shape.” - -Jean tucked a robe around Jack’s legs as they started out of the room. -“Take good care of him, Mother,” she said. “I’ll be home for dinner -tonight, you know.” - -Jean watched the small procession move slowly down the hall. Then she -pulled her sketchbook from her pocket and began thumbing through it. - -“Hi, gorgeous!” - -Jean turned around to see Gerald Benson, the new intern, coming down -the hall. “Oh, good morning, Dr. Benson,” she said. She started to pass -him, but he blocked her path. - -“I’ve just been having a lecture on the glories of one Miss Jean -Craig,” Dr. Benson said. “They sure go for you around here.” - -Jean stared at him in surprise. “Whatever are you talking about?” - -He shrugged. “I was ambling through the lobby with Dr. Barsch this noon -and _just_ happened to comment on the painting over the mantel down -there. And the good doctor ups and tells me that you did it!” - -Jean giggled. “I’m afraid I did,” she admitted. “It’s not so glorious, -though,” she added. - -“It’s good enough. I didn’t know you were an artist.” - -Jean smiled. “I’m not. Not really. I studied for a year in New York. -And I like to paint for pleasure. As a matter of fact, I’m hoping to do -something with my art work combined with medicine.” - -Dr. Benson whistled. “You mean surgical art? That’s a tough field.” - -Jean grinned. “I know it is. But Dr. Barsch has encouraged me to try -my hand at it. I guess starting just about any time now, he’s going to -give me practice sketching operations here. As a matter of fact, I was -just going through my sketchbook. I’m working on anatomical drawings -from books now so I’ll be better at doing real life sketches.” - -Dr. Benson put his hands on his hips. “Did you donate that painting to -the clinic as your contribution?” - -Jean smiled again. “Well, not exactly,” she admitted. “You see, when -the hospital first opened, Ted Loring and I had a long talk about -clinics and things. And he gave me the idea, sort of. He said a clinic -was a place where people exercised cooperation, ingenuity and hard -work. So I put the idea down on canvas. You know, the man and woman and -child joining hands in a field of grain. And then, of all things, Dr. -Loring swiped it! _He_ donated it!” - -Dr. Benson smiled wryly. “It sounds like a motto he might make up.” - -“What’s the matter with it?” Jean demanded. - -“Let’s go out tonight, and I’ll tell you,” Dr. Benson said. - -She smiled at him. “I’m sorry, Dr. Benson, but I can’t.” - -“But you’re off tonight. I saw the schedules.” - -Jean smiled. “But I thought you knew. I’m engaged. I’m not free to -accept dates. I’m sure one of the other girls....” - -“You mean you’re turning me down just because you’ve got a ring? I hear -your man is in Europe. That’s pretty far away. And a pretty little girl -like you shouldn’t be sitting home nights, just because--” - -Jean brushed past him. “I’m sorry,” she said shortly. - -Dr. Benson grabbed her arm. “Now wait, honey. Don’t get sore. I mean, -what’s the harm? I’m not asking you to break your engagement. I just -wanted to have some fun. You look as if you could use some yourself.” - -Jean pulled free. “I’m sorry, Dr. Benson,” she said stiffly. “I’m very -busy just now.” - -The intern watched her walk down the hall. “Okay, sweetheart,” he said, -“I’ll try again sometime. You’ll get lonely before too long.” - -Jean marched into the students’ lounge and slammed the door behind her. -Eileen Gordon was lying on the couch reading a magazine. She looked up -as Jean came in. - -“Why, Jean, what’s the matter?” she asked, looking at Jean’s angry -face. “Didn’t Jack get off all right?” Eileen sat up and closed her -magazine. - -Jean sat down in an easy chair. “Oh, yes. Mother came for him just now. -Ted was sweet. He went home with them to help her get Jack settled in -bed at home.” - -“Well, then, what’s wrong?” Eileen asked. - -“Oh, nothing really, I guess. Only that new Dr. Benson asked me for a -date.” - -Eileen sniffed. “Oh, is that all?” she asked. “Well, don’t worry about -it. He won’t ask you again.” - -Jean stared at her. “Why?” she asked. - -Eileen shrugged. “He asked me for a date when he first came here. I was -busy and told him so, and he hasn’t bothered me since.” - -Jean shook her head. “It’s the principle of the thing,” she said. - -“Maybe he didn’t know you’re engaged.” - -“He knew, all right. He knew that Ralph is abroad, too. He said I might -be lonely.” - -Eileen scowled. “So that’s the way he is! Well, that settles Dr. Benson -as far as I’m concerned. So he’d try to steal someone’s girl when the -someone isn’t around to fight for her.” - -Jean laughed as she opened a coke. “Don’t be too hard on him. He wasn’t -exactly trying to steal me. He just asked to take me out.” - -Eileen grimaced. “I know the type. You know, Jean, I’ve been around -hospitals a long time. And I’ve known a lot of doctors. They aren’t all -like Ted and Dr. Barsch and the rest of them here. Sometimes they get -pretty cynical. Yep, I know Dr. Benson’s type, all right!” - - - - -4. Emergency Operation - - -The following night Jean was on duty. She had just come up from early -supper when she was called into Dr. Barsch’s office. - -“Miss Craig,” Dr. Barsch said briskly, “I haven’t much time to explain, -but if you will get your sketch pad, I want you to try to do a drawing -of an operation I’m about to perform. The little DuPrez boy is coming -in immediately. Acute appendicitis. Loring says we can’t wait. I’ve -already called the staff.” - -Jean gasped. “You mean, you want me to go right in there and do a -drawing?” she asked. - -Dr. Barsch nodded. “You can’t learn surgical art any better way. I -don’t expect to be able to use your sketch, but I want you to have the -practice.” - -“Then you won’t use me to assist you?” she asked. - -Dr. Barsch frowned impatiently. “Naturally not. Now, please hurry. Get -your materials, and I’ll see you upstairs.” - -Jean hurried to her room and snatched up her sketch pad and pencils. -She ran down the hall towards the operating room and went into the -small lavatory to scrub. Two women were scouring the room, and Helen -Pierce was sterilizing instruments. When Jean had finished scrubbing, -Helen helped her with her gloves and mask. - -“This is a real emergency,” Helen muttered as she checked her -instruments. “They always wait till the last minute before they call -the doctor.” - -“Will it be a dangerous operation?” Jean asked. - -Helen shrugged. “That depends. Usually an appendectomy is a snap. That -is, easy for the patient. But it can be ticklish if the appendix is -ready to break open.” - -Dr. Barsch and Ted came in to scrub up. The girls worked in silence, -and the only sound was that of the rushing water in the lavatory. Dr. -Henry, the anesthetician, bustled in and, after scrubbing, came over to -the sterilizer and peeked in. - -“I can’t use ether, Miss Pierce,” he said. “You should know that.” -He grunted. “And if we could use a complete anesthetic, I’d choose -sodium pentothal. But this will have to be a local block. The child -undoubtedly has eaten today.” - -Helen nodded and went over to the cabinet. Carefully she selected an -injection syringe with her tongs and dropped it into the sterilizer. -Dr. Henry checked his supply of anesthetic, nodded, and rubbed his -gloved hands together briskly. - -Jean frowned. “Why can’t you use ether, Dr. Henry?” she asked. - -The portly, middle-aged anesthetician turned around to face her. “Some -people get very sick when we put them out. Particles of food or liquid -are apt to catch in their lungs. They haven’t the control of their -reflexes that people who are awake do. There’s always the danger of a -patient choking to death.” - -“Then the child will be conscious?” Jean asked. “He’ll know what’s -going on? I know we’ve used that frequently for adults, but won’t it be -difficult with a child?” - -Ted laughed. “He won’t know much. We already have him so groggy with -sedatives that he doesn’t know _what’s_ going on.” - -Dr. Barsch frowned impatiently. “What’s keeping them? Every minute we -lose gives us less of a chance.” - -As he spoke, the small patient was wheeled into the operating room. -Jean’s heart went out to the tiny, white figure lying on the table. His -eyes were dulled, and his body was partially relaxed. But his face was -a study in fear. - -Dr. Barsch stepped over to the table. “All right, son,” he said gently. -“I’m going to put a curtain right over your middle. You know what -you’re going to feel?” - -Gene DuPrez shook his head, and he gazed pleadingly at Dr. Barsch. - -“Ever been to the dentist?” - -The boy nodded. - -“And did he poke a needle into your gum so it wouldn’t hurt when he -drilled into your tooth?” Dr. Barsch asked. - -Gene nodded solemnly. Sally, who had come in with the boy, and Helen -turned him over on his side and bent his legs up to meet his chest. - -“Well, we’re going to do the same thing now. We’re only going to hurt -you enough to make you say, ‘ouch’.” - -Gene interrupted Dr. Barsch by saying, “Ouch!” - -“That’s it, Gene,” Dr. Barsch said. “You’re going to feel something -else, now. Your toes will get all numb. Then your legs, and then your -tummy. Now, I have a feather, and I’m going to tickle your tummy. You -tell me when you can’t feel it any longer.” - -Sally drew the curtain across the boy’s abdomen so that he couldn’t see -below his chest. Then she took her station by Gene’s head. Smiling down -at him, she tousled his hair. “Feel kind of sleepy, don’t you?” she -asked. - -“It still tickles,” Gene murmured. - -On the other side of the curtain, Dr. Barsch had made the incision. He -smiled and silently gave thanks for the anesthetic which made a deep -abdominal wound feel like a tickle. But his smile disappeared when he -reached the appendix. - -“Oh, brother!” Ted said, shaking his head. Jean glanced at the open -wound and began to sketch rapidly. - -“Here’s one we caught just in time,” Dr. Barsch sighed. He spoke so -low that Gene couldn’t hear him. “Look at that appendix. I’ll be lucky -if I can get it out without breaking it. When, in heaven’s name, did -you first see this boy?” he asked Ted. - -Ted bit his lip. “Ten minutes before we came over. I didn’t even stop -to do a blood count on him. Let’s not talk about it. I get cold shivers -up and down my back when I think of how close his mother came to giving -him something for his stomach ache instead of calling a doctor.” - -Jean shuddered at the thought. - -“It still tickles, doctor,” Gene said in a piping voice. “I’ll tell you -when it stops.” - -Jean grinned as she bent over her sketch. - -“Something just stopped her,” Ted continued. “She called me instead. A -hunch, she said.” - -“God loves His small creatures,” Dr. Barsch replied. “All right, here -we go.” He lifted the swollen appendix from the wound with great care. -With a sigh of relief, he placed it carefully in a receptacle on the -table. The distended organ broke as he laid it down. - -“Ye Gods!” Ted said, turning white. “That’s the closest one I’ve ever -seen!” - -Dr. Barsch grinned as he started to sew up the incision. “It’s all over -now, doctor. Gene, does it still tickle?” - -“A little bit,” the boy answered. “Not much.” - -“Good boy!” Dr. Barsch said. He finished his sewing and nodded. “What -about now?” - -“I don’t feel anything now,” Gene admitted. “You going to cut into -my stomach now?” his face became tense with fear. Sally rubbed his -forehead and grinned. - -“Too bad, Gene,” she said. “You missed the show.” - -Gene stared up at her. “What?” he asked. - -Dr. Barsch dressed the wound and pulled the curtain aside. “How do you -feel?” he asked. - -“I’m ... I’m a little scared,” Gene admitted. - -Dr. Barsch laughed. “We just played a dirty trick on you, son. Your -operation’s all over.” - -Sally gave the patient an injection, and he relaxed again. - -“You’re going to sleep for a while now. And when you wake up, you’ll be -back in your room with a sore tummy.” - -Gene relaxed and slipped off to sleep as Sally and Helen wheeled him -down the corridor. - -Dr. Barsch slipped off his gloves and glanced at the broken appendix. -He shook his head. “Get that to the lab right away,” he said. “Miss -Hancock can take it down when she gets back. Miss Craig, you come on -down to my office with me. I want to take a look at that sketch.” - -When they reached Dr. Barsch’s office, Jean laid her sketch pad on the -desk for Dr. Barsch to see. He picked it up and nodded. - -“Sit down, Miss Craig. Dr. Loring will be down in a minute. I want him -to have a look at this, too. Then we’ll get some coffee. I could use -some.” - -Jean smiled. “I’ll go down to the kitchen and get some while we’re -waiting,” she offered. “You must be tired.” - -Dr. Barsch waved his hand. “Sit down. The coffee can wait.” He tapped -the sketch with his forefinger and looked at it thoughtfully for a -moment. Then he searched among the papers on his desk for a letter. -Finding it, he nodded his head as he read it over. - -“I think maybe we’ve found a way to put your talents to practical use, -Miss Craig,” he said slowly. - -Jean jumped up. “Really?” she cried. “But how? I mean, I’m so far -from ready to do anything useful with my art. Surgical art is such a -specialized and highly skilled profession!” - -The doctor nodded gravely. “Yes, it most certainly is,” he said -thoughtfully. “And of course the sketch you did for us just now is -still rather amateurish. But I was right about you, I think. It shows a -great deal of promise.” - -Jean grinned with pleasure. “Thank you, Doctor,” she said. - -Dr. Barsch picked up the letter again. “I’ve been in touch with a -medical publisher about you. You see, whenever they hear of a promising -young artist who knows something about medicine, they leap at the -chance to sign him--or her--up. It doesn’t happen often. Not often -enough, that an artist is also interested in medicine.” - -Jean clasped her hands together. “You mean, some publisher wants me to -do drawings for him?” - -Dr. Barsch laughed. “Not so fast, young lady. No, their offer isn’t -quite that spectacular.” He rubbed his hands together. “But in a sense, -I suppose maybe the offer is in its way more spectacular. You see, they -want you to take more art courses.” - -“But ...” Jean began. - -The doctor held up his hand. “Wait till I finish,” he said. “I think -it can all be figured out quite simply. You will finish your nurse’s -training this summer. And then, as I understand it, you are thinking -about being married.” - -Jean hesitated. “Of course no definite date has been set yet.” - -Dr. Barsch stroked his chin. “Well, let’s assume that the wedding -will take place soon after your graduation. When you reach Saskatoon, -Saskatchewan, you can begin a correspondence course in art, can’t you?” - -Jean grinned. “I had sort of planned to continue studying art after -Ralph and I were married.” She looked down. “You see, I don’t want to -forget my skills just because I’m being married.” - -The doctor grinned. “Fine! Fine!” he said. “Then my little plan _can_ -be worked. This publishing company is prepared to award you a sort of -scholarship so that you can take the course. In return, you will have -to make arrangements with a hospital near your home in Saskatchewan to -attend their operations and do sketching for the company when you have -completed the course.” - -Jean thought a moment. “There is a small hospital near Ralph’s -ranch,” she said. “Ralph has told me about it. Certainly I could make -arrangements with them to sketch at their operations.” - -Dr. Barsch nodded. “Of course I’ll help you arrange things. I think -maybe if they realize you’re a student of mine, there won’t be much -trouble with the details.” - -“Someone open the door,” Ted called from outside. “I’ve got coffee for -everyone.” - -Jean went over to the door. Ted brought in the tray and set it on the -desk. - -“You should have let me get it,” Jean cried. - -Ted smiled. “Division of labor, my child. Dr. Barsch operates, you -sketch and I just stand around. So I’m elected coffee boy.” - -“Take a look at Miss Craig’s sketch, Loring,” Dr. Barsch said, handing -him the pad. “I think it’s pretty fair.” - -“That’s high praise, coming from you,” Ted laughed. He looked at it -carefully. “Uh huh,” he said, nodding. “It looks swell. Jeannie, you -could make a career out of doing this.” - -Jean laughed. “Dr. Barsch and I have just been discussing that.” - -“But of course you’re off to the altar, and there’s the end of a -beautiful career,” Ted said dolefully. - -“Oh, no!” Jean cried. - -Dr. Barsch smiled slyly. “Sounds to me as if _you_ are against -marriage, Dr. Loring. I suppose Miss Simpson realizes this?” - -Ted blushed. “Oh, marriage is all right,” he protested. - -Dr. Barsch lit his pipe. “Marriage is all right. Hm,” he said -playfully. “I’ve a notion to tell Miss Simpson how enthusiastic you -are about the institution of wedlock. You and your city ways! Moon and -pussyfoot around and steal the best doggoned Supervisor of Nurses I -ever had! All right, indeed!” - -Ted shifted painfully. “Oh, I’m very much in favor of marriage, -doctor....” - -“That’s good to hear,” Dr. Barsch said. - -“It’s just that Jean draws so well....” - -“And Miss Simpson makes such a good Supervisor,” Dr. Barsch added. - -Ted squirmed. “I’m sorry,” he said. “You can’t have her back!” He -looked at Jean’s and Dr. Barsch’s faces. They were grinning. - -“Dr. Barsch, you shouldn’t tease him so,” Jean said lightly. “Isn’t it -all right to tell him about the plan?” - -Dr. Barsch puffed at his pipe. “Of course, my dear.” - -Breathlessly, Jean repeated Dr. Barsch’s plans for her to Ted. The -young doctor nodded and clapped his hands together in agreement. - -“Marvelous idea, Jeannie,” he said. “I think Ralph will like the idea, -too.” - - - - -5. April Wedding - - -Ethel’s and Ted’s wedding was scheduled for April eighteenth. The first -two weeks of the month were dreary and rainy. The skies above Elmhurst -were constantly gray, and the countryside looked bleak and unpromising -after the long winter. Tempers were short at the clinic. The season of -spring colds was on, and Jean felt a great depression as she tended -her duties as an upperclass nurse. Because of the shortage of graduate -nurses at the hospital, Jean and her classmates were used almost as -regular nurses. Jean had to attend courses in chemistry, biology and -dietetics along with her regular duties, and as the spring term got -under way, she was now in charge of the pediatric ward. - -A whole procession of youngsters flooded both the doctors’ offices and -the hospital wards. And Jean’s days were full of bathing youngsters, -trying to put dosages of penicillin and sulpha into unwilling small -mouths, taking temperatures and pulses of the squirming children. She -tried to study at night after writing her daily letter to Ralph, but -often she would steal back into the ward to hold the hand of a tiny, -miserable patient lonely for his mother. Jean found solace in the quiet -ward at night. The children were calmer, there were no adults about, -and she couldn’t see the dreadful, gloomy sky. - -Ordinarily, Jean would have welcomed the chance to work so closely with -Ted, whose capacity as pediatrician kept him closely in touch with the -ward. But Ted was cross and nervous. For hours at a time, he swabbed -throats and sprayed sniffly noses and tried to reason with mothers -weary of the winter and of housefuls of pent-up children. - -The radio forecasts were always the same: showers. - -“April showers,” Jean remarked one day bitterly as she gazed up at the -sky which was sending down its interminable drizzly rain. “If these are -showers, let me know when one stops and the next one starts, someone!” - -Only Ethel and Jack seemed to retain their high spirits. Ethel was -too excited about her wedding even to notice the weather. And Jack, -bedridden already a month, had drawn from some inner source a courage -and even temper which amazed everyone around him. Although Jack -knew that he would be in bed for many months, he never seemed to be -depressed. He made a full life for himself within his tiny room. -Although he wasn’t allowed many visitors, he soon fell into a routine -which occupied his mind, but which didn’t excite him too much. - -But just when everyone decided that it would never stop raining, the -sun came out. The sky was blue with fluffy white clouds, and spring had -come to Elmhurst. Trees which had been barren two weeks before were -now covered with soft green buds. The whole countryside softened with -new-growing greenery. The river ran with vigorous energy to carry its -extra burden to the ocean, and the air smelled clean, as if the heavens -had spent two energetic weeks in spring housecleaning. - -The day of Ethel’s wedding was cool and clear. The ceremony was to be -held in the Craigs’ parlor, and the whole family was busy making final -preparations. - -Doris was singing “Brightly Dawns Our Wedding Day” from the _Mikado_ as -she dusted the living room furniture for the third time. Jean arranged -the wedding presents on the dining room table for everyone to see. She -sighed gently as she laid out the sterling silver which Mrs. Loring -had given her son and daughter-to-be. And she smiled in satisfied -anticipation as she arranged the kitchen equipment which had been the -contribution of the nurses at the shower. She handled the linens and -china with loving care. - -Mrs. Craig ran downstairs and popped her head into the dining room. - -“Time to get dressed, dear. I want you to be ready so you can help me -with the bride. Oh, dear,” she sighed, “where _is_ that girl?” - -“Ethel?” Jean asked. “I suppose she’s still at the hospital. If I -know Ethel, she’s probably making a long list of instructions to leave -behind her.” She sighed. “Oh, Mother,” she cried, “all these lovely -things! And you should see that terrible little apartment they’re going -to have to put them in! Darn it, anyhow! Why couldn’t Ted have been -a veteran? Then he could have one of the houses Dad designed for the -veterans’ project. Now, where on earth will they put all these things -in that stuffy little place?” - -Mrs. Craig smiled knowingly. “Never mind, dear. Ethel can store things -here if she wants to, till she has a better place. Now hurry, Jean. -With everyone dressing here, we have to hustle.” - -Jean obediently went upstairs. Mrs. Craig went in to send Doris up to -dress, muttering, “Ethel should have come to breakfast as I told her -to. She probably didn’t eat a thing.” - -As she spoke, Ethel came in the front door. Mrs. Craig stretched out -both hands to her, and Ethel grabbed them. She attempted to smile. - -“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it for breakfast, Mrs. Craig,” she said. -“But there were just a few things I wanted to take care of at the -hospital before I left.” - -Jean bent over the upstairs railing and called down, “What did I tell -you, Mother?” - -Mrs. Craig smiled in despair. “Oh, child, this is your wedding day! -Now, let’s get you upstairs and into your finery.” - -Suddenly Ethel burst into tears. Mrs. Craig put her arms around her -and drew her over to a chair. - -“I ... I don’t _want_ to get married,” Ethel cried. “I ... well, I just -don’t want to get married!” - -Mrs. Craig smiled knowingly and patted the girl on the shoulder. “I -know, my dear. I know just how you feel....” - -“They’re so short-handed over at the hospital. They can’t spare any -nurses,” Ethel sobbed. “I just can’t get married now! There are too -many things to do!” - -Suddenly her eyes brightened. “Do you think Ted would understand if we -called the wedding off? I mean, just till I finish everything that has -to be done at the hospital?” - -Mr. Craig came into the front hall together with Aunt Becky. He stopped -at the sight of Ethel’s tearful face and stared at her in alarm. - -“Great heavens!” he exclaimed. “Tears on your wedding day?” - -Becky elbowed him out of the way and came over to Ethel. “Oh, run along -with you, man,” she snapped at the bewildered Mr. Craig. “There isn’t a -girl alive who doesn’t get plumb nervous at the thought of her wedding -day!” She turned to Ethel. “Now, now, child,” she said, “you just have -a good cry, and....” - -Mr. Craig interrupted Becky with a loud laugh. He threw back his head -and roared. “If you think you’re nervous, my girl,” he said, “you -should see Ted, now. When I stopped in to see him, his poor mother was -trying to help him dress. Ted was hopping around on one foot like a -scared chicken....” - -Mrs. Craig touched her husband’s arm. “All right, dear,” she said, “now -run along and get _yourself_ dressed.” - -As Mr. Craig went upstairs, whistling, Ethel composed herself and -smiled at the two women. - -“Poor Ted,” she grinned. “He’s _so_ helpless. And of course he’s -scared! He needs someone to look after him.” She glanced at her watch. -“Good heavens!” she cried, “I’d better hurry and dress! Mrs. Craig, -where is my gown?” - -Mrs. Craig smiled. “Your clothes are up in Jean’s room, dear. Doris and -Jean are waiting to help you. I’ll be up, myself, in a few minutes.” - -Ethel threw her arms around Mrs. Craig’s neck and hugged her. “How can -Ted and I ever thank you for what you are doing for us?” - -“Humph!” Becky snorted. “Now, scat, girl. And Marge, you come out -with me to the kitchen. I want to unload my basket.” She shook the -overflowing basket of last-minute additions to the party food which she -was carrying. - -Ethel nearly collided with Tommy on the stairway. - -“Hi, beautiful,” Tommy said, grinning. “I hereby swear my eternal -devotion to you on your wedding day.” - -Ethel laughed. “You idiot! Whatever do you mean?” - -Tommy shook his head. “Only for you. For you only, I say, would I -struggle into this!” And he waved a stiff collar under her nose. “That -is, outside of the immediate family.” - -As Tommy reached the bottom of the stairs, still muttering about his -collar, the front door flew open, and Ted, followed by a distraught -Mrs. Loring, came dashing into the hall. Ted confronted Tommy, his face -twisted in wrath. - -“Tommy, where’s your father?” he demanded. - -Tommy stared at the bridegroom. - -“Now, now, dear,” Ted’s mother clutched at his arm, “don’t upset -everyone, now. Calm yourself!” - -Ted turned to face his mother. “But you _know_ this means the wedding’s -off! How can a man get married when...?” - -“Huh?” said Tommy. - -“The apartment! The furniture! Gone! Everything’s gone! I’ve been -robbed! The apartment wasn’t much, but it was a place to live, and -Ethel and I picked out all our furniture and had it sent to that place. -Now it’s gone!” - -Mrs. Loring took Ted’s hand. “Now listen, son,” she said, “there must -be an explanation. People don’t run off with a houseful of furniture.” - -Mr. Craig came downstairs. - -“Well, hello, Mrs. Loring,” he said, shaking her hand. “And Ted. I’m -afraid I have to do the honors. The women are all upstairs dressing.” - -Mrs. Loring smiled wryly. “Mr. Craig, forgive this ridiculous son of -mine. We would have come over at the proper time when everything was -ready. But Ted has some fool notion that he’s been robbed.” - -Mr. Craig chuckled. “If Ted didn’t come crashing into a party, I would -know there was something wrong. Did he ever tell you about the first -time we met?” - -Mrs. Loring smiled as if she knew her son’s habits. “I can imagine the -entrance he made was spectacular,” she said. - -Mr. Craig laughed at the memory. “It certainly was. We gave a large -barn dance to celebrate the building of the clinic. Dr. Gallup was in -the midst of introducing Dr. Barsch to the community when, bang! The -lights all went out. Seems as if Ted had come in and tripped over the -light cords.” - -Mrs. Loring laughed despairingly. “Oh, Ted,” she sighed. “I’m afraid -you had a typical introduction to my son,” she said to Mr. Craig. - -“Mother!” Ted cried, “how can you stand around swapping tales with Mr. -Craig when I’ve been robbed?” - -Mr. Craig looked at Ted gravely. “Suppose you start from the beginning -and tell me the whole story.” - -“Well, sir, I went over to see the apartment this morning to check on -last minute details, you know. The landlady told me that she didn’t -_have_ an apartment for me! I told her that was ridiculous and that I’d -already paid my first month’s rent and that I had a whole apartment -full of furniture moved in not two days ago. She showed me the -apartment and there wasn’t a stick of it ... there wasn’t anything in -it! Then she handed me back my money!” Ted’s face became redder. - -Mr. Craig began to chuckle. “How much rent did she want for those three -rooms?” - -Ted glowered. “Sixty-five a month.” - -“Sixty-five a month is a little high for children just setting up -housekeeping. I tell you what, Ted. There’s no point in upsetting your -wedding by keeping it from you any longer. You see, for forty-five a -month, you can have a regular house.” - -Ted stared at Mr. Craig. “I don’t understand, sir,” he said. - -Mr. Craig smiled. “Mrs. Craig and I went over to see your apartment -a week or so ago. Frankly, Mrs. Craig didn’t think much of it. So we -decided to move you out. It just happens I have a house for rent. In -the housing project that I designed. It’s been open for four days, -only, and they’re pretty nice little houses. The builders gave me one -as a sort of bonus, and I want to rent it, of course. Perhaps it was -presumptuous of me....” - -Ted gasped. “This ... this is a miracle. But it’s too much! We couldn’t -possibly accept it!” - -Mr. Craig shook his head. “Mrs. Craig and I are very anxious to see you -two settled nicely. If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for Ethel.” -He handed Ted a set of keys. “Here you are, son. You’ll find your -furniture at this address.” - -Mrs. Loring sat down. “I don’t know what to say, Mr. Craig,” she -murmured. - -Ted sat down and stared at the keys in his hand. Mr. Craig patted him -on the shoulder and turned to his son. “Hey, Tommy,” he called. “Come -here, and I’ll fix your collar.” - -Only the members of the Craig family even suspected that Ethel had shed -tears less than an hour before the ceremony. When she came down the -stairs on Dr. Barsch’s arm, she was the perfect picture of a radiant -bride. The wedding was held in the front parlor with the family and -hospital staff in attendance. It was a regular old-fashioned wedding, -and the fragrance of roses and lilacs filled the parlor as the minister -read the time-revered words. And from the silent congregation came the -sound of muffled sobs--not from the happy Mrs. Craig, who beamed on the -beautiful bride, nor from Mrs. Loring, who smiled at her new daughter -with contented pride, but from Jean, who suddenly felt the tragic -loneliness of a girl whose beloved is many, many miles away. - - - - -6. Dr. Benson Confesses - - -Ethel and Ted had gone on a short tour of New England for their -honeymoon. The routine of the hospital resumed, and Eileen Gordon -became official Supervisor of Nurses. Jean was amused at the comparison -of the two girls. For Eileen had taken over Ethel’s classes, and Jean -and the other girls soon realized that Eileen was every bit as devoted -to her profession as Ethel had been. Eileen was a bit different from -Ethel in that she was new at handling girls. But there was no question -about the fact that she knew her business. And she was friendly and -helpful, so the students became used to her brusque manner in class and -on the floor. - -Jean, Sally, Hedda, Lucy Peckham and Ingeborg were all in dietetics -class when Eileen took over the class for the first time. The new -Supervisor was plainly nervous, and the students smiled encouragingly -at her as she opened the notebook which Ethel had left for her. - -Eileen toyed with a pencil as she scanned Ethel’s notes. “You all know, -or should know, by this time,” she said, “the importance of a balanced -diet.” She smiled at the class. “I’m rather hoping that one of you will -plan to specialize in dietetics, because we will be needing a good one -for our own kitchen. But we all have to know about diet ... in fact, -every human being should know about it.” She stopped, realizing that -she was being too repetitious and long-winded. - -“Let’s start with the three major groups of foods. Miss Peckham, will -you please name them?” - -Lucy smiled and said, “The three major classifications of foods are -fats, carbohydrates and proteins.” - -Eileen nodded. “And who can tell me what a calory is?” - -The class groaned in mock despair. Counting calories was an unpleasant -job which some of them occasionally had to do. - -“Something we could do without,” Sally said flippantly. - -Eileen laughed with the rest of the class. “As a woman, I agree with -you, Miss Hancock,” she said. “But as a nurse, I have to send you to -the foot of the class.” She looked about the classroom. “Miss Craig, -will you tell Miss Hancock what a calory is and why she couldn’t -possibly get along without it?” - -Jean laughed. “A calory is a unit of heat ... or, in the case of food -which provides fuel, weight. And Sally would have to have calories or -give up eating altogether.” - -Eileen nodded as the rest of the class tittered. “Can anyone name foods -which do not have calories?” - -The class thought. Lucy raised her hand. “Coffee doesn’t have any -calories,” she said. - -Eileen frowned a little and nodded. “Strictly speaking, I think you -can’t exactly call coffee a food. It’s actually a drug ... or, at -least, its main function is that of a drug.” - -“How about salt?” Hedda asked. - -“That’s right,” Eileen said. “But of course no pure minerals have -calories. The function of the mineral is not to provide body heat.” She -flipped a page. “Now let’s talk about diets and people. Can someone -name three special categories of people needing different diets?” - -Jean held up her hand. “Adults, children and expectant mothers.” - -Eileen nodded. “Very good. Any more?” - -Sally raised her hand. “Sick people have to have lots of different -diets, depending on what’s the matter with them. And an office worker -needs different food from the food needed by a laborer.” - -Eileen hesitated. “You’re right about the first category, but don’t -forget that all people need the same basic foods, no matter what they -do.” - -“All except Dr. Benson,” Lucy muttered under her breath. “He eats -people. He’s a wolf!” - -Eileen caught part of Lucy’s remark and blushed fiery red. She -hesitated a moment and then decided to pass on to something else. For -the rest of the hour, the class discussed the essentials of a balanced -diet. And when Eileen dismissed them, the class adjourned for a few -minutes in the lounge before they returned to duty. - -They all helped themselves to cokes from the machine in the lounge -and relaxed. Sally giggled as she opened her coke bottle. “That was a -lovely remark you made in class, Lucy,” she said. “Eileen heard you, -too.” - -Lucy made a face. “I don’t care. She feels the same way we all do.” - -Jean looked questioningly at Lucy. “I didn’t know you knew Dr. Benson -that well.” - -Sally giggled. “Haven’t you heard? Lucy had a date with the man himself -last night.” - -“Really?” Jean asked. - -Sally nodded. “Lucy and I made a bargain that the first one he would -ask yesterday to go out would date him. Just to see if his bark was as -bad as his bite. So he asked Lucy, and Lucy is forthwith ready to make -her report to the clan.” - -Lucy took a drink of her coke. “It wasn’t bad at all,” she confessed. -“In fact, I would have been quite flattered by all the lovely words. -That is, I would have been if my name had been Jean.” - -“What on earth are you talking about, Lucy?” Jean asked. - -“Such a crush on you our Dr. Benson has! He talked on and on about you -till I almost got insulted.” - -The door opened and Eileen came in. “Okay if I join you?” she asked. - -“Come on in,” Sally answered. “We’re having a time roasting Dr. Benson. -Lucy went out with him last night.” - -“So that’s what was behind the remark you made in class,” Eileen said. -“Well, how was it?” - -“We went to a movie,” Lucy continued. “Then the dear doctor started to -make a play for poor little me....” - -“Oh, goodness, Lucy!” Eileen interrupted. “You aren’t actually -_telling_ them all about your date!” - -“She went out with him on a sort of a dare,” Sally explained. - -Eileen shook her head. “Even so,” she said, “it doesn’t seem right to -talk about it. It’s sort of unkind, don’t you think?” - -Sally grinned. “He has it coming. You know perfectly well he’s been -chasing everyone in sight ever since he got here. The perfect redhead, -disposition and all.” - -Jean shook her head. “I think Eileen’s right,” she said. - -“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” Sally cried. “Now all at once Dr. Benson is -perfectly okay, and we aren’t to betray his confidences.” - -Eileen smiled. “He’s stupid in lots of ways. But he is a good doctor, -and he’s awfully young, after all. Maybe he’s never been away from home -before.” - -Sally shrugged. “Well, if you feel so tenderly towards him, why don’t -you go out with him, yourself?” - -Eileen chuckled. “Never! He’s not my type, in the first place.” - -Jean laughed and put down her coke bottle. “I’m on duty, so I’d better -get back to work. I’m glad you had such a lovely time, Lucy.” She -stretched and yawned. “Well, so long, gang,” she said. - -She hurried down the hall of the second floor to look at the call -sheet. Each day after lunch, the students were assigned to special -duties for the day, and Jean wanted to check on her assignment. She -frowned as she saw her name opposite that of Dr. Benson. Then she -grinned sheepishly and shrugged her shoulders. As long as he was on -duty, Dr. Benson would be professional and mannerly. Jean determined -that she would be as pleasant as she could be to the young man. - -Dr. Benson was making routine checks in the contagious ward when Jean -found him. He seemed very grave as he examined his patients. Jean noted -with satisfaction that he made very thorough checks on each one. He -didn’t even seem to notice Jean as he worked. Quietly and efficiently -she followed him from patient to patient, making notes on each chart. - -“Well, that’s that,” Dr. Benson finally said as he finished examining -his last patient. “Thanks, gorgeous.” - -Jean smiled in spite of herself. “Anything else, Doctor?” she asked. - -Dr. Benson ran his fingers through his red hair. “I guess not. Not -now, anyway. But tell me something, beautiful? How did I make out with -Lucy last night?” - -Jean blushed and looked up at him questioningly. “I don’t have any -idea,” she asked. “Why?” - -Dr. Benson grinned wryly. Jean noticed that he had a dimple near his -mouth. “That’s not a straight answer, and you know it, Miss Craig,” he -said. “I know I was up for discussion today. Well, did you all approve -of my technique?” - -Jean instantly felt a warm surge of feeling for the doctor. He was -actually pathetic. He sensed her reaction and waved his hand as if to -brush it off. - -“Forget it,” he said brusquely. “My ears are still burning from a -dressing down I got this morning from Dr. Barsch. I’m still shaky on -making out reports. Well, we all have to learn....” His voice trailed -off, and he grinned. “What’s new with the boy friend, cutie?” he asked. - -“Ralph’s fine,” Jean answered. “He’ll be back next week.” - -“I wonder if he knows what a lucky guy he is,” Dr. Benson said. “To -have a girl waiting for him ... you know, having someone he cares for -thinking so much of him. Oh well, skip it. This is just a bad day.” - -“I know how to make out reports,” Jean said. “Let me help you with -yours.” - -Dr. Benson stared at her. “You want to help me after the way I’ve -acted towards you? The other nurses treat me as if I were poison!” - -Dr. Barsch came down the hall. He smiled affectionately at Jean and -nodded to Dr. Benson. - -“I’m sorry if I was a bit rough this morning, Doctor,” he said gravely. -“Sometimes I forget how complicated these reports can be till one -becomes used to them.” - -Dr. Benson actually blushed. “It was my fault, sir,” he admitted, “and -I had it coming. Miss Craig has promised to help me with my next batch.” - -“Good. Good,” Dr. Barsch said. “Our great trouble around here is that -we’re too busy to teach routine. Well, a bright boy like you shouldn’t -have any trouble.” - -“Thank you, sir,” Dr. Benson said. “I’ll try to live up to my notices.” - -“I’m sure you will, son,” Dr. Barsch said, clapping his hand on the -boy’s shoulder. Then he smiled and walked off. - -Dr. Benson pounded his fist into his hand. “That’s right,” he muttered. -“Makes me feel like a heel!” - -“Oh, no!” Jean cried, “he didn’t mean to! Dr. Barsch is a very -considerate man!” - -Dr. Benson shrugged and turned away. “I can’t figure out this deal at -all. People just aren’t as considerate as everyone here seems to be. I -know. I’ve been around.” - -“You sound so tough,” Jean giggled. - -“Well, I found out a long time ago there’s only one thing that really -is interested in you ... as long as you have it. And that’s the dollar. -People? Huh, they’re interested in you when you’ve got it. And I’m -going to get it!” - -Jean nodded and said, “And that’s why you’re living on sixty dollars a -month as an intern now.” - -“It’ll pay off,” the young doctor said. - -Jean grinned in spite of herself. “A man with your intelligence could -make a fortune quickly in business ... real estate, for example. But of -course you chose medicine, and now you’re going to tell me you have to -pay back your parents’ financial investment by going through with it.” - -Dr. Benson set his jaw. “My parents! That’s a laugh. I’ll tell you a -secret, Miss Craig. My fairy godmother sent me through school.” - -Jean looked at him in amazement. “I don’t understand,” she said. - -Dr. Benson smiled bitterly. “I think you do. You all do. I’m not good -enough for you and your friends to date. I am the bright young boy -from the other side of the tracks, didn’t you know? I’m the guy who -sent himself through school. Why, I was out on the streets of New York -peddling papers, shining shoes ... doing anything I could to support my -parents, when I was just a kid.” - -Jean gasped. “Really, none of us knew. We didn’t have any idea...!” she -cried. “You were just so ... so fresh!” - -Dr. Benson sighed. “Okay,” he said. “Skip it.” - -“It really was awful of you to take Lucy out and talk all evening about -me,” Jean said softly. - -“I suppose I should have talked about what I really was interested in. -Then you all could have had a real laugh!” - -Jean frowned. “Now listen, Dr. Benson,” she said coldly, “I think -you’ve got things completely mixed up. If you weren’t so busy feeling -sorry for yourself, you might have noticed what we really are like -here.” - -The doctor set his jaw and mimicked her voice as he said, “All right, -what are we all like here?” - -Jean resisted the impulse to walk away from him and said, “I suppose -you realize that you’re not the only one who’s had trouble in the past. -Miss Simpson ... I mean, Mrs. Loring ... was raised in an orphanage, -you know. And her husband, Ted, is probably one of the most popular men -in the community today. He put himself through school. Only he never -thought it was any disgrace to make his own way.” - -“And you? What about you and your fine family? You wouldn’t give me a -tumble,” Dr. Benson said. - -“If it were any of your business, I could tell you how we managed to -stay together without any money after the war. And of course I won’t -date you when I’m engaged to someone else. Now forget this nonsense. -We’d all like you if you’d give us the chance.” - -Dr. Benson grinned sheepishly. “I really blew off,” he admitted. “I -shouldn’t have bothered you.” - -Jean smiled. “I’m glad you did. At least I know now why you seemed to -be so ... so....” - -“So terrible. Okay, beautiful. Let’s get back to work. And listen, what -I’ve said is just between you and me. It’s no one else’s business.” - -Jean grinned despairingly. Just when Dr. Benson seemed to let his guard -drop, he picked it up again. But now, at least, she felt confident that -he would discover how to make friends at the clinic. - - - - -7. Ralph Returns from Europe - - -Ralph flew back from Europe the first week in May. His plane landed at -Boston, and he caught the first train for Elmhurst. The day after he -left Bergen, Norway, he appeared at the Craigs’ front door. - -Jean was waiting for him on the front porch when his taxi pulled up -before the house. She tore down the steps as he opened the car door, -and he jumped out and caught her in his arms. For several minutes -neither said a word. - -“Oh, Jeannie,” Ralph muttered, holding her close to him. “Jeannie, my -darling!” - -Jean burrowed her face against his coat and murmured. “Ralph, it’s been -_so_ long!” - -He held her away from him. “Let me look at you,” he said tenderly. -“Gee, if anything, you’re more beautiful than ever!” - -She crept close to him again. “Don’t let me go,” she pleaded lightly. -“I’m going to stay right here for the rest of my life!” - -He stroked her dark curls. “You won’t find me difficult to deal with on -_that_ score,” he laughed. Then he became serious. “I’m not going away -from you ever again, Jeannie. It isn’t worth it. Everywhere I went, -everything I did, I kept wishing that you were with me to share it all. -Jeannie, you’re with me now, and you’re here to stay!” - -“That’s right.” - -Arm in arm they walked up to the house. “How is Jack?” Ralph asked as -they entered the front hall. “I was beside myself with worry when you -wrote about him.” - -“I’m fine,” Jack called from the front parlor. Ralph dashed into the -parlor where the family was waiting for him. - -“Welcome home, son,” Mrs. Craig said, embracing him. “We all missed you -very much.” - -Doris threw her arms around Ralph’s neck and kissed him. “Jean’s been -nearly wild waiting for you,” she cried. - -“Oh, Doris!” Jean cried. - -“Oh, for heaven’s sake, you aren’t going to be coy when you’re engaged -to the man?” Doris said. “We were _all_ wild waiting for you!” - -“Good to see you again,” Tommy said, holding out his hand. - -Ralph grabbed the hand and tousled Tommy’s hair. “Hi, Tom. It’s great -to be back.” Then he went over to the couch and knelt down beside Jack. -“Hi, old-timer,” he said, taking Jack’s hand. “I hear you’ve been into -mischief since I last saw you. How are you feeling?” - -“Just swell,” Jack said. “I’m getting lazy. How do you like my deal? -Everyone waits on me. I don’t have to do any chores. Whatta life!” - -Ralph made a swipe at Jack’s chin with his fist. “Yep, some life,” he -agreed. “You and I have a lot of hours to spend together. I’ve got a -lot to tell you.” - -Mrs. Craig brought in a tray of food, and Doris set up a card table -near the couch. - -“You must be hungry,” Mrs. Craig said as she arranged the table. “I’d -take you into the dining room, but Jack probably wants you in here with -him.” - -Ralph slipped his arm around Mrs. Craig’s waist. “Why is it that -mothers always think people don’t eat while they travel?” - -Mrs. Craig made a face at him and said, “Very well, I’ll just take this -right back to the kitchen.” - -“Hey, hey,” Ralph said, snatching a cookie from the plate she picked -up. “I’ll eat everything in sight. I _am_ hungry!” - -They all laughed, and Mrs. Craig poured out steaming cups of hot -chocolate for everyone. Jean propped Jack up on the couch so that he -could manage his cup. - -“Now, then,” Mrs. Craig said, “tell us what you’ve been doing.” - -Ralph stopped munching his cookie and looked at her. “Don’t tell me -Jeannie hasn’t kept you posted?” - -They all roared. “We can practically recite your letters by heart,” -Doris teased. - -“Not all of them, I hope,” Ralph protested. - -“Aw, she always left out the mushy parts,” Jack said. “She just read -the _interesting_ things.” - -Ralph chuckled and winked at Jack. “Well, I did run into one good story -that I didn’t write Jeannie about. Right in Bergen. I was working -with a boy quite a bit younger than myself. He was the leader of the -underground movement during the war. After Norway was occupied by the -Nazis, that is.” - -“Oh, good heavens!” Mrs. Craig cried. “Those poor people!” - -Ralph looked up at her thoughtfully and then said, “Well, I don’t pity -them. Not after what I’ve seen.” - -“Why, Ralph!” Jean cried. “Whatever do you mean?” - -Ralph smiled. “They don’t want our pity, Jeannie,” he said softly. -“They need our help and understanding, but not pity. I wish I could -honestly say I had the nerve that that boy had. I admire him, and I -admire them all.” - -“I’ll bet he had some stories to tell,” Tommy said. - -“He wasn’t much older than you, Tom, when the Nazis invaded,” Ralph -said. “And he went right into the Underground. Blew bridges and -railroad tracks and things like that.” - -Mrs. Craig slipped her arm around Tommy’s shoulder protectively. -“Heavens!” she cried. “A child like Tommy?” - -“They had quite an arsenal,” Ralph chuckled. “And you’ll never believe -where their headquarters were. In the basement of Gestapo Headquarters. -Two of their boys were accepted into the Gestapo. Not one message went -out of Gestapo Headquarters that the Underground didn’t know about.” - -“Mercy!” Mrs. Craig cried. “It makes me tremble just to think about it.” - -Ralph smiled. “You don’t need to be sorry for people who went through -a war that way. Now they’re working like beavers to build up their -disrupted country. Their schools are all open, their railroads are -working just fine. The country looks good, and the people ... they’re -wonderful.” - -Jean shook her head. “But all of occupied Europe isn’t like that, -Ralph?” - -“Some countries are further along than others, of course. Paris looked -pretty good to me. Of course, in the eastern countries ... well, I -didn’t get a chance to see for myself,” Ralph said. “But now I have an -idea of the job we farmers have on our hands. Jeannie and I are going -to be pretty busy.” He swallowed the rest of his hot chocolate. “I’m -going upstairs to unpack. I’ve got some things to give out.” - -Tommy carried his bag upstairs, and Ralph ran up behind him. Mrs. Craig -smiled heavily. “He’s seen a great deal,” she said gravely. “I guess it -wouldn’t hurt any of us to see what Europe is like today.” - -Ralph came bounding into the room, his arms full of packages. “Here we -are,” he announced. “Now, let’s see. Oh yes, this is for you, Mother -Craig,” he said, handing her a parcel. Mrs. Craig exclaimed as she -opened the package and found a Swedish linen dinner cloth. “It’s -magnificent!” she cried. “Ralph, this is too much!” - -He kissed her on the cheek. “I’m glad you like it, dear,” he answered. - -For Tommy and Jack, Ralph had brought rucksacks from Bavaria, and for -Doris, Ralph had a music box from Dresden. Doris handled the delicate -instrument lovingly and turned it on. It played an air from _Don -Giovanni_. - -“I couldn’t resist it when I heard it,” Ralph said. “I remembered how -fond you were of Mozart.” - -“Oh, Ralph!” Doris cried, throwing her arms around his neck. - -“This is for Kit,” Ralph said, pointing to a package. “Maybe you can -tuck it in her laundry case when you send it. It’s a Polish gypsy -outfit. I found it in Paris; I think it’s probably a Frenchman’s _idea_ -of a Polish gypsy dress. But it looked so much like Kit that I had to -bring it along.” - -He produced a chiming Swiss watch for Mr. Craig, and then he handed -Jean her package. Slowly she opened it. It was a set of earrings and -bracelet and pin. - -“It’s not the real thing, Jeannie,” Ralph explained. “Costume jewelry, -I guess you call it. But it’s an exclusive Jacques Fath. I picked it up -in Paris.” - -Jean sighed with delight as she fingered the filigreed pieces, “I’ve -never had anything so beautiful.” - -“And French perfume for all the ladies,” Ralph announced, handing out -the tiny packages. - -Everyone squealed and exclaimed over the dainty scents. Mrs. Craig -shook her head in mock resignation. “What am I going to do with you, -son? You spoil us all so.” - -Ralph kissed her and grinned. “My family is a very special one. Oh, -here are a couple of gadgets for Aunt Becky and the Judge. Well, we can -see about them later.” - -Mrs. Craig smiled tenderly at the young man. “Now, somehow, the family -seems almost whole again.” - - - - -8. Jean and Ralph Discuss Their Future - - -That evening, after dinner, Jean and Ralph slipped out of the house and -almost automatically headed down their favorite path to the banks of -the small river. They held hands as they walked. There was no need for -talk. Each felt warmly secure in the presence of the other. - -Jean didn’t trust herself to speak until they had reached the river. -Every time she started to say something, the loneliness of the past -months welled up in her and tears came to her eyes. Then she would -clasp Ralph’s hand harder, as if to reassure herself that he had really -returned. - -Ralph chuckled as they came to the river bank. “It’s really me, -darling,” he said softly. “I know how you feel, because I feel the same -way.” - -Jean laid his hand against her cheek and let a few pent-up tears fall. -Ralph cupped her chin in his free hand and smiled at his beloved -tenderly. - -“Tears for me?” he asked softly. “My little Jeannie, you mustn’t cry!” - -Jean smiled and nodded. “It’s foolish to spoil your first evening at -home this way.” She shook her head as if to forbid further tears. - -Ralph laughed. “It’s not spoiled. If anything, it’s enhanced. You know, -when you love someone as much as I love you, it’s hard to believe that -she can care so much for you. It’s wonderful to find out.” - -She grinned. “But there’s so _much_ to talk about, Ralph! So much has -happened in the past two years which we have to talk about. Tears don’t -say anything!” - -Ralph laughed again. “They say plenty, Jeannie. But if we must return -to the world of mundane facts, let’s hear about your past two years.” - -She giggled. “So my activities seem dull to you,” she teased. - -Ralph tousled her curly hair. “You’re a flirt, aren’t you? The feminine -mind can be _so_ illogical!” - -Jean sat down under a tall maple tree. She leaned against Ralph’s -shoulder. “Now tell me,” she said. “Something happened while you were -abroad which is bothering you. I could see it in your eyes all the time -you were talking with the family.” - -Ralph picked a blade of grass and put it between his teeth. “It’s -strange how one can be impressed by having a new light thrown on -something which he always knew but which never seemed important before.” - -“Yes?” she asked. - -“You know what my ranch in Saskatoon is like, don’t you, Jeannie? I -mean, you know what the land is like.” - -“I know you have grain and some live stock....” - -“And that a lot of my land isn’t cleared of forests as yet?” - -She nodded. - -Ralph drew his pipe from his coat pocket and lit it. “About once a year -I get a letter from the government asking me what I plan to do with my -uncut timber. I never paid much attention to it before. I liked having -the trees there. It was good for the soil. But I saw something in Paris -which has changed my mind completely.” - -Jean looked at him in surprise. “What could happen in Paris that could -affect your forests?” she asked. - -Ralph laughed. “This, my dear, is a good lesson in the size of the -world today. I live on an isolated Canadian ranch. But I have the -power, out there, to help or hinder businesses all over the world. That -timber I have should be cut and shipped to wood pulp manufacturers. But -let’s start at the beginning.” - -Jean giggled. “That would help,” she admitted. - -“You remember, I wrote you about attending the newspaper convention in -Paris last fall?” - -Jean nodded. - -“I wish you could have been there. Newspaper men from all over the -world, except from behind the Iron Curtain, attended it. It was -marvelous! Journalism professors from midwestern universities in the -United States rubbed shoulders and exchanged ideas with editors from -Iran and Tasmania. Believe me, it was a conference of tremendous -importance! I attended it, because I was in Paris to investigate crop -production of central France, and a friend of mine invited me to -attend.” - -“You wrote something about the conference, I remember,” she said. - -“Well, all these editors have the same complaint. There’s not enough -wood pulp in the world to furnish the newspapers with newsprint. In a -way, it’s wonderful, because that indicates that countries are printing -more papers. And that new countries are insisting on better and bigger -papers. Egypt, for example, has more newspapers than ever before. -And, of course, one of the first projects Israel, as a new country, -undertook was the establishing of fine papers. - -“But we must have more wood pulp! As long as each of these countries, -large and small, can have their papers, this world is comparatively -safe. These papers can carry news ... facts of the world ... right to -the doors of all the people in the world. Then, the people themselves -can decide what is good and what is bad in this world.” - -Jean sighed. “It sounds like a tremendous undertaking.” - -“It is! And, Jeannie, if you could have seen those men! Arabians, who -have been literate for only a generation, were demanding free press -for their people. Mexicans pleaded for more newsprint to help educate -their people. The Israeli, of course, put the need for communications, -the need for stimulating the minds of their countrymen, above almost -everything else.” - -Jean nodded. “Now I begin to see.” - -Ralph threw away the blade of grass. “Of course I can’t do much with -the small forests I own. But I’ll do everything I can. When I get back -to Saskatoon, I’m going to start the largest project of timber cutting -and reforestation I can possibly undertake. You see, Jeannie, Canada -and Norway are practically the only countries in the world who can -produce wood pulp. If the job is up to us, then we’ve got to do it.” - -Jean nodded solemnly. “Then that’s what you were doing in Norway,” she -said. - -“Well, I had to go there, anyway, on business. But you can be sure that -I checked on the story of their wood pulp supply pretty carefully. It -isn’t too good. They do what they can. But Canada is so much larger and -has so many more forests.” - -Jean suddenly giggled. “I’m intrigued with the idea of your being a -lumberjack.” - -Ralph smiled. “I’ll be one; you’ll be one. The children will be -chopping timber as soon as they learn to crawl!” - -She shook her head. “You know, dear,” she said, “we all have to -contribute to this life in the way we’re best equipped.” - -Ralph nodded. “That’s true,” he agreed. - -She smiled in spite of herself as she said, “I’ll be glad to buy -myself a pair of spiked hightop boots and become a lumberjack, if you -say so. But there is something else I can do better.” - -“And that is?” he asked. - -“I’m almost ashamed to tell you now,” Jean confessed, “because I’ll be -consuming paper rather than making it.” - -Ralph chuckled. “That’s what it’s made for. Now, tell me.” - -Jean told him of the plans which Dr. Barsch had made for her. How she -would take a correspondence course in art after they were married, and -how, when she finished her course, she would contract to do sketches of -operations at a nearby hospital for the medical publishers. - -Ralph thought about the plan for a few minutes. “It’s a very good -idea,” he said gravely. - -“You see, medicine and improved operative techniques are important, -too,” Jean said slyly. - -Ralph chuckled. “I can’t deny you,” he grinned. “You know, there’s a -small hospital about five miles from the ranch. It’s a very good one, -and I know the board of directors there very well. I think they’d like -the idea. I’m sure we can arrange it.” - -“Then you don’t mind my working after we’re married?” she asked. - -Ralph shook his head. “One of the reasons I fell in love with you, -Jean, is that you seem to thrive on being busy. There’s something so -sturdy about you and your family. Take your father, for instance. I -saw a lot of men when they came out of the Army in bad shape. But I -never saw one who was more miserable because he couldn’t be working -from dawn to dusk every day.” - -Jean sighed. “He’s like a different man now that he is working again. -Poor Dad! None of us even suspected how hard his invalid days were on -him till they were over.” - -Ralph nodded. “You haven’t told me all the details of this new job,” he -said. - -“Well, it’s very simple,” Jean explained. “You see, two years ago the -town decided to back a veterans’ housing project. Dad offered to be the -architect for the project. After years of inactivity, he was nearly out -of his mind. And of course he was terribly interested in anything to -help the young men and their families.” - -“Of course,” Ralph said. “I remember that part. He was just starting -the assignment when I went abroad.” - -“It’s taken two years to complete the project,” Jean said. “There were -some difficulties. A lot of people didn’t want low cost housing in -town. And then some ... well, I think they’re just plain bad people, -were afraid the project might attract new people to the community. You -know, minority groups and,” she giggled, “even non-New Englanders.” - -“But the project did go through,” Ralph said. - -“Oh yes,” she cried. “Those foolish people were definitely in the -minority themselves. It finally was accomplished in the good old New -England tradition of a town meeting. The few ignorant objectors were -laughed and hooted right out of the meeting, too.” She smiled at the -memory. - -“But to get back to Dad,” she continued. “After he had finished -designing the houses for the project, he was swamped with orders. And -eager as he was to fill them, he was very intelligent. He insisted on -very regular checkups with Dr. Daley, our internist at the clinic. But -everything went just fine. He seemed to get better all the time. So now -he’s opened his own office, and he’s busy all the time.” - -“That’s marvelous,” Ralph said. “I can’t remember ever seeing your -father look so well.” - -Jean smiled tenderly. “I guess that about brings you up to date.” - -Ralph put his arm around her. “Good,” he said. “Now, let’s talk about -us. Seems to me I hear wedding bells in my head. How about you?” - -Jean giggled. “My, what a tender proposal!” she teased. - -Ralph drew back in mock horror. “But I’ve _already_ proposed!” he -protested. “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten?” - -Jean laughed. “As if I ever could forget,” she admitted frankly. - -“But I think we ought to set a date.” - -“Let’s see,” she said, deliberately teasing him. “I’ll have to check -my appointment book, but my plans go something like this. I will be -graduated late this summer. And then, as far as I know, I haven’t -anything special planned.” - -“You, ma’m, are an idiot!” Ralph laughed. “Very well, we shall plan a -fall wedding--” - -“Right here in Elmhurst,” Jean continued. - -“You bet! Where else?” he wanted to know. Then he became serious. “I’m -glad you’re going to be so busy this summer,” he added. “Because that -will make the time pass more quickly for us both.” - -Jean grabbed his hand. “You’re going away again,” she said suddenly. - -“Only for a little while.” - -“Oh, Ralph!” she cried. - -Ralph squeezed her hand. “This time, only for a few months. I have to -go to Ottawa, of course, to make my report to the government on my trip -abroad. After all, they sent me. I have to account for their money.” - -Jean nodded miserably. - -“And then I have to look up the government contractor for my wood pulp. -Jeannie, I must get that arranged so that I can sleep easily at night.” - -She nodded. “I understand. I mean, my mind understands. But this silly -old heart doesn’t understand one little bit.” - -Ralph drew her to him and kissed her. “That silly old heart you’re -wearing these days is mine, you know. Maybe that’s why it doesn’t -understand. I wouldn’t want it to.” - - - - -9. Polio Claims a Victim - - -Ralph stayed for the rest of the week and life for Jean was one grand -whirl. Then Jeannie drove him to town and put him aboard the Boston -train. As she turned the car around and headed slowly for home, her -heart grew heavy. She tried to blink back the tears as she told herself -that they would be apart for only a few months this time. But by the -time she reached home, she was openly crying. - -Doris was standing on the front porch when she drove up. Jean turned -her head away, but Doris, who had already seen the tears, put her arm -around her sister’s shoulder. Jean reached up and squeezed Doris’s -hand. Without saying anything, the two sisters shared a moment of -complete sympathy. - -Finally Doris said, “Jean, this is terrible, but the hospital called -and wanted you to come right over. It’s mean to make you go right out -when you feel this way....” - -Jean grinned at her sister. “Work is the best cure for what ails me, -you know. What’s up?” - -Doris shook her head. “They have a polio victim,” she said flatly. - -Jean gasped. “Polio!” she cried. “But this is only May! The polio -season shouldn’t start for another month, at least!” - -“That’s what they told me,” Doris said dully. - -“Thanks, dear,” Jean replied. “I’ll go right over.” - -Jean dashed up to the emergency ward as soon as she reached the -hospital. Ted and Sally were bent over a small, frail boy, whose body -was horribly rigid. - -“We’ll be lucky if we can keep him out of the iron lung,” Ted muttered -as he worked over the boy. - -Jean ran her cool hand across the boy’s feverish forehead. The tiny -victim began to mumble. - -“There, there,” Jean whispered. “Try to relax.” - -“Take it easy, son,” Ted said. - -The two girls made him as comfortable as they could, while Ted worked -on his muscles. For hours the spasms continued, and then gradually they -began to subside. Finally the boy went to sleep. - -“Will he be crippled?” Sally asked. - -Ted shrugged. “It’s way too early to tell.” - -“Who is he?” Jean asked. - -“We don’t even know that. Found him down at the railroad track. Mr. -Berger found him as he was driving by and brought him right over.” - -Jean gazed down on the dirty, tear-stained face. “He’s so young,” she -murmured. - -“Not more than ten,” Ted agreed. “He might be a little older, of -course. He looks as if he hasn’t had a decent meal in months!” He -sighed. “He was brought in in ragged clothes which we had to cut off -and burn in the incinerator.” - -“Can we bathe him now?” Jean asked, looking at the dirty boy. - -“Yes, but be careful. He’s still having some pain,” Ted answered. - -By morning, the new patient was resting more easily in fresh, clean -garments. His face and body were clean, but his hair was still matted -and dirty. He awoke around seven to find Jean sitting by his bed. - -“Good morning,” Jean said cheerfully. “Feel better?” - -The small boy let forth a stream of profanity. - -“Still hurts, eh?” Jean asked. “Well, the worst is over. You’ll feel -better from now on.” - -“Get out!” the boy ordered. “Get, and leave me be!” - -Jean shook her head and smiled. “Tell me your name, will you? I’m Miss -Craig. Now, who are you?” - -The boy looked up at her, his dark eyes flashing. “None of your -business!” he snarled. “Who was that old nosey what brought me in?” - -Jean bent over the child. “You’re a very sick boy,” she said. “Mr. -Berger found you down at the station. He saved your life.” - -“Thanks for nuttin’,” he said. “I gotta get outta here. I gotta get to -Boston.” - -“When you are well, you can go to Boston. Is that where you live? Your -parents’ home?” - -“Naw, I gotta pal in Boston.” - -“Where’s your home?” Jean asked. - -“None ’a’ your business!” - -Ted came in and sat down beside the child. “Good morning,” he said -briskly. - -The boy swore at Ted. - -“I still don’t know his name or where he’s from,” Jean said. “He won’t -tell me.” - -Ted nodded. “Riding the rails?” he asked the boy. - -“What’s it to yah?” the boy asked. - -Ted shrugged. “Well, we’ll send out an alarm. His parents are probably -frantic.” - -“He was on his way to Boston,” Jean offered. “You might concentrate on -towns south of here.” - -“You gonna call the cops?” the boy asked with terror in his eyes. - -Ted nodded. “Something like that. We can’t let your parents worry about -you.” - -The boy turned his face to the wall. “They won’t worry. Skip it. But -jest don’t call the cops.” - -Ted patted him gently on the shoulder and went to the door. “I’ll see -you in a few minutes. Take it easy.” - -“Drop dead,” the boy said and made a rude noise. - -Ingeborg came in to relieve Jean around eight o’clock, and Jean decided -to go home for breakfast. When she arrived, she tossed her jacket over -a chair and wandered listlessly into the kitchen where her mother was -washing the breakfast dishes. - -“Any more food for a prodigal child?” Jean asked wearily. - -“Of course, dear,” Mrs. Craig said. “Why don’t you go out on the porch? -It’s such a fine day, I have Jack out there. He’ll be glad of the -company.” - -Jean wandered out to the porch and sat down beside Jack. He lay in the -porch glider enjoying the balmy May breezes. - -“Hi, Jack,” she said wearily. - -“Pretty bad, was he?” Jack asked. - -“Well, not as bad as some, I guess,” Jean answered, nibbling on a piece -of buttered toast. “Ted seems to think he’ll need some therapy to -prevent crippling. But we kept him out of the iron lung.” - -“What’s he like?” Jack asked. “A real young kid?” - -Jean shrugged. “I don’t know,” she said. “He wouldn’t give his name or -address or what he was doing in town, or anything. He just swore at us.” - -“Jeepers!” Jack exclaimed. “How do you like that!” - -“We think he caught a freight train into town from the south. He did -say he was going to Boston.” She sighed. “His parents must be worried -to death.” - -Jack looked thoughtful. “Polio catching?” he asked finally. - -Jean shook her head. “No one knows. Why?” - -“Oh, just wondered. This kid ... you think he was riding a freight? I -mean, he looked sorta ... poor?” - -Jean nodded. “He was dressed in very ragged clothes when they found -him.” - -She finished her breakfast and went up to bed. She felt defeated -and lonely. She grinned wryly at herself, realizing that she was -discouraged about the boy more intensely because she missed Ralph so -much. Slowly she climbed into bed and pulled the light blanket around -her shoulders. After fretting and worrying for an hour or so, she -finally fell asleep. - -Back at the hospital, Ted and Ingeborg were still trying to get -information out of the boy. But after blasting them both with -profanity, he merely turned his head to the wall and refused to say -anything. Finally the phone rang, and Ingeborg reported that Mrs. Craig -was calling. - -“Jack has been talking to me,” Mrs. Craig said to Ted over the phone. -“He wants to see your polio patient.” - -Ted stared at the phone. “Why on earth?” he asked. - -He could hear Mrs. Craig chuckle softly. “Jack believes he can find out -who the boy is,” she said. - -Ted was still puzzled. “I still don’t understand,” he said. - -“You probably don’t remember how Jack came to Elmhurst, Ted,” Mrs. -Craig laughed. - -“But of course I do. You told me the night we brought him to the -hospital.” He paused. “I’m beginning to see, Mrs. Craig.” - -“That’s right,” she said. “Jack feels that he may be able to talk to -the lad in his own language.” - -“I’ll send someone right over to bring him here!” Ted cried. “That boy! -He really gets me! Now how would a youngster that age realize these -things?” - -Mrs. Craig laughed again. “My Jack is a pretty smart youngster,” she -said bluntly and with pride. - -“I should say he is!” Ted cried. “Now why didn’t I think of that? You -tell him we’ll be right over for him!” - -Jack was brought straight up to the emergency ward and placed a good -distance from the stranger’s cot. He propped himself up and turned to -Ted and the others. “Okay,” he said, “I’ll handle this.” - -Ted nodded and motioned to the others to follow him. They stood just -outside the door to listen. - -Jack looked over at the pathetic figure on the cot. He hesitated. His -natural outgoing affection battled with his ideas of what he must do. -At last, he willed himself to speak roughly. - -“Why don’t you drop dead?” he said. - -The boy looked around. - -“Think you’re pretty tough, don’t you?” Jack baited. “You ain’t so -much!” - -The boy stared at him. - -“I hear you rode a freight into town.” - -“Yeah,” the boy admitted. - -“So did I. Some fun, eh?” - -There was a long pause. - -“Who are you?” the boy finally asked. - -“What’s it to yah, punk?” Jack replied. “I don’t go ’round handin’ out -my monicker to every stray what asks for it.” - -“Okay,” the boy said, admiration creeping into his voice. Then he -changed abruptly. “What you doin’ lyin’ down? Get outta here!” - -“I’m sick, too,” Jack said. “I gotta stay in bed.” - -The patient looked at Jack closely. “Take good care of yourself, pretty -boy,” he taunted. - -Jack shrugged. “Yeah, I will, thanks. I’m a guy who oughtta take care -of hisself. I’m important.” - -“You ’n’ who else?” - -“Jest me. Wanna make somethin’ of it?” he scowled at the boy. - -The child’s eyes opened wider. “Okay, so you’re a big shot,” he said -grudgingly. “What’s your name?” - -“What’s yours?” Jack snapped. - -“Timmy. Timothy Lester.” - -“I never hearda yah,” Jack said loftily. “Where you from?” - -“A bigger place ’n’ this dump,” Timmy said. “New York.” - -“Yeah?” Jack let a note of admiration creep into his voice. “Yeah, -really New York? What do your folks do?” - -Timmy made a face. His lower lip trembled almost imperceptibly as he -said, “I ain’t got folks. We was in a fire. I was the only one didn’t -get killed.” - -“Aw, gee,” Jack said, his quick sympathy overcoming his acting. - -“It’s okay. I gotta pal in Boston. He said any time I wanted tah leave -home I should look him up. He has a racket up there. Pretty good -dough, I guess,” Timmy said. - -“You in trouble with the cops?” - -Timmy made a face at the mention of the law. “Naw,” he said, finally. -“But I jest hate ’em. I never even had a chance to square myself wid -’em. The other guys said I was too little to heist stuff yet.” - -“You ain’t got no relatives? Nobody?” - -“That’s right,” Timmy said proudly. “Now, shut up. I’m sick a talkin’.” - -Jack pulled the bellcord by his bed, and Mrs. Craig and Ted and -Ingeborg came back. “Okay,” Jack said. “I wanna go home, now. But -I’ll be back,” he said menacingly. “You give the gang at the hospital -trouble, and you’ll hear from me ... plenty!” - -“Aw, dry up,” Timmy retorted. - -Out in the hall, Ted and Mrs. Craig were both triumphant. Ted shook -Jack’s hand. “That was a masterful bit of acting, Jack, old boy,” he -said. - -Jack turned his head away. “I’d like to go home. I don’t feel very -good.” - -Mrs. Craig put her hand on his forehead to see if his temperature had -risen. He brushed it away. - -“No, that’s not what I mean,” he said huskily. “That poor little guy! -Jeepers!” his voice rose, “what kind of a chance does he have, anyway?” - -Mrs. Craig nodded. “I know, dear.” - -Jack patted his mother’s hand. “You heard the terrible way I talked to -him. I hated to do it. But he thought I was just passing the time of -day. Rough talk, lying and stealing ... they’ve been his school books. -I know. I can remember myself at his age.” - -Mrs. Craig ran her fingers over Jack’s head. “Maybe it’s just as well -that he landed here. Maybe someone can do something for him, now.” - -Jack caught Ted’s coat sleeve. “One other thing, Dr. Loring,” he -said. “Don’t talk to Timmy about cops or missing persons bureaus. The -one thing a kid in his fix is scared to death of is being sent to -some home. That’s what cops mean to him right now. He probably has -orphanages and reform schools all mixed up in his twisted mind.” - - - - -10. Kit at the Capital - - -In Washington, D. C., summer was well under way. The gentle breezes -from the South warmed the city. A few weeks later, the capital would be -sweltering in southern summer heat. - -Frank Howard gazed out of the window of his office. From his desk he -could just see a corner of the park where Washington’s monument and the -Lincoln Memorial faced each other across the glassy pond. He smiled -absently at the small, full, Japanese cherry trees lining the park. - -Across the room sat Leslie Merrivale, Frank’s partner. He, too, studied -the cherry trees, but his face was grim. “I never can see those things -in bloom without shuddering,” he said. - -Frank turned away from the window and laughed. - -“I know what you mean, Les,” he answered. “I used to feel the same -way. The trees were a gift from the Japanese, and the beetles were an -unwitting gift from them. It’s strange how you keep connecting the two -in your mind.” He shuddered slightly as he thought of the fierce battle -entomologists all over the country had waged against the destructive -insects from Japan. - -Leslie grinned. “I tell you, I don’t know why people go into this work. -Spring is supposed to be a happy time of year. Everything comes to -life. Old people feel better. Young people fall in love. Babies stop -having colds. And entomologists know that it’s time to go to work. How -many larvae do you reckon are concealed in that elm down there?” - -Frank shrugged and lit his pipe. “It’s time you went on a field trip, -Les,” he said. “You’re getting finicky. What’s the matter? Don’t you -like bugs?” - -Leslie shook his head in mock despair. “You know what I mean. Sure, I -love to study the little crawling things. But every year, after all the -work we do, just to see those blossoming trees and plants and to know -they’re infested with insects of every type imaginable--it’s a little -discouraging.” - -Frank blew out the match and drew on his pipe. “It should encourage you -to see the blossoms. As long as they come out, we know we’re all right. -There still is a good balance. Cheer up, man. People are supposed to be -happy in the spring.” - -Leslie studied his partner’s face. “You’re happy enough for both of us -today,” he commented dryly. “But then we’re all not lucky enough to be -in love.” - -Frank nodded. “Yes,” he said slowly. “That’s true. Spring is a great -time for sweethearts.” - -“And,” Leslie continued, “those of us who are in love aren’t all lucky -enough to have their young ladies come halfway across a continent to -see us.” - -Frank chuckled. “You flatter me, Les,” he said. “Kit Craig is coming to -Washington on business.” - -Leslie threw down his pencil. “Now tell me, Frank, what sort of -business does a college girl have? I thought their lives were full of -beaux and football games and parties and as few studies as possible.” - -“Oh, no. This is serious. Kit is president of her college’s historical -society. There’s a big convention in town this week, and Kit will be -here to represent Hope College.” Frank smiled fondly as he thought of -Kit and of how seriously she would take her mission. - -His partner turned back to his work. “Well, you’re pretty lucky, old -man,” he said. - -Frank nodded silently as he gazed out of the window. Then he glanced at -his watch and admonished himself for wasting time. Picking up a report -which lay on his desk, he began to study it. He shook his head from -side to side as he read it and then he jotted down notations in the -margin. - -Elm blight again! The first signs were being seen on a midwestern -campus. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he scanned the report -further. Saving elms would be a major project for the country this -summer. - -Frank phoned the laboratory and asked them to send for samples. It was -almost a futile gesture, he realized. The year before, the labs were -full of samples of rotting elm branches, all destroyed by the same -insect. - -“Les,” he said to his partner, “have the same order about the elm -blight inserted in all bulletins. If we can get the towns and farmers -to spray their trees early, we may save them. It’s our only chance. -You can’t kill the beast once he’s imbedded in the tree, but you can -prevent him from attacking in the first place.” - -Leslie made a note on his desk memo pad. “Nature gets you at every -turn,” he muttered. “First you discover D.D.T., and then she discovers -a little creature which won’t succumb to the treatment.” - -“It’s the balance,” Frank said philosophically. “Maybe there’s a reason -we don’t understand.” - -“Yeah, maybe,” Leslie said skeptically. - -They worked in silence for the next hour. Then Frank glanced at his -watch again and stood up. “I guess I’ll call it a day,” he said. “Kit’s -train gets in at six, and I want to clean up first.” - -“She must be some girl,” Leslie marveled, “to drag you out of this -office before dinnertime.” - -Freshly shaved and bathed, Frank drove his convertible into the -Washington terminal at ten minutes to six. He neatly avoided the row -of taxicabs standing before the entrance and found a parking place. -Hurrying, he pushed his way through the milling crowds on the concourse -and went into the waiting room. He looked at the schedules on a -blackboard near the exits to the trains. Kit’s train was on time. -Nervously he adjusted his tie. - -The train was announced, and Frank moved forward with the crowd to -the exit. He could see the open platform and an excited group of -young people running towards the doors. In spite of himself he felt a -thrill of pride when he saw their happy, enthusiastic faces. Here were -boys and girls from all over the country gathering in their nation’s -capital. Some for the first time. He was proud of his country which had -sponsored the happy youngsters. And he was proud of his beautiful city -which had so much to offer them. - -Then he spotted Kit. She was surrounded by a group of boys and girls, -laughing and chattering and waving to passers-by. She looked radiant -with her short dark curls bouncing in the breeze and her large eyes -flashing. Frank felt proud and yet as shy as a schoolboy as he ran -forward to the gate to meet her. - -Kit grabbed his hands, and he pulled her into his arms and hugged her. -“Hi, Kit,” he said. - -“Oh, Frank, it’s _so_ good to see you,” she cried. And breathlessly she -introduced him to the young people around her. - -He smiled into their young, eager faces, and finally drew Kit over to -one side. “Let me look at you,” he said. “My, but it’s been a long -time!” - -“Too long,” Kit said. “I certainly have missed you.” - -“Where are you staying? How much of your time do I get to monopolize? -How long will you be here?” - -Kit laughed to silence his questions. “One at a time,” she gasped. -“We’re all staying at the Willard. Two professors and their wives are -acting as our chaperons. I don’t know my schedule yet, but there will -be just two hours in the morning and two in the afternoon for sessions. -Then I should be free for the rest of the time.” - -Frank reached for her bag and laughed. “Then I can get some work done -while you’re in town.” - -Kit caught his arm. “Why don’t you come back to Elmhurst with me?” she -asked. - -Frank nodded thoughtfully. “It might be arranged. Now let’s get you to -the hotel and checked in. Then dinner, and then whatever you want to do -in our nation’s capital.” - -Kit nodded. “Of course we have to observe regular hours, Frank,” she -said. “I’ll have to check out just as at school if I go anywhere. But -first I want to call Mother.” - -“Of course you do,” Frank agreed. - -“To arrange about your coming, of course,” Kit teased. - -Frank ushered her into his car. “Of course,” he said solemnly. -He climbed into the driver’s seat and started off. He guided the -convertible through the city traffic with ease and pulled up before -the Willard Hotel. “Tell you what,” he said. “You go on in and unpack -and call home and make whatever arrangements you have to with your -chaperons. Then I’ll pick you up for supper in an hour.” - -Kit jumped out of the car. “All right, Frank,” she agreed. “But don’t -make it more than an hour. I’m starving already.” - -He waved to her as he pulled away from the curb. The doorman, with -Kit’s bag in hand, guided her into the lobby. A group of students was -gathered around the front desk. Kit joined them and nodded to the -doorman to put down her luggage. - -“Who’s the VIP, Kit?” one of the girls asked. - -Kit glanced around at the group. They were all looking at her. - -“Oh, a friend of mine,” she tossed off. - -“Well, if you like them old ...” one catty voice commented. - -A storm of protest broke forth from the group and Kit relaxed as she -heard admiring comments about Frank from all sides. - -Kit shared her room with Helen Smith from a small college in Iowa, and -Bernice Traxler from Northwestern University. Helen was a small, pale -girl who had gone to college right from her father’s farm. Bernice was -tall and dark and striking looking. Bernice was a native of Evanston -and a very sophisticated young lady. Kit wondered fleetingly how -Bernice and Helen would hit it off as roommates. - -“Do you girls mind if I tie up the phone for a while?” Kit asked. “I -want to call my mother.” - -“Of course not,” Helen said. “I don’t know anyone to call, anyway.” She -laughed, and Kit felt drawn to this honest girl from an Iowa farm. - -“Help yourself, Kit,” Bernice said. “I have a million things to do -before I let people know I’m in town.” - -Kit asked for the long distance operator and completed her call -immediately. - -“Hi, Mother!” she cried into the phone. “The trip was swell! No, I’m -not a bit tired. I got your letter about the wedding and I cried even -if I wasn’t there. Frank met me at the station, and I’m going to have -dinner with him tonight. I wonder if it would be okay if he came -back to Elmhurst with me? I mean, we haven’t decided definitely, or -anything. I just mentioned it.” She waited for her mother’s answer. - -“That’s swell,” she cried. “Give my love to everyone. I’ll see you all -Thursday.” - -She set the receiver back on the hook and turned to her roommates. - -“Is the man who met you at the station your beau?” Bernice asked. - -Kit hesitated. “Well, sort of,” she admitted. “We’re old friends, at -least.” - -Bernice hummed. “I’d like an old friend like that,” she murmured. -“Wouldn’t you, Helen?” - -“I thought he was awfully nice looking,” Helen agreed. - -Bernice surveyed her wardrobe which was lying across her bed. “I guess -I can make myself presentable for the evening,” she decided. Then she -turned to Helen. “Can you?” she asked. - -Helen stared at her. “But I’m not going anywhere,” she protested. -“Meetings don’t start till morning, and I don’t know a soul in -Washington. I’ll just slip down for some dinner and then curl up with a -book....” - -Bernice glared at her in mock severity. “Over my dead body,” she said. -“No one comes to Washington and stays home reading. No one who knows -me, anyhow. I’m going to do some phoning, and then you and I are going -on a night tour of Washington.” - -Helen sat down on the edge of her bed. “But I haven’t a thing to wear! -I think you’re wonderful to ask me, but really....” - -But Bernice was already speaking to a friend over the phone. “We’re two -dateless waifs,” she said. “Two girls from the hinterland looking for -some fun.” She winked at Helen. “Yes, Arnold, that will be perfect. -We’ll be ready in an hour.” - -She set down the phone. “You and I have dates tonight. With a -Congressman’s son and friend.” - -Helen stared at her. “You mean, just like that?” - -Bernice smiled at her. “If you don’t really want to go ... if you’re -really too tired....” she started, regretting her impulsiveness. - -Kit sat down beside Helen. There were tears in the girl’s eyes. - -“That’s one of the nicest things anyone ever did for me,” she cried. -“But I don’t have anything to wear, and I don’t know how to act with -Congressmen’s sons!” - -Bernice smiled. “You know how it’s like in a dorm. If you don’t have a -dress, you borrow it. Right, Kit?” - -Kit nodded. - -“And as for Congressmen’s sons, just remember that most of them were -raised on some farm in the corn-belt. Right, Kit?” - -Kit giggled. “Let’s fix Helen up with a dress,” she suggested. “I have -something she can wear, I think.” And she opened the closet door where -her freshly unpacked clothes hung. “Let’s see,” she said, running her -hands over the hangers. “Try this one.” - -Helen gasped at the sight of the white tulle evening frock which Kit -laid across her bed. “I ... I couldn’t!” she said. - -Kit smiled. “Of course you can. You probably wouldn’t hesitate if you -were my roommate at school.” - -Helen touched the dress gingerly. Slowly she rose and slipped off her -street dress. “I’ll take a shower and then try it,” she consented. - -In an hour all three girls were ready for their first night in -Washington. Kit was lovely in a simple powder blue street-length -dress with a matching jaunty little hat. She wore white gloves and -blue slippers and carried a tiny blue bag. Bernice wore a sheath-like -strapless black evening dress. Her hair was pulled on top of her head -and caught with a rhinestone clip. She pulled on long black gloves and -turned to survey her new roommate. - -Bernice and Kit were amazed at the transformation. Helen looked like -a fragile doll in the white tulle. Her blond hair was caught up high -behind each ear and fell in curls at the back of her head. Her blue -eyes sparkled as she looked at herself in the mirror. - -“Do I look all right?” she asked timidly. - -Bernice looked at her and shook her head. “This will teach me to invite -strange women on my dates. What I want to know is who’s going to look -at me with you around?” - -“You look beautiful,” Kit agreed. - -Helen smiled happily. “I feel as if I do,” she said. “That always means -I’m going to have a good time.” - -Frank was waiting for Kit when she came downstairs to the lobby. She -introduced him to Professor and Mrs. Wilson, the chaperons, and then -they headed out into the spring night. - -Kit sighed happily at the light of the city around them. “I like this,” -she said simply. “I have a feeling that this trip is going to be -wonderful. Every minute of it.” - -“You sound as if you had some doubts before,” Frank said. - -Kit told him about her two roommates and the generous gesture Bernice -had made. “It just goes to prove,” she said, “that you can’t judge -people beforehand. I wish I could get over putting everyone into -categories. Just because the girl comes from Evanston and has gorgeous -clothes, I expected her to be a snob.” - -“Lots of nice people have money,” Frank said as if voicing a platitude. -“Now, my little proletarian, where shall we go for dinner?” - -They traveled out Connecticut Avenue in Frank’s car. “I think for your -first night, the Shoreham,” Frank said gravely. “Just to show you that -wealth doesn’t exclude niceness.” - -“Don’t be such an idiot,” Kit cried. “It sounds marvelous!” - -Together they walked through the handsome lobby of the uptown hotel -and out to the terrace where they were shown to a table. Frank ordered -dinner while Kit looked about her. She clasped her hands together in -sheer pleasure. - -While they ate, there was a floor show to entertain them. Then the -music for dancing began. Kit grabbed Frank’s hand. - -“I know I should wait to be asked,” she said, “but let’s dance.” - -Frank put his hand over hers. “Let’s wait just a few minutes, Kit,” he -pleaded. “I want to talk to you.” - -Kit felt a tingle run up her spine. She shivered. - -“Maybe I’m rushing things,” Frank admitted. “But can we talk now about -you and me?” - -“Of course, Frank,” Kit said slowly. - -“I know you’ll think I’m forcing an issue,” Frank continued, “but I -think you know I’ve waited a long time, feeling the way I do.” - -“Wait, Frank,” Kit said, holding up her hand. “Let’s be very sure we -want to talk about this.” - -“I know what you mean,” Frank answered. “In a way, it’s easier to go on -just being friends ... with no complications. But, you see, the only -trouble is that I’m in love with you, Kit. You know that, and I can’t -keep still about it any longer.” - -It was the first time Frank had mentioned the word love. Kit was amazed -at how coolly he said it, and how naturally she accepted it. - -She hesitated. “You make me feel very proud, Frank,” she said finally. - -Frank looked away. “Oh,” he said. - -Kit laid her hand on his arm. “Wait, I don’t think you understand,” she -said. “I don’t exactly see how you could, when I don’t, myself. I’m -nineteen, and that isn’t exactly young, but it isn’t very old, either. -I had everything all figured out for my future, as you know. To be -perfectly honest, I didn’t exactly plan on being in love ... just yet.” - -Frank smiled faintly. “I’m doing exactly what I promised myself I -wouldn’t do. Of course you’re too young....” - -“Your words had nothing to do with it,” Kit admitted a little sadly. -“You see, I’ve been the closest to being unhappy this spring at school -that I’ve ever been. I feel like an ungrateful wretch even to mention -it. But school has seemed so ... so pointless. I’ve been restless and -moody and not interested in what was going on. All the boys seemed so -... childish. All the girls were so ... I don’t know. Kind of boring, -with their silly endless prattling about boys and dates and parties. -That’s a terrible way to feel about college but I realized I felt that -way because of you. You’re in another world. And I’m beginning to think -I won’t be happy till I’m in that world _with_ you.” - -Frank squeezed her hand. “Oh, Kit,” he said, “I’m not asking you to -love me right off. I just want to know I have a chance.” - -Kit looked down at the table. “I don’t know how Jean managed it,” she -said. “Waiting so long, that is.” She looked up at Frank. “If a girl my -age can really be in love, then I really love you, Frank.” - -Frank touched her hair with his fingers. “That’s good enough for me, -Kit,” he said, grinning. “Come on. Let’s dance.” - -They glided across the dance floor, neither one of them seeming to -touch the ground. And the hours slipped by too fast. Eventually Frank -sighed and led Kit back to the table. “Curfew rings in a few minutes,” -he said. “But at least I know that someday there won’t be a curfew for -us.” - - - - -11. Kit and Frank - - -Kit’s week in Washington flew by. Frank Howard was with her every free -moment, and between times, she attended the lively discussions which -were held in the hotel ballroom. The young students heard some of the -great minds of the country speak on all phases of history, foreign and -American, from the fall of the Roman Empire to the present day. - -Kit could hardly believe her ears when Bernice Traxler rose to read a -paper on modern Mexico. The girl, who had seemed so frivolous, rose -before the assembly to deliver one of the most inspiring and factual -reports of the day. Kit wondered how such a popular girl could have -found the time to investigate Mexican history so thoroughly. She -listened, spellbound, while Bernice told the story of politics in -Mexico from the Sixteenth Century and the invasion of Cortez to the -present-day Aleman government. - -Helen Smith, too, contributed a paper to the meeting. She spoke, -naturally enough, about the Midwestern states in this country. And as -she talked, Kit began to realize the important role that the farmer -plays. Helen, who had had personal experience in the Four-H Club and -whose father had been an active member of the Grange, convinced them -all that the problems of the American farmer were everyone’s problems. - -For a week, both professors and students lectured, compared notes and -discussed historical topics. Kit had no paper to read, but she was -chairman of a discussion group which handled the problems of modern -France. It was an interesting session and set the stage for another one -about modern Germany and the four-power division of that country. - -Fortunately, the conference was the last on the schedule. It went on -for two days, while students and teachers alike tried to reach some -conclusion as to the policies of Russia, France, England and the United -States. Discussions became heated, and Kit told Frank afterward that -she felt as if she had attended a United Nations conference. - -“The United Nations,” Frank said, “is _really_ our last hope, I think.” -He was escorting Kit into a famous seafood restaurant on the river, -and the odor of fresh fish assailed their nostrils as they climbed the -steps up to the second floor. - -Kit sat down and waited for Frank to order for them. She gazed -wistfully down at the Potomac. “I don’t know,” she muttered. “Isn’t -that the way people felt about the League of Nations after the last -war?” - -Frank shook his head. “Last time we weren’t even in on the deal. This -time we’re one of the leaders.” - -Kit smiled a little. “That sounds a little chauvinistic,” she said. -“Flag waving.” - -Frank grinned. “I didn’t mean it that way. I suppose you feel more -confident when your own country agrees with you.” - -Kit shook her head. “I don’t know,” she said wearily. “I was so -encouraged to think so many students and professors wanted to get -together to talk. But after these two days of endless arguments about -the four-power pact and Germany, I feel that we left everything in a -hopeless tangle. And if we Americans couldn’t agree about it, how do -you suppose the members of the United Nations _ever_ will agree?” - -Frank covered his hand with hers. “Because, Kit,” he said seriously, -“the member nations agree on the very most important thing of all. -They are agreeing to talk instead of to throw bombs. Of course they -disagree. And they’ll continue to disagree. But as long as they heave -words around instead of exploding atoms, they are exercising their -rights as human beings. And human beings who act as human beings -should, don’t kill each other.” - -Kit nodded. “I agree with that, all right,” she said. “For example, -if Jean were here, she could back me up in this. There are huge wars -which human beings must fight all the time. I’m a soldier in the front -lines. Humans have _natural_ enemies, and I’m constantly plotting and -arranging the slaughter of these enemies. Jean and the doctors and the -other nurses at the clinic do the same thing.” - -“Man is _not_ man’s natural enemy. He must learn this. I don’t care if -he’s a German or a Russian or an Australian bushman, it’s his business -to get along with his fellow man.” - -“That’s fine, but he doesn’t,” Kit said. “Look at the history of this -country. Young as we are, we’ve had a war almost every generation.” - -“The history of this country is an excellent example of our progress,” -Frank said. “Many people think that the tensions which exist between -the North and the South today are as strong as those in Lincoln’s day. -But no one except downright crackpots would ever suggest going through -another Civil War. We talk about our grievances. We don’t shoot about -them.” - -“That’s right,” Kit agreed. - -Frank grinned sheepishly. “I know I’m an idealist,” he said. “But I’ve -a hunch that before too long man is going to wake up! Someday he’s -going to realize that to ally himself with greed, bad temper and bad -will towards other men is to sign a pact with our natural enemies. He -might just as well suggest that we turn this world over to destructive -insects, infectious diseases and man-eating beasts.” - -Kit grinned back at him. “This pompano is delicious, but it’s going to -taste like sawdust if we don’t stop this.” - -“Okay, Kit,” Frank said. - -“Now, then,” Kit continued, “are you coming home with me?” - -Frank thought for a moment. “I can come now with you and stay a week or -so. Or I can come later in the summer. Suppose I leave it up to you?” - -Kit smiled. “Come both times,” she urged. - -“You’re a forward minx,” Frank said, laughing. “You know I’d like to, -but I can’t. Summertime is our busiest time, and I just can’t get away -both times.” - -Kit considered his answer for a minute. “Then maybe you’d better come -later,” she said. “You might have more time, and I’d be settled at home -... you know, unpacked and everything. Then we would have time to do -what we want to.” - -Frank nodded. “That might be better.” - -They ate their dinner in almost complete silence. It was Kit’s last -night in Washington, and neither of them was happy about her leaving. - -“What time does your train leave, Kit?” Frank asked after a while. - -She shook her head dismally. “Around six in the morning.” - -“Then I suppose you won’t want to stay up very late,” he sighed. -“I thought we might take a drive out Chevy Chase way. The Maryland -countryside is lovely at this time of year.” - -“That would be fun,” Kit agreed. “And I don’t mind staying up.” - -After dinner, they started their slow drive out to Chevy Chase. Kit -gazed longingly at the pretty houses nestled in the rolling hills. She -pointed to one colonial house which was nearly obscured from the road -by a small woods. “That’s just about perfect, I think,” she sighed. - -Frank glanced over at the house. “So that’s what you want for a home.” - -Kit nodded. “I think I would like to live outside of Washington.” - -“That’s a break for me,” Frank teased. “That means, of course, I can -keep my job. In case we decide to be married someday.” - -Kit laughed. “Yes, I guess it does. But do you know why I want to live -here?” - -Frank shook his head. “Tell me, Mr. Bones. Why have you selected -Washington, of all places in the country, as the place to settle down?” - -Kit grimaced at him. “Because,” she said earnestly, “you can have a -farm right here....” - -Frank threw one hand up in mock horror. “So you want to be a farmer!” - -Kit pursed her lips. “What’s the matter with being a farmer? But that -isn’t what I meant, and you know it. I mean, you can live in the -country and be quiet and surrounded by the beauties of nature, and -still you’re not an hour away from the heart of the nation. Imagine -living right in the midst of the most exciting events in the world!” - -Frank smiled wryly. “Now who’s being chauvinistic?” he asked. - -“You’re being awful!” Kit cried. “I’ll bet you never even bother to go -to a Senate hearing or the House ... or anything!” - -Frank’s smile faded. “I’ll bet I wish I didn’t have to ... as much as I -do. You seem to forget I have Senate committees to report to, to try to -get money out of, to high pressure into taking some action so that we -all don’t have insect plagues.” - -Kit grinned and shook her head. “That was a dumb remark. I’m sorry. But -anyhow I think it would be exciting.” - -Frank glanced at her. She looked as young as a high school girl. -“You’re so young and precious and wonderful, Kit,” he said tenderly, -“I don’t know why you bother with an old fogey like me. I’ve almost -forgotten how thrilled I was the first time I entered the Senate -gallery.” - -She laughed. “I guess you _are_ an old fogey. But it’s too late to do -anything about it now.” - -When they returned from their drive, Frank took her to a small -restaurant for dancing and a light snack. As they moved out on the -dance floor, Kit sighed. - -“Why are you always going away from people?” she asked. - -Frank shrugged. “I’m not going any place,” he said, holding out his -arms to her. “_You_ are.” - -Kit made a face at him as they started to dance. “That’s what I mean, -silly. First I had to leave college. You know, you think you’re all set -to leave and that you never want to see another classroom or textbook -again. But then you do leave, and you just can’t bear it. I mean, -leaving Uncle Bart and Aunt Della and Jeannette Flambeau, my roommate, -and the whole gang. This time it was a little easier because I knew I -was going to come here and see you. But now I have to leave you and -the new friends I’ve made here. Then I’ll get home and next fall I’ll -have to leave Father and Mother and the family. You’re always leaving -someone behind.” - -“Or being left behind,” Frank said earnestly. “I don’t want to talk -about it any more. It’s not much fun being left. And if I started to -tell you how I feel about it, I could easily frighten you.” - -Kit hesitated. “All right, Frank,” she said. “I guess I’m terrible, -worrying about myself when other people have problems, too.” - -He squeezed her hand. “Yep, you’re terrible, all right,” he said. “You -make me feel like a man who’s bet his whole life savings on a horse -race.” - -Kit stared at him. “What?” she asked. - -He smiled wistfully. “I’m a grown-up man, Kit,” he said softly. “I’ve -been in love ... or thought I was in love ... before. But never like -this. You’re such a child, still. You should have lots of men in your -life. All I can do is make my bet--that’s my whole heart--and stand by -and wait till the race is over.” - -Kit smiled slowly. “I hope I’ve been honest with you, Frank,” she -said. “I couldn’t bear to think I’ve done anything to hurt you. But of -course,” she added, “Ralph must have felt the same way about Jean. And -that worked out.” - -Frank thought of Jean, the calm, efficient, loyal sister who probably -would be marrying Ralph MacRae soon. Then he looked down at Kit, the -intense, fiery little girl who was out to reform the world. He was -baffled by the comparison, but he realized that the same spark of -loyalty which characterized her older sister was burning in Kit’s -heart. - - - - -12. An All Night Vigil - - -Kit’s homecoming was almost obscured by a great tragedy which had -struck the village of Elmhurst. Although May was not yet over, five -cases of polio had been discovered in town, and people were becoming -panicky. - -The four new cases had been sent to the county isolation ward in a -nearby town, but young Timmy Lester stayed at the hospital. His case -was much lighter than anyone suspected at first, and he didn’t need -therapy which the staff couldn’t supply. - -When Kit arrived in Elmhurst, she discovered that all public places had -been closed down. No movies were being shown. People were urged to stay -away from restaurants and swimming pools. They were even discouraged -from having large private parties or picnics. - -“It’s really too bad,” Doris confessed to Kit. “And a fine summer -vacation you’re going to have in Elmhurst,” she added. “It’s a terrible -break for you.” - -Kit smiled at her younger sister. “Never mind about me, Doris,” she -said. “What about the rest of you? You’ve been in school, too. It’s a -shame to ruin your vacation.” - -Doris grinned and said, “I suppose you’ll think this is an awful funny -thing to say, but I’m not altogether sorry we can’t gather in big -groups.” - -“Whatever do you mean?” Kit cried. - -“Well,” Doris said, “I don’t know if Mother told you, but I’m supposed -to try out for a scholarship to Timothy College. It’s a small music -school in North Carolina. Well, anyhow, I was petrified about playing -in front of a large group. But now because of the polio scare, there -will be just two judges who’ll come right here to hear me play. And on -our own piano, too. That makes a difference, you know.” - -Kit looked at Doris. “Mother did tell me,” she said. “I think it’s -absolutely wonderful. But she said you weren’t so keen about going -away.” - -Doris looked at her sister shyly. “I wouldn’t tell this to Mother,” she -said, “but I want to win that scholarship more than anything else in -the world. At first I was frightened at the thought of going away from -home. But the idea of being among people who love music, and having -music all around me all the time is the most beautiful idea in the -whole world!” - -Kit hugged her sister. “You’ll win,” she cried confidently. “You’ve got -to. No one in town even begins to play as well as you!” - -Doris smiled with embarrassment. “You’re nice to say that, Kit,” she -said. “Jean said it, too. Of course you’re all prejudiced, but it’s -nice to hear, anyway.” - -The telephone rang, and Doris ran to answer it. Kit sat down on the -window seat and looked out over the wooded patch which stood between -the house and the river. Everything was soft and green. The spring -rains had made the leaves and grass shine with healthy color. There -was not even any dust from the dirt road which cut in front of the -Craig farm. She shook her head sadly, as she thought about the families -of Elmhurst, huddled together in fear of the dread disease, and she -thought how wise they all were to cooperate so well in the attempt to -fight it. - -Doris came back into the living room and sighed as she sat down. “That -was Jean. She’s supposed to be off today, but she has to work. There is -another case somewhere out in the country, and they’re short-handed at -the hospital.” - -Suddenly Kit jumped up and went to the phone. She asked for Jean. - -“Look, Jean,” she cried, “isn’t there anything over there that a layman -can do? At the switchboard or scrubbing floors or anything?” - -Jean hesitated. “I don’t know, Kit,” she answered. “I can ask Dr. -Barsch.” - -“You haven’t been home in over a week,” Kit reminded her. “I’ll bet no -one has. At least I could sit with a patient and holler for help if -they needed a nurse so that someone could go to bed.” - -“That’s an idea,” Jean said. “Why don’t you come over?” - -When Kit reached the clinic, Jean and Dr. Barsch were waiting for her -on the second floor. - -“You wouldn’t think five cases of polio would make the difference,” Kit -said to Jean. “I mean, keep you all so busy.” - -Dr. Barsch frowned. “If polio were all we were concerned with, it -wouldn’t be quite so bad. It seems we’re having another epidemic, too.” - -“Virus pneumonia,” Jean added. “Three new ones today.” - -Kit stared at her. “But I thought you got pneumonia in the winter ... -or spring, at the latest.” - -Dr. Barsch shook his head. “Not this brand. It can come any time.” - -Kit looked at the doctor. “Well, put me to work. Anything I’m capable -of doing, just let me know.” - -The doctor smiled and patted her hand. “It takes misfortune to discover -how fine people can be,” he said absently. - -Kit glanced down the hall. “Didn’t I just see Ethel go into that room? -She was in uniform!” - -Jean sighed. “Ethel has been back all week. She and Ted just returned -from their honeymoon when ... _this_ happened. She hasn’t laid a rug or -planted a flower at their new house. In fact, she hasn’t even been out -there, herself, in a week.” She shook her head grimly. Then she grinned -at Kit. “Well, I’d better get back to work. Give Kit something to do, -Dr. Barsch. She has a strong back and a weak mind.” - -Dr. Barsch studied the face of his weary, red-eyed nurse. “Why don’t -you go to bed for a few hours? You’re just doing a routine check with -me. I can get Miss Peckham to take your place. I sent her to bed for a -few hours this afternoon, so she should be in better shape than you.” - -Jean nodded, gratefully. “I’m too tired to argue with you,” she said. -“I know you’ll call me if you need me.” - -“And Miss Craig can go right to work down at the switchboard if she -wants to. We usually have the office help go home at five, but because -we couldn’t spare a nurse at night, they’ve been working night and day, -too. You know how to work one?” - -Kit nodded. “If it isn’t too complicated,” she said. “Someone down -there can show me.” - -Jean started off, but Kit caught her arm. “I have something for you -which should pep you up,” Kit said, reaching in her pocket. “This came -just as I was leaving the house.” She handed Jean a letter. - -Jean smiled gratefully and took it. “Thanks, Kit,” she whispered. She -stopped to open the envelope and then leaned against the corridor wall -to read Ralph’s note: - - My dearest Jeannie: - - I feel like a small boy who has finally come to his senses. After - I made my report here in Ottawa about my European trip, I hunted - up the forestry offices and signed a government contract to supply - them with wood pulp. I was amused at their reaction. For they - treated me as if finally I had come to the realization of one of - their greatest problems ... they were almost paternal. So I guess - once again I am a Canadian in good standing because I’m prepared to - help them in every way I can. - - I have to make a flying trip back to the ranch to round up help for - the project. You know, I’ve never hired forestry help before, and - it may take a little time to find the right men for the job. Then, - believe me! I’m coming straight back to Elmhurst! - - Jeannie, my darling, I worry so about you! The epidemic in Elmhurst - makes me almost panicky when I think of you in the midst of it. - Please try to get all the rest you can. Keep your chin up. The - summer may be bad for you now, but I’ll try to make it wonderful - for you when I get back. Give my love to the family. I love you! - - All my love, - Ralph - -Jean slipped the letter into the pocket of her apron and smiled. She -felt stronger, less tired than before. Then impatience spread through -her. Would the summer never end, she thought. - -She walked briskly down the hall. Sally Hancock met her near Timmy -Lester’s small room. She smiled at Jean as if it were an effort to move -the muscles in her face. - -“Why in the world doesn’t Dr. Barsch send you to bed, too?” Jean asked. - -“He did. A couple of hours ago. I couldn’t sleep. I thought I’d pass -out if my head hit a pillow, but I was too worried,” Sally said. She -nodded towards Timmy’s room. “Listen,” she said. “Someone else couldn’t -sleep, either.” - -Jean heard low voices coming from Timmy’s room. “Is Ted in there with -Timmy?” she asked. - -Sally shook her head. “Ted’s got too much sense. He’s dead to the world -... down in Dr. Barsch’s office on the sofa. No, that’s bright boy.” - -“Dr. Benson?” Jean asked. - -Sally nodded. “No one else can get near the boy. Or haven’t you heard?” - -“I’ve been tied up in the contagious ward all week,” Jean admitted. - -“Well, any time Timmy wants something, Dr. Benson does it for him. It’s -queer. At least _I_ don’t get it. And every free minute Benson has, he -spends with the boy. Well, anyhow, it makes them both more agreeable. -That little waif! He’s the worst juvenile delinquent _I’ve_ ever seen!” -Sally exclaimed. - -Jean smiled. “I think I understand,” she said softly. “And I’m sure -Timmy isn’t a delinquent.” - -Sally shrugged and went off down the hall. Jean tiptoed over to Timmy’s -door. She hesitated and then knocked. - -Dr. Benson opened the door and smiled at her. Lines of fatigue had -drawn his mouth down at the corners, and his forehead was wrinkled into -a frown. But his eyes twinkled. - -“Hello, there, beautiful,” he said cheerfully. “Come on in.” - -Jean smiled at him gratefully. She remembered how many times she had -resented his flip manner. But this was one night when she welcomed it. -“I was just passing by,” she said. “I wondered if there was anything -you two would like.” - -“Nothing except a two-inch steak and a quart of milk and maybe a good -western movie,” Dr. Benson said. - -Jean laughed. “I can get you some milk,” she said. “If you would settle -for--” - -“Nothing doing!” Dr. Benson cried. “The whole works, or nothing at all!” - -Timmy propped himself up on his elbow. “Yeah, ’n’ I’m gettin’ outta -here, too,” he said, almost belligerently. “Ain’t I, Doc?” - -“That’s just wonderful, Timmy!” Jean cried. - -“It’s up to Dr. Loring, old man,” Dr. Benson said. “Not me.” - -“Well, he said so,” Timmy said, petulantly. “Maybe even this week.” - -Jean smiled at him. “Well, if there’s nothing else you fellows want, -I’ll leave you alone.” - -Dr. Benson jumped up. “Just a minute, Miss Craig,” he said. “I’ll walk -down the hall with you.” - -Timmy watched sadly as they left the room. Once outside the room, Jean -turned to the young intern. - -“Something’s on your mind,” she said. - -“Yeah,” Dr. Benson admitted. “I’m really worried about that kid. Where -does he go from here? To some nice refined orphanage?” He scowled. “I -hate to think of that boy being shoved into an institution. It could -ruin a kid like him.” - -Jean shrugged her shoulders. “I just don’t know,” she admitted. “But I -think your viewpoint about orphanages is a very biased one. You know, -there are some very wonderful ones. For instance, I visit one right -outside of town on my visiting nurse days. It’s called Mercyville. -The children there seem well adjusted and happy. A great many things, -including orphanages, have changed since your day!” - -Dr. Benson bit his lip. “Maybe,” he said. “But I’m not sold on the -idea. I’d take him, myself. But how can a bachelor raise a kid? And on -the salary I get here? He’s a _good_ boy, Jean! But he’s never had a -break in his life. Gee, by comparison, I was raised royally. And now to -get shoved into an orphanage would be too much!” - -Jean looked closely at the young doctor. For the first time since she -had known him, he was seriously concerned about the future of someone -beside himself. - -Just then the telephone rang, and Jean raced down the corridor to -answer it. - -“Miss Craig calling Miss Craig,” Kit’s voice said at the other end. -“How’re you doing up there?” - -“What is it, Kit?” Jean said, fearing that another patient was coming -in. - -“I have a delegation to see you ... or someone.” - -Jean put down the phone and walked down to the lobby. Tommy and Billy -Ellis and Buzzy Hancock were standing by the desk. They all held large -baskets. - -“Whatever do you want?” Jean demanded of her brother. - -“We brought these over,” Tommy said. “Mother and Becky and Mrs. Hancock -sent a lot of food over for you guys.” - -Jean smiled. “That was nice, Tommy. Thanks for bringing them over.” - -“There’s something else,” Tommy said. “We’ve formed a squad.” - -“Yeah, a riot squad,” Billy added. - -“That’s a riot, son,” Buzzy squelched him. - -“What do you mean, a squad?” Jean asked. - -“Oh, do errands, if there are any. You know, shipping, or errands -at the drugstore or books from the library for your patients. Just -anything anyone wants us to do,” Tommy said. “You just have Kit or -whoever’s on the switchboard call home when you want something. We’ll -get it done.” - -Jean felt tears sting her tired eyes. - -“We can cart clothes to the laundry,” Billy reminded Tommy. “We got -our bikes rigged up to carry big bundles. We could pick up your things -in the morning, and then the guys who would drive your trucks could be -free to do other things.” - -“Oh, golly, boys,” Jean cried. “I’ll tell Dr. Barsch.” - -Tommy saw how close Jean was to crying. “Come on, gang,” he said. And -the three boys ran down the hospital steps. - -Jean fought back the lump in her throat and said to Kit, “Make out a -note to Dr. Barsch. He’ll keep them busy.” - -“Aye, aye, sir,” Kit said, jotting the message down on a scratch pad. - -“Somehow I don’t feel so tired any more,” Jean confided. “I think I’ll -peek into the contagious ward before I go to bed.” - -Kit grinned. “Maybe I should join you. I haven’t had any calls but -Tommy’s since I’ve been here. I’ll fall asleep myself, if I don’t get -more business.” - -Jean made a wry face. “Don’t say that!” she cried. “You’ll put a whammy -on us! Just for that, we’ll probably have a half dozen calls before -morning!” - -But as the night hours passed, Kit had all she could do to keep awake. -No outside calls passed through the switchboard. She sat silently for -a while staring at the mural which Jean had painted for the clinic, -and which now hung above the fireplace in the center of the lobby. She -studied the figures of the farmer and his wife and son holding hands -and the motto, “Co-operation, Ingenuity, Labor.” She smiled as she -remembered Jean painting the sturdy picture with Ted Loring’s words -in mind. Resolutely, she shook her head to clear it of the cobwebs of -drowsiness. It was a good motto, Kit decided. She felt pleased with -herself and with her community. - - - - -13. The Doctor’s Dilemma - - -As suddenly as the virus pneumonia epidemic had broken out, it stopped. -The staff couldn’t believe that Kit had had no calls through the long -night she sat at the switchboard. Ted Loring, who had stretched out -for a cat nap on Dr. Barsch’s sofa, woke to find that he had slept all -night. He jumped up guiltily and looked out of the window. The summer -sun was already high in the blue sky. Quickly Ted looked at his watch. -“Eight-thirty!” he cried. “I must have thought this was a hotel!” He -smoothed out his rumpled clothes as best he could and ran a pocket comb -through his tousled hair. Then he banged open the door of the office -and almost knocked Dr. Barsch down as he started out. - -“So, you’ve decided to let me into my office,” the older doctor said. - -“I’m sorry, sir. I had no idea it was so late. I left a call....” - -Dr. Barsch shook his head in gleeful despair. “Too bad, old man,” he -said. “If business falls off any more the way it did last night, you’ll -be out of a job!” - -“No new patients?” Ted asked incredulously. - -“No new patients,” Dr. Barsch replied. “And so if you’ll excuse me, -I’ll ready my office for my out-patients’ calls. Office hours in a half -an hour, you know.” - -Ted let out a war-whoop and hugged the older man. - -“Dr. Loring,” Dr. Barsch protested, “I suggest you get yourself some -breakfast and a shave.” - -“Sorry, sir,” Ted apologized, and laughed. “I had forgotten what it -was like to have a full night’s sleep.” He tore down the corridor and -headed for the cafeteria. - -The dining room was full of chattering nurses and office help when he -came in. He immediately spotted Ethel sitting with Eileen and Helen -over near the corner. Dashing across the room, he nearly upset the -trays of two young office girls who were balancing them precariously on -their way to a table. - -“Oh, sorry,” he muttered. “Hey, gorgeous! Do I know you? And if not, -why not?” he cried as he reached Ethel’s table. - -Ethel’s weary face lit up as Ted sat down and reached for a cup of -coffee on her tray. “Poor man. It must be amnesia,” she explained -to her friends, “I believe we’ve met,” she said to Ted. “I seem to -remember, we even were married.” - -“Well, what do you know!” Ted said gleefully. - -“Now drink your coffee,” Ethel instructed. “My, you look terrible!” she -chided him as she inspected him. - -Ted gulped down his coffee and snitched a doughnut from Ethel’s plate. -“Make you fat,” he said by way of an apology. - -Both Eileen and Helen burst out laughing as they looked at Ted’s -slender wife. - -Between mouthfuls, Ted said, “I mean that! You take a nurse off the -floor and put her into a lovely new home with nothing to do, and you -have to watch her diet! And that’s what’s going to happen. Starting -today!” - -“Watching my diet?” Ethel teased. - -“No,” Ted said, his mouth full of doughnut. “You get put in your -golden palace and you don’t stir out of it from now on!” he swallowed. -“Nothing to do from now on.” - -Ethel laughed helplessly as she thought of the million chores to be -done at home. There were curtains to be hung, floors to be waxed, rugs -to be laid. - -Jean and Kit came into the dining room and waved to the party at -Ethel’s table. They went through the line and selected their breakfast -and then joined the cheerful little company. - -“It’s simply amazing,” Jean said. “Know what I did? I went for a nap -around nine last night, and I just woke up!” - -“Me, too,” Ted said. - -“Don’t be too optimistic,” Eileen warned. “We may have a flood of -patients today.” She looked over to the door. “Oh, oh,” she said. “Here -comes glamor boy.” - -They all looked around and saw Dr. Benson standing hesitantly in the -doorway. Slowly he made his way through the line and then he chose a -table by himself. The food on his tray remained untouched as he sat and -stared out of the window. - -“Ted, invite him over!” Ethel cried impulsively, clutching her -husband’s arm. - -“Well, I can stand him if the rest of you can,” Eileen said grudgingly. - -“No, wait,” Jean cried. “I think he probably wants to be alone. He’s -quite troubled. I know, because I talked to him last night.” - -Ted sat down again and finished his coffee. “What’s the matter with -him, Jeannie?” he asked. - -Jean hesitated. “I’m sorry I said anything,” she said finally. “He -confided in me, and I don’t think I ought to betray his confidence.” - -Ethel and Ted and Helen nodded. - -“Who is Dr. Benson?” Kit asked. “And what have you all got against him?” - -Eileen explained about the new intern. She merely said, very justly, -that there were several things about him that the rest of them didn’t -understand. - -“For example, his devotion to the little boy upstairs,” Helen said. -“Before Timmy came, I didn’t think he could be devoted to anyone but -himself.” She laughed a little. “But of all the funny people to be -crazy about!” - -Ted nodded. “I think I’m beginning to understand,” he said. “Something -tells me that Dr. Benson maybe knows first hand what sort of family -Timmy comes from.” - -Jean blushed furiously. “Please, let’s stop talking about him.” She -looked at Eileen, who was gazing at Dr. Benson as if she saw him for -the first time. - -“You mean, you think they’re related?” Kit asked. - -“Oh, no, nothing like that,” Ted explained. “I just have a hunch our -new doctor knows a little something about living in the slums.” - -Eileen jumped up and ran out of the dining room. - -“Well, what’s the matter with her?” Ted demanded. - -Ethel laid her hand on Ted’s arm. “I think we’ve discussed it long -enough,” she said. “If you’ll excuse me ...” and she got up and walked -out of the cafeteria. - -Eileen was sitting on a bench in the hall outside of the dining room. -Ethel sat down beside her. “Let’s you and me catch up on our sleep,” -she said cheerfully. - -“And I wouldn’t even give him a date!” Eileen cried. “No wonder he acts -so funny. He probably hates us all!” - -Ethel put her hand on the young girl’s shoulder. “Never mind, dear,” -she said. “Dr. Benson probably understands.” - -“But how could he? He must think we’re _awful_ snobs! But we didn’t -know! We just thought he was being fresh! And he probably thought that -we wouldn’t associate with people who were poor!” She clenched her -fists. “Oh, Ethel, and I was worst of all!” - -Ethel studied the girl’s intense face. She nodded, but she wisely said -nothing about what she was thinking. - -“I’m going to wait right here,” Eileen said grimly, “till he’s through -with his breakfast, and then I’m going to tell him he can take me out -any time he wants to.” - -Ethel grinned and patted her arm. “I think you ought to go to bed. -You won’t feel so desperate when you’re rested.” She stood up and -stretched. “I’m going up to the laboratory for a few minutes to check -some of my notes. Then I’ll be upstairs in my old room if business -picks up.” She started off and then turned around. “And please don’t -tell Ted!” - -Eileen waited a few minutes until Dr. Benson came out. She stood up and -smiled. He stopped, surprised. - -“Good morning, Miss Gordon,” he said. His manner was cool. - -“Good morning, Doctor,” Eileen answered. “I know this isn’t a good -place to go into things like this, but I’m ... I’m sorry ... well, for -a lot of things. And I’d be honored ... if you still want to take me -out some evening.” - -The doctor stared at her. “Why, thank you very much, Miss Gordon,” he -said. “I’m going to be pretty busy for a while.” He hesitated. “You -see, I’d sort of like to get Timmy settled in some way, and that will -take a little time, I’m afraid. But I appreciate the gesture.” - -Eileen felt as if she had been slapped in the face. “Any time,” she -said weakly, as she turned and sped down the corridor. - -Jean came out of the dining room just as Eileen disappeared. Dr. Benson -nodded to her and sat down on the bench. - -“I shouldn’t be goofing off,” he said, “but I keep going around in -circles about Timmy. Incidentally, what did you tell that gang at -breakfast?” - -Jean sat down beside him. “Honestly, Doctor, I didn’t say a word. Dr. -Loring guessed the truth. I tried to change the subject, but everyone -kept asking questions. You see, they really are interested in you.” - -Dr. Benson shrugged. “So now they all feel sorry for me. I see.” - -“Oh, no!” Jean cried. “That isn’t it at all! Why should a lot of nurses -feel sorry for a doctor?” - -“Well, that’s beside the point, anyhow,” Dr. Benson said. “I’m really -worried about Timmy, and what’s going to become of him. I’ve decided -I’ll keep him myself before I’ll turn him over to a home!” - -“Let’s go upstairs,” Jean suggested. “I go on duty in a few minutes and -I want to call Mother.” - -Tommy was waiting in the lobby when Jean and Dr. Benson came up. He -grinned and called, “Hi, sis! How’s business?” - -“Falling off, thank heaven!” Jean cried. “Dr. Benson, this is my -brother, Tommy. Laundry service man!” - -They shook hands. “We had quite a load this morning,” Tommy said -gleefully. “And boy, am I glad things are going to be slack. Not -that we don’t want to help, but we just scheduled a whale of a tough -ballgame for later in the summer. We’re going to need all the practice -we can get.” - -“Baseball?” Dr. Benson asked, his eyes lighting up. - -“Yeah, a gang of us has a club. Billy and Buzzy and the rest of the -kids at the high school. We play some important games, too. But I never -dreamed we could get a game with Mercyville. They’re just awfully -good....” - -“Mercyville!” Dr. Benson cried. “I thought that was an orphanage!” - -Tommy nodded. “It is, sort of. But it’s actually more like Father -Flanagan’s Boys’ Town. You’ve heard about Boys’ Town, haven’t you? -They’re really keen guys out there. They do everything themselves. But -they’re really just being nice to play baseball with us. They’re way -out of our class.” - -“You mean, this place takes in orphans and boys with no homes? And the -boys really like it out there?” Dr. Benson quizzed. - -“You’d never know they didn’t have real homes,” Tommy said. “They have -a swell time out there.” He sighed. “And can they play ball! I saw them -play Fieldston last week. It was a slaughter!” - -Dr. Benson looked at Jean. “Why didn’t you explain to me about the -place?” he demanded. - -She deliberately looked blank. “I don’t know too much about it,” she -confessed. “They have their own medical staff, and we simply make -routine checks out there to coordinate our health reports to the -county.” - -“They have everything. Doctors and everything,” Tommy interrupted. - -The young intern hesitated. “Imagine God listening to a prayer from an -old sinner like me,” he said softly as he walked away. - -“What’s the matter with him?” Tommy asked. - -“Oh ... nothing. Tell you later,” Jean cried, dashing after the doctor. -“And ... thank the boys for us, Tommy. You’ve been swell to help out!” - -Dr. Benson waited for her at the foot of the stairs. “Let’s go, -gorgeous,” he said. “Lots to be done this morning, and I’m on duty.” - -She looked at him. “I thought you were up all night. Don’t you go off -duty to get some sleep?” - -“Sleep?” he cried. “Who wants to sleep on a day like this! Just look at -that sky! Say, this is perfect baseball weather, isn’t it?” - -Jean giggled. “I’m right with you, Doctor. Let’s go.” - -They entered the contagious ward, and Dr. Benson waited till Jean had -recorded the temperatures and pulses of the patients. Then he went over -to the bedside of a middle-aged woman. “Let’s hear that back,” he said -gently, as he put the stethoscope to his ears. - -A pleased grin spread across his face as he listened. “Now, the front,” -he said, putting the instrument to the patient’s chest. “Say this -sounds good. I can’t hear a thing!” - -The woman’s eyes lit up and she smiled at him. - -“If we catch this virus right away,” he explained, “we can lick it in -no time. Now, if I send you home this week, will you behave yourself? -No heavy chores for a while. Lots of rest.” - -She nodded happily. He patted her hand and moved on to the next patient. - -When the examinations were over, Dr. Benson took the stethoscope from -around his neck and ran his hand through his red hair. He sighed -happily. “And now to see Dr. Barsch about Mercyville,” he said. “Want -to come along?” - -Jean smiled and shook her head. “I _want_ to, but I can’t. I’ve lots of -work to do this morning.” - -As Jean went the rounds of the floor, she eagerly waited for Dr. Benson -to come back. She peeked in at Timmy, who was sitting up in bed gazing -out of the window. Poor fellow, she thought. All recovered and no place -to go! Or so he thinks! She waved to him and went down the hall. As she -passed the operating room, she looked in. Sally and Hedda were cleaning -it. - -“Business here today?” Jean asked. - -Sally shook her head. “No, but now that the pneumonia seems to -have died down, we’re getting ready for the usual summer business. -Operations don’t seem to respect the weather, and we haven’t had time -to really clean up the right way for days!” She scrubbed the instrument -case furiously. - -Jean grinned and went down to the floor desk. She picked up the -assignment chart and scanned it. Then, on impulse, she walked down to -the nursery and looked at the youngest guests through the large glass -window. - -“Welcome to the world, people,” she cried happily. - -Two red fists waved at her. - -“Oh, you babies!” she cried. “I’d like to take you all home with me!” - -“You would, would you?” Helen said, coming out of the nursery. “Well, I -don’t blame you. You certainly sound happy!” - -“I am!” Jean cried. “It’s contagious. I’ve just been with Dr. Benson.” - -“Dr. Benson? Happy? At breakfast his chin was down to his knees!” - -“Something’s happened,” Jean replied mysteriously. “At least it _might_ -happen.” - -Before she could say more, Dr. Benson appeared, waving his hand. - -“We’re in!” he cried. “Timmy can go out there any time.” - -Jean turned around. “Just like that?” - -The doctor paused to catch his breath. “I suggested to Dr. Barsch that -we investigate the place. So right off he called Boston and some people -in public aid that he knows. They gave Mercyville an A-number one -rating. So then we called out there. And Mr. Henderson, who runs the -place, simply said, ‘Bring him out. We’ll be glad to take him.’ Just -like that!” - -“Just like that!” Jean gasped. - -“Well, their big problem is overcrowding. They can take only so many -boys, Mr. Henderson said. But, you see, last month a lot of boys -graduated from high school and will be going out to work or to college. -So they have some room right now.” - -Jean clasped her hands. “Now to tell Timmy. I hope he’ll want to go.” - -Dr. Benson smacked his hands together. “Just leave Timmy to me.” - -“When are you going to take him out?” - -“Soon as I’m off duty,” he replied. “No use in hanging around here any -longer. The boy’s perfectly well, you know.” - -He whistled as he went down the hall towards Timmy’s room. - -“We certainly have done that man an injustice,” Helen said, watching -him go. “I feel like a heel, but I don’t know how to tell him so.” - -Jean shook her head. “We don’t have to. I think he’ll get to like us -better from now on.” - - - - -14. Mercyville - - -“Now, the first thing we have to do, Tim,” Dr. Benson said to the boy -as they picked up the odds and ends Timmy had collected during his -stay, “is to get you an outfit.” - -Large blue eyes stared up at him. “A what?” he asked. - -“Clothes! You know, a suit, underwear ... the works!” - -Timmy whistled. “You mean, jest fer me?” - -Dr. Benson smiled. “Well, it won’t be so much. I’m only an intern, so -we can’t afford a regular trousseau--” - -“Whazzat?” Timmy demanded. - -The doctor laughed. “Never mind. We have everything now?” - -“Yeah, but Doc, this place you’re takin’ me. What gives out there?” - -“Oh, it’s just a place where a lot of boys live together. They run the -whole town, themselves, and they raise their own food--have their own -cows--” - -“Cows? What fer?” - -Dr. Benson stared at the boy. “For milk, of course! And they all live -and play and go to school together....” - -Timmy recoiled at the mention of school. “That’s not fer me,” he said. -“I _hate_ school!” - -Dr. Benson tousled his hair. “Well, never mind about school now. It’s -vacation time. You’ll have a lot of baseball and swimming and ...” he -stopped as he saw the blank look on the boy’s face. He felt a lump in -his throat as he realized that Timmy had never seen a game of baseball -or been near a place to swim. “You’ll like it,” he added. “Come on, -now. Let’s go.” - -Eileen Gordon was in the lobby when they came down. Dr. Barsch had made -a final examination of the boy and had signed his release, and she had -the papers waiting for them. - -She almost laughed when she saw Timmy wearing a rudely cut-down suit -which had apparently belonged to Dr. Benson. “You aren’t going anywhere -like that,” she said to the doctor, looking at the boy. - -“Nope, we’re going shopping before we go out to Mercyville.” - -“The two of you? Let me come along. I’m a good shopper!” she pleaded. - -Dr. Benson turned to Timmy. “Okay?” - -Timmy shrugged his shoulders. - -“We could use a woman’s help,” Dr. Benson said. “Sure, come along.” - -Eileen grinned. “Give me five minutes to get into my street clothes.” -And she ran towards the stairs. - -Timmy fidgeted. “Dames! Why do they always wanta butt in?” - -Just then, Tommy came in the front door and waved to them. “I’m glad I -didn’t miss you,” he cried. “I want to tag along, if I can. If I can -get a ride out to Mercyville, I can talk to their baseball captain -about the game.” - -“Sure thing, Tom,” Dr. Benson said. - -When Eileen was ready, the four started for the center of town. Tommy -chose the stores where they would shop, and Eileen did the shopping. -Dr. Benson secretly breathed a sigh of relief that she had decided to -come with them. Impulsively he turned to her as the clerk was wrapping -the last package. - -“Why don’t you ride out with us? It’s a wonderful day for a drive.” - -She looked at him gratefully. “Thanks. I’d love to. I’ll call the -hospital first.” - -The drive through the Connecticut countryside was as beautiful as -promised. Timmy stared out of the car window as they wound around the -gentle curves taking them to Mercyville. For the first time in his life -he was seeing the abundant beauty of the country. Or perhaps it was -the first time he was able to notice it, because he was well fed and -comfortably dressed. - -They passed a herd of cattle grazing on the side of a small slope. “So -them’s cows,” he said softly. “And they make milk. Well, well.” - -“Jeepers!” Tommy exclaimed under his breath. “Yep, Timmy, they make -milk, all right. And you haven’t lived till you’ve tasted _fresh_ milk! -You’ll have your chance!” - -Mercyville consisted of five acres of land nestled between two hills. -A stream bounded the land on the third side, and there were patches of -woods on the other side. Small cottages dotted the acres and in the -center was a building about the size of a large house. - -“That must be the administration building,” Dr. Benson said as he -turned up the drive to the house. “Hey, look, Tom. There’s a ball -diamond. And I’ll bet those are your opponents out there practicing.” - -Tommy groaned as he watched the boys playing ball. “Look at that -guy pitch!” he moaned. “And that fellow batting! He’ll _murder_ my -pitching!” - -“Okay,” Dr. Benson said, “everyone out.” - -They found Mr. Henderson in a small office at the front of the -building. He held out his hand to Dr. Benson as they entered his office. - -“I’m very glad to see you, Doctor,” he said, clasping the intern’s hand. - -“Thank you, sir,” Dr. Benson said. “This is Miss Gordon, our Supervisor -of Nurses, and these are Tommy Craig and Timmy Lester. Timmy would like -to be a member of your family. And Tommy is here to see your ball team -captain. Seems they have a game together this season.” - -Mr. Henderson nodded. “Oh, yes. Elmhurst. Miss Gordon, it’s a pleasure. -And Timmy, I hope you’re going to like Mercyville.” - -“Yeah,” Timmy said. “It’s okay, I guess.” - -Mr. Henderson smiled and patted the boy’s arm. “Frankly, I don’t have -so much to do with our boys. I’d better call in our president and let -you talk to him.” - -He picked up the phone and asked for Bert Cramer. Smiling, he turned -back to his guests. “Please sit down, won’t you? Bert’s out on the -diamond. He’s also our baseball manager, you know. He’ll be right in.” - -In a few minutes, a slender boy with brown hair and soft brown eyes -knocked at Mr. Henderson’s open door. - -“You sent for me, Mr. Henderson?” he asked in a low, melodious voice. - -“Come in, Bert,” Mr. Henderson said. “We have a new member of our -family.” He smiled. “Bert, this is Dr. Benson from the Gallup Clinic in -Elmhurst.” - -“How do you do, sir?” Bert said, shaking hands. - -After Mr. Henderson had introduced them all, Bert grinned at Timmy -and said, “Gee, I’m sorry I’m not going to be around next year. But I -finish up here this term, you know. We have a swell guy for president -next year, though. I know you’ll like him.” - -Dr. Benson nodded. “Tell me, Bert, what plans you have. We’re kind of -interested in what happens to you boys when you finish school here.” - -Mr. Henderson put his hand fondly on the young man’s shoulder. “We have -great hopes for Bert,” he said. - -“Play baseball, huh?” Tommy asked, eyeing him with doubt. “Well, -anyhow, we can be friends _before_ our big game.” - -Bert laughed. “Well, as a matter of fact, I don’t play any more. I -used to play centerfield, and I do love the game. But I also play the -violin. I was afraid to take chances on injuring my hands, so I gave up -baseball. But I still manage the team.” - -“Well, what do you know?” Tommy said. “You play the violin?” - -“What a sissy!” Timmy exclaimed. - -Bert chuckled. “That’s what a lot of people thought once. A lot of the -guys made fun of me till I met them in the boxing ring.” - -Mr. Henderson chuckled at the memory. “Bert’s not much of a sissy, -Timmy. You’ll have to take his word for it, though. I doubt if he’d -challenge you. You’ll have to box fellows your own size.” He shrugged -his shoulders. “But tell them about your plans, Bert.” - -“Oh, yes. Well, Timmy’s coming to Mercyville may be a sort of good -luck omen for me. In a little while I’m going into Elmhurst to try out -for a scholarship to Timothy College. Get it? That’s Timmy’s name. You -probably never heard of the school....” - -“Timothy College!” Tommy cried. “My sister, Doris, is trying out for a -scholarship there, too! She plays the piano.” - -“That _is_ a coincidence!” Mr. Henderson said. He stood up. “Bert, why -don’t you take Timmy and his friend down to meet George? That’s George -Michael, our president-elect. Dr. Benson and Miss Gordon and I can -clear up the details while you’re gone.” - -Bert nodded, and led the small party out of the office. - -Mr. Henderson’s face sobered as the young people left. “Children left -alone in the world constitute the worst tragedy I know of,” he sighed. -“I’m very glad we have room for Timmy. Every time I have to turn away a -boy, my heart breaks again.” - -“That’s why I’m so glad you could take him, sir,” Dr. Benson said. -“You see, Timmy hasn’t had any sort of break from life yet at all. We -checked with the authorities when we finally found out who he was, and -his background was ... terrible! His father had been out of work for -months. There was a housefull of children, and they all lived in one -room. The rest of the family was killed in a tenement fire. Timmy was -out on the streets with a gang of hoodlums at the time.” - -Mr. Henderson stroked his iron gray hair. “That’s as wretched a tale as -I’ve heard yet, and I’ve heard some pretty bad ones.” - -Dr. Benson cleared his throat nervously. “I think you may have some -problems with Timmy. He doesn’t even seem to be aware that his family -is gone. He knows, of course, but he’s all wrapped up in a hard shell -which comes from living a life like that. And when he softens up and -gets human again, he’s going to feel the tragedy.” - -Mr. Henderson nodded. “I understand.” - -“I wonder,” Dr. Benson blurted out. “I don’t mean to doubt your word, -but I went through it, myself. We lived in a place like Timmy’s old -home. My parents died when I was in medical school, and it took months -before I even realized what had happened. Even though I had been so -much luckier than the other boys I knew, I was still suffering what -they call slum-shock years after I had left home.” - -Mr. Henderson smiled gently. “Yes, I do know, Dr. Benson. I was a slum -child, myself. I think that’s why I started this home. I can never -forget the horrors I saw as a child, and I’d give anything in the world -to protect other children from them.” - -Eileen shook her head. “Slum life _can_ turn out some pretty wonderful -people,” she said softly. “People determined to help others in the same -fix.” - -Mr. Henderson smiled at her. “I guess that’s about the size of it.” He -stood up and went over to a filing cabinet. “I have here all the data -about Mercyville. Our medical and health records and our financial -status. The former is very good. The latter is never good, of course. -But we manage to make ends meet.” He handed Eileen and Dr. Benson -copies of the report. “You can look it over and take a copy back to Dr. -Barsch. He’ll probably want it for his records. As you see, we are an -accredited grammar and high school. And here,” he pointed to a page, -“is a list of our alumni. That’s our gold star page, so to speak. Some -of our boys are brilliant and have fine careers. Others are not so ... -so brainy, of course. But they also become useful, productive citizens.” - -Just then the boys returned. George Michaels, the president-elect, was -with them. He was a tall, slim Negro boy. He and Tommy were so deeply -involved in a discussion about baseball that they were almost oblivious -to everyone else. - -“George,” said Mr. Henderson, “I want you to meet Dr. Benson and Miss -Gordon from the Gallup Clinic in Elmhurst.” - -George looked up, startled. Eileen and Dr. Benson both laughed as the -new president came back down to earth. - -“Sorry, sir,” George said, shaking Dr. Benson’s hand. “Tom and I were -so deep in the technicalities of the game, I forgot where I was.” - -Dr. Benson grinned. “I’m crazy about the game, myself. I can understand -your being so absorbed.” - -Mr. Henderson looked at George fondly. “George is our star athlete. He -plays football, baseball and basketball.” - -“A triple threat man, eh?” Dr. Benson asked. - -“A real threat man,” Mr. Henderson said solemnly. “You asked Bert -Cramer a while ago what he was going to do when he left Mercyville. I -think you might be interested in George’s plans, too.” - -“We certainly would,” Eileen said. - -“Tell them, George,” Mr. Henderson said proudly. - -George hesitated. “I sort of hate to talk about it till I’ve figured -out exactly how I’m going to accomplish it. But I love sports. As a -tiny child, I didn’t have much time to play games. There wasn’t any -place for me, either. In our neighborhood back home, they didn’t like -me to join in their organized games, because I am a Negro. I guess they -still discriminate. That’s why I want to open a youth center, some day, -for kids of all races and creeds.” - -Dr. Benson and Eileen nodded soberly. - -“That’s a fine objective, George,” Dr. Benson said quietly. - -George turned to look at Timmy. “Mr. Henderson, did you know Timmy here -has never played baseball? And from the way I saw him run across the -yard, I think he’ll make a wonderful base-stealer.” - -“You bet he will,” said Dr. Benson as he watched Timmy’s face to see if -he could get an inkling as to how Timmy was impressed by what he had -seen. - -By this time it was obvious that Tommy and Bert Cramer were fast -friends. Bert shook his head sadly as Dr. Benson nodded to Eileen and -Tommy. - -“I sure wish you could stay to supper,” he said. “I could drive you -back, Tommy, and I’d kind of like the fellows to meet you.” - -Tommy hesitated. “Gee, I’d like to,” he answered. “If I could call the -folks, and if Dr. Benson didn’t mind.” - -“Why should I mind, Tom?” Dr. Benson asked. “Go ahead and call home, if -you like.” A few minutes later it was all settled and Timmy walked out -to the car with them. On the way, they sat down on a bench for a few -minutes. Dr. Benson reached down and picked a blade of grass. - -“You know, Timmy, I don’t want to give you a lecture,” he said. “But I -want you to know how impressed I am with the democratic spirit of this -place.” - -“Whazzat?” Timmy demanded. - -Dr. Benson chuckled. “Democracy is being well in spirit. Just as -healthy is being well in body, I guess you could say. You haven’t had -a very good start. When people are poor and forced into slums, they -get sick and scared, and sometimes all sort of crazy. Their bodies -are diseased and twisted because they don’t have enough to eat, or -warm clothes or fresh air. And sometimes their minds are diseased and -twisted with this fear and craziness. So pretty soon they turn on each -other and start to hate each other. The first thing they do is hate -people who look different. Or have different sounding names. Out here -you’re going to have the chance to get over any part of that sickness -you might have. You’re going to have fresh air and good food and lots -of time to play and grow and learn. You’re going to learn the best -lesson anyone can ever learn! That everyone ... I don’t care if they’re -white or brown or yellow or even purple or green--I don’t care how they -choose to worship God ... is a human being and has the same capacity -for dignity as anyone else. I’m a doctor, Timmy, and I deal in truth -and facts. These things are as exact truths as two plus two equalling -four.” - -Timmy squirmed. “Aw, sure, Doc.” He picked up a blade of grass -and stuck it between his teeth. “I never thought about it before. -But George ... he’s right. Kids back home do pick on kids that’re -different.” - -Dr. Benson nodded. “Mr. Henderson called him a real threat man. George -is going to be a real threat to intolerance and bigotry when he leaves -Mercyville. Those are just fancy names for being plain sick.” - -Timmy grinned. “Hey, Doc! How about comin’ out to see me?” - -Dr. Benson tousled his hair. “Try to keep me away, Timmy. You and I are -going to stick together. We’re pals, remember?” - -Eileen and the doctor waved to him as they drove off. They watched -Timmy head back to where Mr. Henderson and George Michael were waiting -for him. Dr. Benson hummed in a satisfied way. - -They drove through the lengthening shadows of the late afternoon in -silence. Finally Dr. Benson heard the sound of muffled sobs next to -him and he turned to look at Eileen. He slowed the car. - -“Good heavens, baby, what’s the matter?” - -Eileen dabbed at her nose with a tiny handkerchief. “That speech! What -you told Timmy, I mean. You’re some guy, doctor. And I feel as if I -should get out of your car and walk home!” - -Dr. Benson grinned. “Oh, you’re not so bad,” he teased. “As a matter of -fact, you’re kind of cute. You sort of dress up the old jalopy.” - -Eileen grinned in spite of herself. “Wasn’t I the Lady Bountiful this -morning, though, when I said I would condescend to date you some time? -Doctor, if you ever look at me again, you have a screw loose. And I’ll -be the happiest girl in the world!” - -Dr. Benson stopped the car. “It just happens that I _have_ a screw -loose. Here. Give me that hanky. No, I’ll use mine.” He pulled out -his handkerchief. “These things women carry aren’t worth a darn.” He -wiped her cheeks tenderly. “Oh, Eileen, you darling little idiot! -Don’t you know that if you had looked at me when I first came the way -you’re looking at me now, I would have served my internship standing -on my hands, if you’d wanted me to? But when I got the brush-off from -the cool, crisp, efficient Miss Gordon, I decided to play things -differently. I guess I’ve been as big a dope as anyone.” - - - - -15. Graduation! - - -July was nearly over. And although there weren’t any summer patients -at the clinic, Jean and her classmates were very busy. Graduation was -scheduled for the end of the month. But before Jean, Sally, Hedda, -Ingeborg and Lucy could wear their registered nurses’ caps, they had to -take their final exams. - -They all studied every free minute they had. And Jean was frankly -worried about her approaching exams. Although she had mastered most -of her studies with ease, she was still baffled by the nervous system -and the essentials of psychology which were required knowledge for the -graduate nurses. - -Miserably she flipped through her psychology book one afternoon as -she sat alone in the lobby of the clinic. It was her day off, but she -refused to take time off to go home till she had mastered her lesson. - -Gerald Benson found her huddled over her book and sat down beside her. - -“Still grinding away?” he asked. - -She nodded. “I can’t understand why I can’t get this through my head,” -she said desperately. - -Gerald picked up her book. “Maybe I can help you,” he offered. - -“Oh, go away,” she groaned with pretended despair. “Suddenly -everything’s changed. Eileen ... my good friend, Eileen ... has become -a witch who haunts me at night. She’s going to be on the examining -board. And so are all the doctors! I get all nervous when I think that -Ted or Dr. Daley or especially wonderful Dr. Barsch can up and flunk me -without a second thought if I don’t pass my exam.” - -Gerald laughed. “Then I’m your friend of the hour. _I_ won’t be on the -board. I’m just an intern. Now, let’s see. What’s troubling you so?” He -turned to the front of the book. Then he closed it. “Let’s start at the -beginning. In the first place, did you ever run a switchboard?” - -Jean nodded. “One summer I worked as a receptionist in an office.” - -“Then there’s nothing to it. You’re just trying to master the -switchboard of the human body. Keep that in mind. Sensory nerves to the -brain or spinal column, depending upon whether the reflex called for -is automatic or deliberate. If it is an automatic response, such as -pulling your hand away when you touch a hot stove, the message goes no -higher than the spinal column. Otherwise, it goes to the brain. Your -brain tells you to turn up the thermostat because you’re cold in your -house. You had to learn that heating a house will warm you. But a tiny -baby will pull his hand away from a hot stove.” - -Jean nodded. - -“See how simple it is? The rest of it is just memorizing the various -parts. But to excite your interest, I’m going to tell you a story. I -think when you hear it, you’re going to _want_ to learn the various -parts. And anything you really want to learn, you will learn.” - -Jean giggled. “You’re quite a philosopher, Gerald,” she said. - -“I would rather like to go on into psychiatry if I can,” Gerald said. -“That’s why you’re going to find me so helpful today. This is my stuff. -But to get back to the story. You’ve undoubtedly had a toothache at one -time or another, haven’t you?” - -Jean nodded. “I should say I have. I remember a particularly bad one -once, when it seemed as if all my teeth hurt.” - -“That often happens,” Dr. Benson continued. “Sometimes, you may -remember, instead of the infected tooth in the upper jaw, let us say, -being the one that hurts, it is the tooth directly below it in the -lower jaw that seems to be causing the pain. Why do you suppose that -is?” - -Jean shook her head. “I can’t imagine.” - -Gerald went on. “That’s the fascinating part. What actually happens is -this. The area around the infected tooth hurts. It sends a message to -the brain, saying ‘Ouch.’ But the brain says, ‘Hold on a minute. You -must be confused. You can’t possibly hurt. It must be the other party -on your line. Now, let’s see. The other party on your line is the -second molar in the lower jaw. That’s the tooth which hurts.’ And, by -heaven, that’s what hurts, in spite of the fact that the tooth in the -lower jaw is perfectly sound.” - -Jean grinned. “Really? That’s fascinating!” she cried. - -Gerald stood up. “Now, go home. You can’t study here. You find out why -these fascinating things happen. I’ll drill you every day till exams -come. We’ll lick ’em, Witch-Gordon and the whole pack of ’em!” - -Jean giggled. “Eileen should hear you say that,” she teased. - -He laughed. “No girl of mine is going around flunking industrious young -students, either. You might remember that!” - -Gerald was true to his word. Every day until exam day he drilled Jean -in the intricacies of the nervous system. And when she went in to face -the examining board, she felt more confident than she ever believed she -would feel. - -Dr. Barsch headed the board. Dr. Daley, Dr. Jenkins, Ted and Eileen -asked the questions, but Jean was sure enough of herself to enjoy -the ordeal. As the exam went on, the doctors and Eileen became more -relaxed. Jean was a favorite among the staff members, and they were as -anxious as she that she do well. - -Finally with beaming faces, the board came to the end of the questions. -Dr. Barsch looked around at the staff. - -“I guess there’s no question in anyone’s mind, is there?” - -They all shook their heads. - -Dr. Barsch stood up. “Then I want to be the first to congratulate -you, Miss Craig. Your work here at the clinic has been more than -satisfactory. It will be a pleasure to have you take part in our -‘capping’ exercises tomorrow night.” - -The following night, Jean and her whole class gathered together outside -of the small auditorium of the clinic. To the immense relief of all, -they all had passed their final exams and were ready to be capped. -Their families had already gathered in the auditorium, and Dr. Gallup -was on the platform together with Dr. Barsch and the rest of the staff. - -The girls were all dressed in fresh, immaculate white uniforms. Finally -they received the signal and marched into the auditorium together. They -all sat down in the first row. - -Dr. Gallup and the staff rose as the girls took their seats. Dr Barsch -stepped to the front of the stage. - -“This is truly a memorable occasion for the Gallup Memorial Clinic,” he -said. “This is our first graduating class of nurses. I don’t need to -tell you how proud we are of our girls. I can see our pride reflected -on your faces, too. - -“These girls have done the almost impossible. Usually when girls start -training they don’t have to jump in and perform as regular nurses, too. -But our girls did. We didn’t have enough registered nurses, so they -just went right to work. Without neglecting their studies, they stepped -right in and helped where they were needed. Don’t ask me how they did -it. Because frankly, I don’t know.” - -The audience applauded. - -Dr. Barsch smiled fondly down on his girls. “And because they did work -so hard, our later classes won’t have so much to do. Also, people of -Elmhurst, because of them, we have a much better clinic today than we -ever dreamed we could have.” - -The audience applauded again as Dr. Barsch sat down and Dr. Gallup -rose. The applause for the revered doctor was deafening. He waited for -a moment, nodding his impressive white head. - -“What do you want me to say about my girls?” he asked the audience. -“Why, I brought most of them into the world!” He rubbed his eyes. -“You’ll forgive the meanderings of an old man, but I keep thinking -about how quickly time passes. It seems like such a short time ago -that I gave Sally Hancock her first spanking.” He paused. “Hm,” he -continued, “and it wasn’t too long ago that I handed a diploma to a -painfully scrubbed youngster by the name of Edward Barsch and welcomed -him to the medical profession.” - -In the front row, Hedda leaned over and whispered to Jean, “Where’s -Ted?” - -Jean looked up at the stage. “Why ... I don’t know. He was up there a -few minutes ago.” - -“And now,” Dr. Gallup continued, “I’m supposed to pretend that enough -years have gone by to turn my Edward into a stuffy old executive and my -babies into efficient nurses....” - -The audience tittered. Dr. Gallup looked pleased with himself. But the -titter grew into a loud laugh, and the elderly doctor turned around. -Ted Loring was trying to steal, unnoticed, onto the stage. He carried a -huge bouquet of red roses. He held them behind him in an unsuccessful -attempt to conceal them. - -Dr. Gallup clasped his hands together and rocked back on his heels. -“When Dr. Loring finds his seat, we’ll continue,” he said. The audience -roared as Ted blushed fiery red. - -Dr. Gallup tried to cover his grin as he faced the audience once again. -“To get back to our girls, I think you all know something of what it -means to study for nursing. It means being able to give of yourself. -It means long hours with little tangible reward. But don’t pity these -girls for their hard labors, ladies and gentlemen. They know what it is -to receive the greatest intangible reward of all--the gratitude of an -entire community.” - -The audience stood up and applauded as the girls rose to go to the -stage for their diplomas. - -Jean led the girls to the stage. Dr. Gallup shook her hand and kissed -her cheek as he handed her the diploma. He repeated the performance -with the other girls. The applause continued during the entire ceremony. - -Before Jean could return to her seat, Ted rose and walked over to her. -Dr. Gallup handed out the last diploma and turned toward Ted and Jean. - -“I don’t know why I should have been so darned furtive about these -beautiful flowers,” Ted said. “Just before the ceremony started, Ralph -MacRae wired these flowers to Jean Craig, and I think they have a place -in the ceremony, also.” - -Everyone clapped enthusiastically, and Jean blushed as she accepted the -bouquet. - -Then Dr. Barsch rose again. He introduced Eileen to the assembly, and -the girls passed before her to receive their black ribbons for their -caps. Now they were official nurses. Eileen grabbed their hands warmly -as they passed her. Dr. Barsch imitated Dr. Gallup and kissed them all -soundly on the cheek. - -Jean led her classmates down to their seats again. The audience crowded -around them as they opened their diplomas. Ethel, with tears in her -eyes, found Jean and walked with her up to meet her family. - -Mr. and Mrs. Craig embraced their daughter. Mrs. Craig cried a little -as she saw Ralph’s flowers. - -“My own girl,” she cried. “A real, bona fide nurse!” - - - - -16. Double Triumph - - -“And these guys do all their own work, too,” Tommy continued. The Craig -family was at lunch and at the moment was listening with mounting -interest to Tommy’s story about Mercyville. For Tommy had been spending -many afternoons out at the boys’ town with his new chum, Bert Cramer. - -“They make their own butter and cheese from their own milk. And they’ve -a neat carpentry shop, too! They make furniture and stuff. But they -seem to have lots of time for games and swimming and stuff. Timmy is -making a swell adjustment. He’s crazy about the place.” He grinned. “I -wouldn’t mind living there myself.” - -Mr. Craig smiled. “I guess we’ll have to lose you somewhere, son. Maybe -Mercyville will take you in.” - -Mrs. Craig nodded. “I thought they already had. Seems to me Tommy’s -been out there almost constantly.” - -“Mother,” Tommy asked, “would it be okay if I brought Bert home to -dinner?” - -“My goodness, Tommy,” Mrs. Craig said, “I was wondering when you were -going to invite him here. You’ve been out there so much.” - -“Would tonight be okay? He’s having his tryout this afternoon here in -town, and he could come after that.” - -“Tonight would be fine,” Mrs. Craig agreed. - -“You say he plays the violin?” Mr. Craig asked. - -“Well, I’ve never heard him play. But that’s what he said,” Tommy said. - -“What does he look like?” Kit asked. - -“Aw, I don’t know. Like a fellow. He’s taller’n me. But he’s older.” - -Mrs. Craig smiled. “Tonight we’ll have a dinner for our musicians. We -were going to have a special dinner for Doris, anyway.” - -“Jeepers!” Tommy cried. “That’s swell! Excuse me, please. I’ll call him -right away before he leaves Mercyville!” He jumped from the table. - -“I think I hear Becky in the kitchen,” Mrs. Craig said, getting up from -the table. She went into the hall and called to Becky. - -“I’m just putting some fresh cookies into your jar,” Becky called back. -“Land but I’ve a mess of ’em here. Judge Ellis would be sick for a week -if I left them around the house for him to nibble at.” - -She bustled into the hall. “Well, Marge,” she said. “So this is the big -day. Just get over one and you have another. Jean sure is right smart -in her cap ’n’ everything.” - -“Thank you, Becky,” Mrs. Craig said. “We’re pretty proud of her. And -yes, this is Doris’s day. And now Tommy has invited a friend from -Mercyville for dinner, so we’ll have a little party. We can use the -cookies, you see.” - -“You’re welcome to ’em, child. I’ve heard about this Mercyville place. -It’s wonderful, I understand.” She picked up her basket. “I have to -run, Marge. But you let me know first you hear about how Doris comes -out.” - -Mrs. Craig walked with her to the door. “I certainly will, Becky. And -thanks so much for the cookies.” - -After lunch, Doris went into the living room to practice. Mrs. Craig -worried about whether or not Doris should practice just before her -try-out, but she kept silent, not wanting to upset her daughter. As -she heard Doris’s skillful fingers run over scales and arpeggios, -she relaxed and went about her household chores with a light heart. -Certainly Doris couldn’t fail to impress the examiners! - -At three o’clock they arrived. Mrs. Tyler, Doris’s music teacher, -appeared with Mr. Hensen and Miss Smythe of the college. Mrs. Craig -brought them into the parlor where Doris was still limbering up her -fingers. - -“This is Doris,” she said, introducing her child to the young teachers. - -“I’m glad we had the chance to break in on your practicing,” Mr. Hansen -said. “It’s sometimes easier to tell about a performance when the girl -doesn’t realize we’re listening.” - -Doris smiled shyly and sat down on the bench. “I know you’re in a -hurry, so I’ll start right off,” she said. - -She opened her small program with a Bach prelude. Her fingers moved -with precision and grace. Then she played the first movement of a -Beethoven sonata, and she closed with a Chopin etude. - -Mr. Hansen and Miss Smythe were silent for a moment after Doris had -finished. Finally Mr. Hansen stood up. “Forgive me if I appear to be -rude, Mrs. Craig, but I would like to talk to Miss Smythe alone for a -minute.” - -“Of course!” Mrs. Craig cried, jumping up. Doris and Mrs. Tyler -followed her out into the hall. - -“You were just perfect, Doris,” Mrs. Tyler said. “I never heard you -play so well.” She wiped her eyes. - -“Oh, Mother,” Doris sighed, leaning against Mrs. Craig. “I’m scared.” - -Mrs. Craig patted her arm. “Relax, darling. We probably won’t know -for several months whether or not you won. If not, you can always try -again.” - -Mr. Hansen stepped into the hall. He stroked his chin thoughtfully as -they all went back into the living room. - -“I don’t understand it,” he said thoughtfully. “I simply don’t -understand it at all. Miss Smythe and I have been traveling the length -of the East Coast, and right here in Elmhurst we do something we’ve -never done before. Not once, but twice!” - -Doris clutched her mother’s hand. - -“It’s our usual procedure,” Mr. Hansen continued, “to award five -scholarships to Timothy College a year. We make quite comprehensive -notes about each student and then talk it over later and award them -just before the opening of school after we’ve completed our trip. But -this afternoon we heard a young man ... a violinist ... who prompted us -to choose him without any further discussion. He’s _extremely_ gifted. -I haven’t heard talent in such a youngster for years! - -“And now your daughter. She is very gifted, Mrs. Craig. Both Miss -Smythe and I have no hesitation in inviting Doris to Timothy for a year -of study.” - -Doris stared wide-eyed at the man. “You mean...?” - -He nodded. “This seems to be good climate for musicians. I hope you’ll -decide to accept our scholarship, Doris. You’ve a precious talent, my -dear.” - -Doris burst into tears and ran from the room. Mrs. Craig looked after -her uncertainly. - -“Let her go, Mrs. Craig,” Miss Smythe said. “She’ll be all right in a -few minutes.” - -Mrs. Craig gestured with her hands. “I ... I don’t know what to say. -Except thank you. Thank you very much.” - -Mr. Hansen chuckled. “We’re more than thanked by hearing such a -promising youngster. I really would like to know what you people do to -produce such talent up here!” - -“I hope you can stay to tea,” Mrs. Craig said. - -Miss Smythe shook her head regretfully. “I hate to turn you down, Mrs. -Craig. But we have a train to catch in one hour.” - -Still in a daze, Mrs. Craig watched them as they went down the long -driveway. And as she stood in the doorway, she saw Tommy and his new -friend, Bert, drive up toward the house. They waved at the passing car -and then they spotted her. Bert brought his car to a halt and they -jumped out. The older boy brought along his violin and tucked it under -his arm. - -“Hey, Mom, here’s Bert Cramer,” Tommy called as they dashed up the -porch steps. “And you know what?” - -Mrs. Craig grinned as she clasped the boy’s hand. “Yes, I do,” she -said. “And I think it’s perfectly marvelous!” - -“Thank you, Mrs. Craig,” Bert said. “My winning that scholarship will -mean a lot to us all out there.” - -“Just as Doris’s winning means a lot to us,” Mrs. Craig answered. - -Tommy stared at his mother. “Aw, you’re kidding!” he said. “They told -Bert they hardly ever tell before they get back to Timothy.” - -Mrs. Craig said, “I know. They made an exception in Bert’s case. _And_ -in Doris’s case, too!” - -Tommy turned a handspring in the hall. “Dopey old Doris!” he cried. - -“Why, Tommy!” his mother said. - -“Isn’t she wonderful, Mom?” he cried. “Isn’t she just about the most -wonderful girl ever?” - -“Take Bert upstairs to see Jack,” Mrs. Craig told her son. “I think -Doris is up with him, now. We have a son in bed with rheumatic fever,” -she explained to Bert. - -“Yes, ma’am, I know,” Bert said. “I’m very sorry.” - -“Come on, Bert,” Tommy cried. “You’ll like Jack.” - -Upstairs, Doris was pouring out the story of the afternoon to Jack, who -lay back on his pillow, grinning from ear to ear. - -“I told you you could do it, Doris,” he said as Tommy and Bert came in. -“Hi, Tommy,” he said. - -“Doris, this is Bert Cramer,” Tommy said. “And this is my brother, -Jack.” - -Doris turned to face the boys. Her large dark eyes were shining with -happiness and her cheeks were flushed. Bert looked at her as if he were -seeing an angel. Suddenly he tore his gaze away and strode over to -Jack’s cot. - -“Hi, there, Jack,” Bert said. “Tommy’s told me a lot about you.” - -“Bert won a scholarship, too, kids.” - -“Jeepers! What talented company I have!” Jack cried. “And here I -thought that Doris was just family. I guess I’ll have to be more polite -to the genius in the future!” - -“Jack, you’re a goose!” Doris said, hugging him. “And Bert, I think -it’s wonderful that you won.” - -“Thank you, Doris,” Bert said. “I’m just now beginning to realize _how_ -lucky I was to win.” - -Doris looked at him. She saw his honest brown eyes looking straight -into hers, and she blushed. - -Dinner was hilarious. Mr. Craig and Tommy and Jack, who was permitted -to eat downstairs now, kept everyone in stitches with old jokes and -bad puns. And after a dessert of apple pie and ice cream, the family -adjourned to the parlor. - -“I wonder,” Mr. Craig mused, “whether we might hear our young geniuses -perform.” - -Without hesitation, Bert said, “I left my violin in the hall. If you -like, I’ll get it.” - -“He’s a pretty poised youngster for one so young,” Mr. Craig said, -watching him go out to the hall. - -“My, he’s a nice kid,” Kit said. - -“You can say that again!” Tommy agreed. “I’m gonna get the gang -together next time he comes for dinner. We’ll have a peachy time.” - -They could hear Bert tuning his violin in the hall. - -“Tommy,” Mr. Craig said, “isn’t Bert a little old for your gang?” He -glanced over at Doris. “I have a hunch that next time he comes to -dinner, he might be calling on someone else.” - -Bert came back into the parlor and handed Doris some sheet music. “This -isn’t exactly fair. You have to do all the sight reading. I know it by -heart.” - -Doris sat down at the piano. “I don’t mind,” she said. “Oh good! -Scarlatti! Why, I know this sonata!” - -They began to play. The music transported everyone in the room, and -they played together as if they had practiced together for years. As he -played, Bert looked down at Doris, and Mr. Craig nodded and stroked his -chin. It was obvious to him that they would see a great deal of Bert -Cramer this summer, and not as part of Tommy’s gang. - - - - -17. Judge Ellis Is Trapped - - -After great spluttering and fussing, Judge Ellis had finally yielded to -Aunt Becky’s ultimatum that he go to the clinic for a checkup. - -“Confound that woman!” he muttered under his breath as he clamped -his straw hat on his massive white head and tucked his walking cane -under his arm. The impressive man of law had met his match when he had -married the stern New England woman a few years before. - -Aunt Becky stood in the front door waiting for the judge to get ready -to go out. She looked fondly at her husband as he surveyed himself in -the old-fashioned, full-length mirror which stood in the hall. - -“And you can stop muttering those terrible things about me, too!” she -commanded. - -“Bah!” Judge Ellis snorted. Then he leaned over and laid his cheek -against hers. The tender little gesture was a token of the great love -these two strong-willed people had for each other. - -Aunt Becky held him back at arm’s length and studied his appearance. -“You’re a shameful man,” she said gently, “to be so handsome at your -age!” - -“Humph!” the judge exclaimed. “You talk as if I belonged in my grave!” - -“Oh, scat! Out with you!” Becky cried. - -Whistling jauntily, Judge Ellis strolled down the walk and turned -toward town. He would walk on such a fine day. This visit to the clinic -was sentimental nonsense, he told himself. But if it would please -Becky.... - -Dr. Daley, the clinic internist, was waiting for the judge when he -arrived. The doctor was a comparatively young man, and he fervently -hoped that he would find Judge Ellis in good shape. He knew what a -chore it would be to try to convince the eminent citizen of Elmhurst to -take any sort of treatment. - -Dr. Daley’s heart sank as he saw the older man’s sagging waistline. But -he smiled cheerfully and invited the patient into his office. - -“This stuff and nonsense,” Judge Ellis snorted, “is a complete waste -of time, young man.” He glowered at the doctor. “Why aren’t you taking -care of _sick_ people? I’m a well man, as you can tell by looking at -me. And right this minute I should be down at City Hall. An important -committee meeting is awaiting me.” - -Dr. Daley nodded. “You look pretty good, sir,” he admitted. “Now if -you’ll take off your coat and shirt, I’ll listen to your heart.” - -Grudgingly the Judge obeyed. - -The doctor nodded as he listened to the tired old heart. “And now the -blood pressure,” he commented as he adjusted the gadget around the -Judge’s arm. - -After he had been weighed, Judge Ellis put his shirt and coat back -on and knotted his tie carefully. Dr. Daley, thinking hard, sat down -behind his desk and looked over Judge Ellis’ medical history. - -“Of course this is nowhere near a complete examination. I want to have -some lab tests made,” the doctor said. - -“Humph,” was Judge Ellis’ reply. “This is a waste of both your time and -mine.” - -The doctor nodded. “Judge Ellis,” he said. “I’d appreciate it if you’d -give me a little advice. You see, my father is a prominent surgeon in -New York City, and you can’t tell him anything. He has studied medicine -all his life, and he is a very wise man ... medically speaking, of -course.” - -“Glad to hear it,” the judge grunted. - -Dr. Daley sighed. “But he’s a baby in some ways. A couple of years ago -he made some bad financial investments. He knew what he was signing -when he made the transactions. Now he wants to sue the company. But his -lawyer ... a young man about my age ... but _very_ good ... advises him -not to sue.” - -Judge Ellis grunted. “Why not?” - -Dr. Daley shrugged. “He’d be throwing good money after bad. The company -couldn’t pay even if he did sue. He won’t get a cent.” - -“Who’s handling the case? Your father’s lawyer, I mean?” - -“Stanley Jordan of Smith, Perkins and Jordan.” - -Judge Ellis nodded gravely. “Jordan is an excellent man. Your father -should have implicit faith in him. Know him well!” - -A smile spread across the doctor’s face. “But, sir, you don’t know my -father. He thinks because Jordan is a young man and he is much older, -that he knows better.” - -Judge Ellis banged the desk with his fist. “Thunderation, man! Then why -did your father go to Jordan in the first place? What in heaven’s name -does a doctor know about the law, anyway?” He sniffed. “You tell your -father that Judge Ellis, who is undoubtedly his age or better, tells -him to stop being a fool and to listen to what Jordan says!” - -Dr. Daley repressed a chuckle. “Thank you, sir,” he said. - -“Is that all, young man?” the judge demanded. - -Dr. Daley scribbled something on a pad and held it out to Judge Ellis. -“I think so, for today.” - -The judge stood up and shook hands with the doctor. Then he went out to -the corridor and opened the note Dr. Daley had given him. - - Judge Ellis: - - Your blood pressure is up enough to warrant further laboratory - tests. If you will report to the lab, they will make all the - arrangements for your convenience. Also, I want you to take off at - least twenty pounds. I’m sure Mrs. Ellis can arrange a fat-free and - low carbohydrate diet for you. You should adhere to this diet for - at least a year. The weight should come off slowly, just as it was - put on. If you smoke, do so in moderation. - -Judge Ellis scowled and turned menacingly towards the doctor’s office. -Then he looked at the note again. - -There was a postscript. - - Thank you, sir, for the advice about my father. I don’t know why - he thinks that just because he is an elderly man and famous in his - field, he knows all there is to know about every other profession. - -Judge Ellis began to chuckle. His chuckle grew into a full-bodied roar. -The girl at the desk looked up, startled. - -“Young lady!” he boomed. “Can you direct me to the laboratory?” - -In his office, Dr. Daley chuckled a little over the episode. He put -aside Judge Ellis’s medical history and snapped on his inter-office -phone. “Send in the next patient, Miss Babcock,” he said. - -The girl outside answered, “But Dr. Daley, Dr. Barsch has an operation -he wants you to attend in a half hour. You haven’t forgotten it, have -you?” - -The young doctor’s hands grew clammy at the thought of the operation -he was to attend. “Thank you, Miss Babcock,” he said. “Thank you for -reminding me.” - -His face was grim as he left his office and went upstairs to prepare -for the operation. He met Jean on the second floor corridor. She was -armed with her sketch pad. - -“So you’re to try your hand at sketching a cancer operation, Miss -Craig,” Dr. Daley said. - -“Yes, sir,” Jean answered. - -The doctor shook his head. “This will probably be very unpleasant. I’m -frankly scared to death every time we attempt to remove a cancer.” - -“I know,” Jean replied solemnly as they went into the operating room. - -Howard Mills, a middle-aged farmer, had developed cancer in his lung, -and Dr. Barsch was dubious as he prepared for the operation. If the -malignant cells had been confined to one lung, Mr. Mills could be -pulled through. But if the cancer had invaded the surrounding tissues, -there was little hope for his life. - -“The worst part about this operation,” Dr. Barsch told Jean as they -scrubbed in the operating room lavatory, “is that one never knows. The -surrounding tissues may look fine and normal, but cancer cells can -break away and get into the blood stream and be carried far from the -spot of operation.” - -“It’s a grisly business,” Dr. Daley affirmed. - -“It’s terrible!” Jean cried. - -Dr. Barsch sighed and turned his attention to his scrubbing. Dr. Daley -said, “If Mr. Mills had come in for regular checkups, this might not -have happened. Someday people will learn.” - -Eileen Gordon came in briskly and rolled up her sleeves to scrub. Dr. -Barsch looked at her with fond exasperation. - -“So you’re going to assist me,” he commented dryly. - -She looked up at him, puzzled. “Yes, sir,” she answered. “This is too -important to let anyone else handle.” - -The doctor chuckled a little. “Of course you know that Dr. Benson will -be on hand, too. Dr. Daley will stand by while I work, and Dr. Benson -will do the probing when we make the incision. That boy has the makings -of a fine surgeon,” he added, almost to himself. - -Eileen reddened. “I didn’t know, sir. Honest.” - -Dr. Barsch turned from the sink. “I won’t have it!” he bellowed. “I -simply won’t have it! I get a girl trained and some young nincompoop -rushes her off to the altar! How many supervisors do you think I can -train in the space of two years?” - -Eileen giggled. “Oh, goodness, doctor. Dr. Benson hasn’t even _talked_ -about marriage! We’re just good friends.” - -Dr. Barsch patted his hands with a sterile towel. “Good friends, -indeed! I’ve seen that young idiot mooning about here as if he invented -falling in love!” - -“Here he comes, Doctor,” Jean warned. - -“Let him hear me,” Dr. Barsch said defiantly, but he lowered his voice. - -If Dr. Benson had been mooning about, he showed no evidence of it this -morning. He glanced at the clock as he began to scrub. Each person in -the room was required to scrub for ten minutes. Then he meticulously -scoured his hands and arms with a small brush, taking particular care -to clean around the base of the nails where dirt can be imbedded. -When he had finished, he bathed his hands and arms in an antiseptic -solution. He didn’t even glance at Eileen, who was scrubbing at the -next basin. - -The patient was wheeled in and transferred to the operating table. In -spite of the fact that he was under opiates, Mr. Mills moaned. Dr. -Henry waited till he was ready for the anesthetic and then fitted -a cone over the man’s nose and mouth. Watching the blood pressure -carefully, he checked the pulse rate every few seconds. At last the -moaning stopped, and Dr. Henry nodded. - -Dr. Barsch stood beside the patient’s chest ready to make the incision. -Gerald Benson stood on the other side of Mr. Mills. A step behind Dr. -Barsch, Dr. Daley stood. Dr. Henry was stationed at the patient’s head. -Eileen and Jean were on a level with the patient’s hips. They all wore -sterile hospital gowns, masks and gloves. Not a single strand of hair -escaped from the sterile white caps on their heads. - -Dr. Barsch let out his breath slowly and made his incision. Jean -watched carefully as he opened the chest. The incision was more -difficult to make than one for an abdominal operation, but Dr. Barsch -cut skillfully, and soon the lung was exposed. They all shuddered as -they saw the cluster of malignant cells imbedded at the base of the -lung. Jean sketched quickly. She was fascinated at the sight of the -exposed heart beating slowly and calmly as if it were undisturbed. - -Then the cutting out of the cancer began. Dr. Barsch cut under the -growth, praying that he would find healthy tissue beneath. But there -was more cancerous material below. He sighed and cut down again. -Finally, he reached normal tissue. Then he and Dr. Benson began the -long, tedious and important task of exploring the entire cavity for -more malignant tissue. The clock ticked away minutes as they probed. - -“All right,” Dr. Barsch said finally. “Take my side.” - -They changed places, and Dr. Benson then went over the parts that -Dr. Barsch had checked while the older doctor explored Dr. Benson’s -territory. - -Eileen handed them instruments without instruction, anticipating -their needs. And Jean bent her head over her task as she recorded the -entire lung and the surrounding organs. She tried to draw every small -capillary which extended out into the lung area to form a structure -which looked like a branch of a tiny bush. Dr. Henry watched over the -patient’s breathing and pulse rate as carefully as a mother watches -over a newborn child. - -Finally Dr. Henry spoke. “That’s all,” he said hoarsely. “We can’t take -any more chances. His pulse rate is falling.” - -As long as the patient was under anesthetic, Dr. Henry was the general. -As soon as he spoke the other doctors were quick to follow his -instructions. - -Dr. Barsch shook his head. “All right,” he said grimly. “But I don’t -like it.” Silently he began to sew up the wound. First he drew it -together with soluble clamps, and then he stitched the chest together -as if it were a piece of cloth. - -Jean, clutching her sketch pad and pencil, looked at all their faces. -Dr. Barsch’s was grim and determined as he sewed. Dr. Daley’s face was -expressionless. Dr. Benson’s was white and drawn. He looked as if he -were in pain. Dr. Henry shook his head from side to side as he worked -over the man’s respiratory system. Eileen’s face was a white mask. Jean -knew that the color had left her own face as well. - -She knew, too, that they were all praying to a Higher Power whose -Presence is always very much felt in an operating room. No one in -the room had ever known Mr. Mills before he came to the clinic. But -that didn’t matter. His was a precious life ... a human life. And his -body was the scene of a battle of that greatest of all wars since the -beginning of the human race. Man was at war with his natural enemy, -disease. - - - - -18. Just Among Girls - - -Billy Ellis and Buzzy Hancock raced up the Craig driveway, hooting and -howling as they ran. - -Tommy appeared on the front porch just as they reached the steps. He -waved at them vigorously and called, “Hey, guys! C’mon! Hurry up!” - -Billy and Buzzy hurdled the porch rail and collapsed on the porch -swing. “Jeepers!” Buzzy panted. “We’ve run just about a mile!” He -fanned himself with his open hand. “What’s the big news?” He snorted. -“Hurry ’n’ tell us, because we gotta get back to school and pick up the -stuff for the game.” - -“Jack went to the clinic last night,” Tommy said importantly. - -Billy and Buzzy stared at each other in consternation. - -“Aw, gee,” Billy said quickly. “He isn’t sick again, is he?” - -Tommy paused a moment, enjoying the scene. “Dr. Loring had him put in -the hospital because he thinks he’s well again--” - -“Zowie!” Buzzy cried. “Really?” - -“And they had to make lab tests to be sure,” Tommy continued -importantly. - -“Well, tell us. When’re they going to know if he’s okay?” - -Tommy puffed himself up. “I already know,” he said. “You can ask me if -you want to know.” - -The two boys jumped on him and wrestled him down. “C’mon!” Buzzy cried. -“Stop being an egghead! Tell us!” - -Tommy freed himself and sat up. “Take it easy, you guys!” - -“Talk, son,” Billy demanded, aiming at him with an imaginary gun. - -“Okay. Okay,” Tommy said. “Jack’s coming home this morning. He’s all -through his exams. As far as they know, he’s okay.” - -Billy and Buzzy both let out an Indian war whoop and threw themselves -down on the swing again. - -“He’s not supposed to have a lot of excitement,” Tommy cried. “But -jeepers, I don’t know how he’s going to avoid it! The things that go on -round this house!” He took a big breath. “I guess you guys know both -Frank Howard and Ralph are supposed to come this week.” - -“Aw, love!” Buzzy protested. “What’s so exciting about that?” - -Tommy shrugged. “Search me,” he said. “But the way Kit ’n’ Jean act, -you’d think it was the most important thing ever.” He rolled his -eyes and added, “It gets pretty exciting when there’s going to be a -wedding, though.” - -“Who’s gonna get married?” Billy asked. “Kit or Jean?” - -Tommy made a face at him. “You dopey guy!” he cried. “Kit has a whole -college to go through! How could she get married?” - -Buzzy shrugged. “I can’t figure out what women can do. Hey, Tommy, give -us the key to the gym locker, will you? We got a ball game, today.” - -Tommy tossed him the key. “I’ll meet you guys out on the field,” he -said. “I want to wait for Jack.” - -Billy and Buzzy vaulted the porch railing and raced down the driveway. -Tommy put his hands in his pockets and sat down on the swing. He -whistled as he swung himself back and forth. - -Pretty soon the Craigs’ car turned in the drive, and Tommy jumped up. -Waving, he dashed down the steps and waited till Mrs. Craig had pulled -the car up in front of the house. - -Jack opened the door and was about to jump out when Mrs. Craig -restrained him. - -“Just a minute, Jack,” she said. “You mustn’t be so active!” - -“Aw, Mom!” Jack protested, but he waited till she came around to help -him out. Tommy supported him on the other side. - -“I’m well, Tommy!” he cried. “I can get up ’n’ _everything_!” - -Mrs. Craig laughed. “Easy, son,” she advised. “Dr. Loring said you were -just to get up for a little while each day.” - -Jack shrugged. “Aw, gee,” he complained. “Do I have to go back to bed -now?” - -Mrs. Craig nodded. “I’m afraid so, Jack.” - -Jack grimaced. “I’m sick of that old bed!” - -After Jack had been settled in his room, Tommy and Mrs. Craig came -downstairs together. Tommy turned to his mother, puzzled. - -“What’s with him?” he asked. “For months he lies there and doesn’t make -a peep. Now all of a sudden he gets dopey and cross.” - -Mrs. Craig laughed. “And I don’t blame him. As long as he knew he was -sick, he just grinned and took it. Now he knows he’s well again and -he’s impatient to be up leading a normal life.” - -“Yeah,” Tommy said thoughtfully. “Gee, I sure wish he could see the -game!” - -Mrs. Craig patted her son’s head. “There will be lots of ballgames.” -She sighed heavily. “Aren’t you supposed to be practicing for the game? -I have a million things to do today, and I don’t want you underfoot.” - -“You don’t practice for a ballgame the day you play it,” Tommy -explained. “You just warm up.” - -His mother smiled. “Then run along and warm up. Scat!” - -Tommy grinned and made a dash for the door. He turned and called, -“Keep your fingers crossed for us. Don’t forget!” - -Mrs. Craig chuckled. “I will, dear.” - -She went upstairs and stopped before Kit’s closed door. Inside she -could hear soft voices. - -“Girls,” she called, knocking at the door. “Aren’t you ever coming down -for breakfast?” - -“Come in, Mother,” Kit called back. - -Kit and Doris were sitting on Kit’s unmade bed. They still wore their -pajamas, and their hair was still uncombed. - -“For heaven’s sake!” Mrs. Craig said. “It’s after nine o’clock! -Goodness, you’d better hurry!” - -Kit yawned and stretched. “It’s just lovely, being able to lounge -around like this. We’ve been awake for hours!” - -Mrs. Craig sat down on the edge of the bed and hugged her daughters. -“You’re a couple of lazy ne’er-do-wells!” she said. “Now, up with you!” - -Both girls jumped up and disappeared into the bathroom. Mrs. Craig -could hear the shower going full blast. She smiled and started to pick -up the bedroom. - -Doris came out, fully clothed. “Oh, Mother, don’t,” she cried. “We’ll -straighten things!” - -Mrs. Craig looked at her daughter and suppressed a laugh. Doris’s face -was a study in consternation. - -“Ralph’s train comes in at three this afternoon,” Doris said finally. - -“Yes, dear. I know,” Mrs. Craig replied. - -Doris sat down and gazed out of the window. “This is awful to say -when he’s _practically_ my brother, but I sort of want to go to the -ballgame.” - -Kit came in, rubbing her head with a towel. “Since when are you so -interested in baseball? I didn’t know you knew a ball from a bat!” - -Doris blushed. “When a girl’s own brother has an important game, I -think she ought to see it!” - -“Humph!” Kit said. “The girl’s own brother has had a whole series of -games this summer. I’ll bet you haven’t seen one yet!” - -“That’s enough, Kit,” Mrs. Craig said severely. - -Kit smiled. “I’m sorry, Doris,” she said, putting on a pair of blue -jeans. “Come on, let’s get some breakfast.” - -Mrs. Craig put an arm around Doris’s shoulder. “Never mind about Ralph -coming, dear,” she said. “I’m sure both he and Jean will understand.” - -Jean came in while Doris and Kit were eating breakfast. She poured -herself a cup of coffee and took a doughnut from the cookie jar. - -“I had breakfast at the hospital,” she told her mother, “but I’ll eat a -little something just to be sociable.” - -Mrs. Craig gazed fondly at her three daughters as they ate a leisurely -breakfast. Kit, in blue jeans and cotton plaid shirt, had her bare -feet wrapped around the rungs of her chair. Doris was pretty in a soft -cotton frock. She wore loafers and no socks, but her bare legs were -brown enough to give the illusion of stockings. Jean, on the other -hand, was crisp and white in her nurse’s uniform. - -Jean set down her coffee cup. “Mother,” she said finally, “is it all -right if Ralph and I get married this fall?” - -Doris and Kit looked at their sister. - -“You sound as if you were planning a picnic,” Kit drawled. - -“Well, for goodness sake,” Jean replied, “we’ve got to start planning -_sometime_.” - -“Of course you do, dear,” Mrs. Craig said. - -“We thought an October wedding would be nice,” Jean cried. “October is -my favorite month of the year.” - -“Where do you want to be married? What church, I mean?” Mrs. Craig -asked. - -Jean jumped up and hugged her mother. “Oh, Mother,” she cried, “can’t I -be married right here at home? I love this house so!” - -Mrs. Craig beamed. “Of course, dear. We were hoping that’s what you -would want.” - -“Me, too,” Kit cried. “I wouldn’t be married _anywhere_ else!” - -Mrs. Craig stared at Kit. “Great heavens!” she cried. “You aren’t -planning a wedding, too!” - -Kit laughed. “Of course not! Not for years and years. By the time I’m -ready to be married, I’ll be a plump little middle-aged woman, and -Frank will be in a wheel chair.” - -Mrs. Craig and the other girls were quiet for a moment. Finally Mrs. -Craig said, “Then you’ve made a definite choice.” - -Kit hesitated. “I ... I think so, Mother. I’m not sure.” - -Doris stood up. “Come on, Jean,” she said. “I want to show you -something.” - -Kit caught her arm. “No, wait, Doris. There’s no reason you can’t hear -this, too.” She studied her plate. “Frank and I talked a little bit -about it while I was in Washington. Of course I want to finish school. -But I ... I think I’m really in love with Frank Howard, Mother.” - -Mrs. Craig sighed and folded her hands. “That’s the important thing, -Kit,” she said. “And your father and I think he is a very fine person.” - -Doris and Jean squealed. - -“That’s wonderful, Kit!” Jean cried. - -“Oh, jeepers! It’s thrilling!” Doris echoed. - -Kit grimaced. “I’m sorry. Let’s get back to the wedding. Let’s have -it in October with lots of bitter-sweet around and the bride and -bridesmaids in bright autumn colors....” - -“Hey, whose wedding is this?” Jean cried. - -Kit scowled at her playfully. “Oh, you’ll want the regular conventional -white and pastel wedding.” - -“Well, what’s wrong with white and pastel?” Jean wanted to know. - -Kit shrugged. “It’s your wedding,” she agreed. “Go ahead. Don’t be -imaginative. I don’t care.” - -“Oh, Mother!” Jean cried. - -Mrs. Craig laughed in exasperation. “You all sound as if you were -children again. My goodness, Kit, _whatever_ is wrong with you this -morning?” - -Kit laughed. “Oh, nothing. I’m just jealous. Everyone’s going to have -her beau on hand but me.” - -“And I don’t have any beau on hand or anywhere else,” Doris said, -tossing her head. - -Kit looked at her. “Is that so?” she drawled. - -Doris jumped up, her cheeks scarlet. “Mother!” she cried. “Make her -stop!” - -Mrs. Craig sighed in exasperation. “Sometimes I wish you weren’t too -big for me to turn over my knee, Katherine Craig!” she said. - -Kit jumped up and put her arm around Doris. “I’m sorry, Doris,” she -cried. “I was just teasing you.” - -Jean was puzzled. “Whatever is this all about?” she asked. Kit started -to explain, but Mrs. Craig broke in firmly. - -“Tommy brought a friend home to dinner the other night, Jean,” she -said. “A very nice boy from Mercyville. He won a scholarship to Timothy -College, too. And he seemed to be very fond of Doris. That’s all.” - -Jean whistled. “A friend of Tommy’s? He must be a baby!” - -Doris stamped her foot. “He’s almost as old as Kit!” she said. “I think -you’re both ... awful!” And she ran from the kitchen. - -Mrs. Craig looked at her older daughters sternly. “Now really, girls,” -she said, “I’m ashamed of you both!” - -Jean and Kit looked at each other, crestfallen. - -“Oh, golly,” Jean said. “I keep forgetting Doris is growing up.” - -Mrs. Craig looked at them severely. “It would help if you two could -remember how mixed up and difficult life seemed to be when you were her -age.” - -Kit jumped up impulsively. “We’re both dreadful,” she admitted. “But -we’ll make it up to her. Why don’t we invite Bert to dinner? After the -game?” - -“I think it’s up to Doris,” Mrs. Craig replied. “I’ll suggest it, -though,” she said, relenting a little. - -Jean got up and went into the parlor. Doris was sitting on the piano -bench, her hands resting on the piano keys. Jean slipped her arm around -her sister’s shoulders. - -“Your new friend sounds very nice, Doris,” she said shyly. “I hope I -can meet him soon.” - -Doris grinned. “He’s really quite wonderful,” she admitted candidly. -“And he’s asked me out for our first date ... to a concert ... next -week!” - - - - -19. Elmhurst vs. Mercyville - - -The bleachers of the ballpark at Elmhurst High School were rapidly -filling. Down on the field, Tommy was throwing a ball to his warm-up -catcher, and Billy and Buzzy, together with the rest of the school -team, were running, catching balls that were batted out to them, and -playing catch. - -The Mercyville team was on the other side of the field warming up. -Doris and Kit climbed into their bleacher seats just back of first base -and watched the practice eagerly. - -“I don’t know so much about baseball,” Kit admitted. “We should have -brought someone along who knows the game.” - -“Yes,” Doris agreed. - -At three o’clock, the game started. Mercyville was at bat first, and -Kit felt her heart sink as Tommy, the pitcher, faced the first batter. -He looked very small and young as he took his windup. - -Tommy retired the first two batters, but the third man to face him -singled to right field. Buzzy Hancock, who was playing right field, -caught the ball on the first bounce and hurled it to the second -baseman. The Mercyville runner, who had rounded first base, saw the -Elmhurst second baseman catch the ball, and he scooted back to first. -Tommy tugged the neck of his shirt and turned to pitch to the fourth -batter. He struck the boy out on four pitches. - -Kit sighed with relief and settled back. Doris gnawed the end of her -finger. - -“I wish I hadn’t come,” she confessed to Kit. “This is awful!” - -Kit, realizing that Doris’s loyalties were divided, nodded -sympathetically. - -They watched the game in silence for two innings. Mercyville finally -scored two runs, but Tommy was still pitching well. - -Finally Kit and Doris heard Jean call to them from the back of the -bleachers. - -“Hey, there!” she called. “Is there room for two more down there?” - -“Oh, golly, there’s Jean with Ralph!” Kit cried. “Come on down!” she -called to them. “There’s lots of room.” - -Jean and Ralph made their way through the crowd. Doris and Kit squeezed -over to make room for them. Ralph grabbed their hands in welcome as he -sat down. - -“When Ralph heard there was a ballgame,” Jean explained, “he insisted -on coming. We haven’t even been home yet!” - -“Mercyville is ahead by two runs,” Kit lamented. - -“Yes, we heard,” Ralph said. - -“I’m glad we have someone who knows the game with us, now,” Doris said. -“Kit and I can’t make head or tail out of what is going on.” - -As the game progressed, Ralph gave the three girls a thorough lesson -in the game of baseball. Mercyville held their lead until the ninth -inning, when Elmhurst pushed a run across the plate. - -Doris could see Bert Cramer wave to his field captain from the -bench. The boy ran over to Bert and held a hurried conference with -him. Elmhurst had runners on first and third base with one man out. -Mercyville was worried. - -The Mercyville team captain, acting upon Bert’s instructions, called -for a new pitcher. - -“That’s smart baseball,” Ralph said. “We have a right-handed batter -next, and so Mercyville is putting in a right-handed pitcher.” - -“Whatever are you talking about?” Jean asked. - -Ralph chuckled. “There is a theory that a right-handed batter has -trouble getting a hit off a right-handed pitcher.” - -The new Mercyville pitcher struck the first batter out. A groan went up -from the bleachers. Most of the spectators were rooting for Elmhurst. -And the last batter of all hit an easy grounder to the second baseman. -The game was over, and Mercyville had beaten Elmhurst, two to one. - -Ralph and the girls made their way down through the crowd to the field, -where Tommy was standing beating his hand into his mitt dejectedly. - -“You pitched a _whale_ of a game, Tommy,” Ralph said, holding out his -hand. “There’s no reason to feel bad. Your whole team looked good.” - -“Thanks,” Tommy said sadly. “Boy, I never thought we could hold them. -But when we came so close, it sort of hurt to lose.” - -Ralph smiled. “I know, old man. Their generalship beat you. Their -players aren’t any better, but that boy who manages the team knows a -thing or two about the game.” - -Tommy grinned wryly. “Yeah,” he admitted. “My pal!” - -Bert Cramer trotted across the field. He held out his hand to Tommy. -“That was some game!” he cried. “You had us really worried.” - -“You were swell today,” Tommy said heartily. - -Bert turned around and saw Doris. “Gee, I didn’t know _you_ were here,” -he exclaimed. - -“This is my sister, Jean, and her fiance, Ralph MacRae,” Doris said. - -Bert shook hands with Ralph. “I’m glad to meet you,” he said. - -“And Mother said you were to come to dinner,” Doris continued, coloring -slightly. - -Bert smiled at Doris. “I’m glad your _mother_ wants me to come,” he -said softly. - -Doris blushed fiery red. “We all want you to come,” she said. - -“Oh, for heaven’s sake!” Tommy cried. - -“We’d better be getting home,” Jean said. “Ralph still has his bags -in the car.” She turned and smiled as Ralph took her arm. “Anyone who -wants to come with us, come along. There’s lots of room.” - -“We have to clean up,” Tommy said. “Bert and I’ll come along later.” - -As soon as they had showered and changed into fresh clothes, Tommy and -Bert headed for the Craig farmhouse in Bert’s second-hand Ford. They -rehashed the day’s game, play by play. - -“Jeepers, I sure wish I had a car of my own!” Tommy sighed. “How did -you get yours?” - -Bert shifted gears and guided the car towards the outskirts of town. “I -just saved up,” he explained. “You see, there are lots of jobs they pay -you for at Mercyville. The dirtier the job, the more money it pays. I -wanted my own car, so I took on a lot of hard jobs. It’s not so much of -a car, but it gets me there.” - -“I guess it’s pretty neat in Mercyville,” Tommy said. “You guys always -seem to have a swell time.” - -The older boy nodded. “It’s a wonderful place,” he agreed. “I get sort -of lonely, sometimes,” he added. “I guess it teaches you to get along -with people, though. Maybe when you don’t have anyone you can call your -very own, you realize how important people can be.” - -Tommy nodded in silent agreement. - -Bert hesitated. Then he said, “Tommy, you don’t ... mind about my -seeing Doris, do you?” - -Tommy made a face. “Why in heck should _I_ mind? Except I kind of wish -you’d hang around with us guys for a while. Buzzy Hancock and Billy -Ellis and the whole gang are swell guys ... you’d like ’em, I know.” - -Bert laughed. “I know I’ll like ’em, Tommy, if you say so. But Doris -is a swell girl. I like her a lot. And we’ll be going off to school -together, and I sort of want to get acquainted.” - -Tommy shrugged. “Sisters can be a pain in the neck, sometimes,” he said. - -“So can brothers,” Bert answered. “I know. I’ve got hundreds of ’em.” - -Tommy laughed. “Doris is a good kid. I’m really glad you like her. -Maybe I was just scared you were going to be ... mushy, or something, -about her.” - -Bert threw back his head and laughed heartily. - -“All the time guys think they have to get sentimental about girls. Boy, -a fellow with three sisters knows better!” Tommy cried. “Catch _me_ -ever getting moony about a girl!” - -“Well, we’ll see,” Bert said. “In two or three years you may change -your mind.” - -The family was out on the front porch when Tommy and Bert arrived. Mrs. -Craig had brought out a tray with lemonade and cookies, and everyone -was enjoying refreshments in the heat of the late summer afternoon. - -“Enter the victor and the vanquished,” Mr. Craig said, as the two boys -came up on the porch. “I hear it was a good game.” - -“One of the toughest we ever played, sir,” Bert said. - -“Yeah, me too,” Tommy agreed. “Hey, look! Food!” He went over to the -tray and poured two glasses of lemonade. “Here you go, Bert.” - -“Ralph has been explaining the game to us,” Doris said pertly. “Kit and -I didn’t exactly know what was going on till he and Jean got there.” - -Tommy looked up in disgust. “You might have asked me! I’d have told you -anything you wanted to know.” - -“Did you bring your violin, Bert?” Kit asked. - -Bert smiled up at her. “Now, just by coincidence, I have it in the car.” - -Mrs. Craig got up and picked up the tray. “My goodness, let the poor -boy rest! He’s been busy today.” - -“After dinner, Kit,” Bert promised. “If Doris wants to play.” - -Mr. Craig cleared his throat. “If you young people will scatter, I have -some things I want to talk over with Jean and Ralph. Seems there’s -going to be a wedding around here soon, and there are some details to -discuss.” - -Tommy jumped up. “Come on, Bert. I want to take Jack down to the hen -house and show him my new improvements. You can have a look, too.” - -Kit shook her head. “For heaven’s sake, Tommy. Bert is Doris’s guest -tonight!” She got up. “I’m going to write a letter. Holler when you -want me to help you with dinner, Mother.” - -“Aw, jeepers!” Tommy cried. “Come on, Jack. Let’s go!” He dashed down -the steps, Jack in tow. - -“Not so fast!” Mrs. Craig called. “Please be careful, Jack. Remember, -this is your first day up.” - -“If you would like to walk down and see the river, it’s just a little -way,” Doris said to Bert. - -He smiled and jumped up. “Let’s go,” he said. - -They wandered down to the banks of the stream which was flowing with -midsummer laziness. “This is our scenic high spot,” Doris explained. “I -love it here. Whenever anything goes wrong or I feel out of sorts, I -come down here to think things out.” - -Bert smiled slowly. “Yes, I can imagine,” he said. “It’s beautiful and -restful.” - -“For instance, I figured out about trying for the scholarship down here -by the water. Somehow things seem clearer here.” - -“What do you mean? Were you scared about trying out?” Bert asked. - -Doris smiled shyly. “Well, not exactly about trying out. But I was -mixed up about whether or not I wanted to leave home, even. I don’t -seem to have the spunk that Jean and Kit have. They always go out -chasing things. I always kind of liked it at home.” - -Bert was a born leader. It was hard for him to understand the fears and -doubts which plague the shy personality. But he had learned how real -these fears and doubts can be when he had worked with younger and shyer -boys at Mercyville. - -“But you did decide to try out,” he said, underlining her small triumph -over her shyness. - -She nodded slowly. “I wanted to go so badly,” she said softly. - -“I’m glad you did,” Bert whispered. “I love it when you play. It’s like -heaven, somehow.” He blushed. “That’s a dopey way to say it, I guess,” -he added. “We’ll have a super time down there, I’ll bet.” - -Hand in hand, they walked around the farm. Bert saw Tommy’s chicken -house and the berry patches and the small woods which stood near the -road. Finally, almost reluctantly, they turned towards the big house. - -Dinner was almost ready when they returned. Bert stopped at the car -and took out his violin. “We can have a concert after dinner, if they -like,” he said. - -Doris disappeared into the kitchen to help with the dinner, and Bert -took his violin into the parlor. As he laid it on the piano, Mr. Craig -came into the room. - -“Well, hello there, Bert,” he said. “So we’re having a concert after -dinner.” - -“If you like, sir,” Bert answered. - -“Fine, fine,” Mr. Craig said, rubbing his hands. - -“Mr. Craig, there is something I would like to tell you,” Bert said -hesitantly. - -“Why, go right ahead,” Mr. Craig said. - -Bert bent over the piano keys and touched a note lovingly. “I guess -you’ll think this is sort of funny to talk about. It’s about Doris.” - -“What’s on your mind, son?” Mr. Craig said gently. - -Bert reddened. “I think Doris is a wonderful girl,” he said in a low -voice. “We’re sort of pals, I mean. I like having her for a friend.” - -Mr. Craig smiled. “Why, that’s fine, Bert. I’m glad you do. I’m rather -fond of her, myself.” - -“But you don’t understand, sir,” Bert continued. “And I want to be sure -you _do_ understand how I feel. When I’m with her, I don’t exactly feel -like a friend, if you know what I mean.” He hit another key. “She makes -me feel as if I’d sort of ... like to take care of her and protect her -from things.” - -Mr. Craig’s first impulse was to chuckle. But he stopped himself and -said seriously, “I’m quite glad that you’re so fond of Doris, son. You -see, she’s a great one for hiding her light under a barrel. Someone -near her own age can make her see how foolish some of her fears are -better than her parents can.” - -Bert nodded solemnly. - -“But as for you,” Mr. Craig said. “I would say that you have pretty -normal feelings for a boy your age. After all, a seventeen-year-old -boy is getting to be pretty grown up. Naturally he finds some girls -attractive.” - -“I’m almost eighteen, Mr. Craig,” Bert said. “I just wanted to be sure -you didn’t mind. I mean, with my background, and everything.” - -Mr. Craig frowned. “Certainly you’re not ashamed of your background!” - -“Oh, no, sir! The only life I remember is life at Mercyville. I could -never be ashamed of living there!” - -“Then I guess we don’t need to talk about it any more, son,” Mr. Craig -said. - -“Thank you, Mr. Craig,” Bert said. “I’m glad what I said made you sort -of angry. A lot of people don’t ... don’t really understand.” - -After dinner, Doris and Bert played together in the parlor. Mr. and -Mrs. Craig sat hand in hand on the porch swing listening to the strains -of a Haydn sonata. - -“It seems to me that I’ve been giving advice to a lot of young -men today,” Mr. Craig commented dryly. “Ralph, about to step into -matrimony, and Bert, about to hurl himself into his first romance....” - -“Then Bert is really interested in Doris?” Mrs. Craig asked. - -Mr. Craig chuckled a little. “So he tells me.” - -Mrs. Craig grinned. “He certainly is a forthright young man. I like -him.” - -“Yes, so do I. Well, I hope our young friends will profit by what I had -to offer in the way of advice. I never felt less qualified in my life.” - -Mrs. Craig squeezed his hand. “I think you’re the most qualified -husband in the world!” - - - - -20. Sweethearts’ Dance - - -The ballroom of the Elmhurst Inn was lit by Japanese lanterns which -threw soft colored lights down on the dancers, who were swaying -dreamily to the music of a local dance band. - -The strains of “Stardust” filled the room, and Jean squeezed Ralph’s -hand tenderly. “This is perfect,” she whispered. “This is as close to -heaven as I’ve ever been!” - -Ralph looked down at the girl who was soon to be his wife. Her short -dark curls were caught in a white and silver ribbon which matched the -net evening frock she wore. Her large dark eyes were sparkling with -happiness. Ralph held her close to him. - -“This is our party, darling,” he whispered. “The whole town ... the -whole world ... is dancing because we are in love.” - -“The whole world except Kit and Frank,” Jean giggled. “Goodness, I hope -his train is on time.” - -“It is,” Ralph laughed. “Kit checked a half dozen times. They should be -here in another fifteen minutes.” - -They drifted past the bandstand, and the band leader saluted them with -his baton. - -“Somehow, everything seems so complete,” Jean said. “Look at Father and -Mother over there. You’d think this was _their_ wedding party instead -of ours.” - -Ralph glanced over and smiled. Mr. and Mrs. Craig were lost in each -other. Ralph was suddenly struck by a happy thought. Much as the Craigs -loved their family, they had had no time for just each other in many, -many years. As their children were growing older and preparing to leave -home, Mr. and Mrs. Craig seemed to be looking forward eagerly to the -day when they could have each other for themselves, alone. - -“They’re a handsome couple,” Ralph said. “One reason I picked you, of -course. A look at your mother convinced me I’d have a beautiful wife -forever.” - -“You’re an idiot!” Jean cried as the music came to an end. - -“Not at all. That’s very important,” Ralph teased. “Come on, let’s get -some punch.” - -Eileen and Dr. Benson were at the punch bowl. Jean grinned at them and -introduced Gerald to Ralph. - -The red-haired doctor studied Ralph for a moment. “So _you’re_ the man -our patient Griselda waited for. I’m glad to meet you, MacRae.” He held -out his hand. - -Ralph grabbed it and shook it warmly. “It’s a pleasure,” he said. “I’ve -heard all about you.” - -Gerald reddened. “You _are_ a forgiving man, then.” - -Ralph slipped an arm around Jean. “She wrote me all about how you -drilled her so well before her exams.” - -Eileen put down her cup of punch. “It’s a marvelous party,” she said. - -“Yes, it is,” Gerald agreed. “And we appreciate it more than we can -tell you. On account of the fact that circumstances are holding up -our own wedding, we enjoy ourselves cutting in on other people’s -celebrations.” - -“Eileen!” Jean cried. “You didn’t tell me!” - -“She’s spoke fer,” Gerald laughed. “And if I keep up the payments, she -can even keep the ring.” - -“You goose!” Eileen cried, holding out her hand. “Do you like it?” - -Jean examined the ring with squeals of enthusiasm. “Oh, golly,” she -sighed. “It’s perfect! But what on earth will Dr. Barsch do ... if you -get married?” - -“That’s one of the circumstances,” Gerald said. “I’ve a feeling he’d -ride me out of town on a rail if I snatched away his second Supervisor -of Nurses.” - -The music started again, and Ralph set down his cup. “May I borrow your -fiancee for a dance, doctor?” - -Gerald smiled and nodded. “Take care of her. She’s all I have.” He held -out his arms to Jean and whisked her away. - -“Happy?” he asked her. - -“Oh, yes!” she cried. “I can’t really believe that we’re actually going -to be married!” - -Gerald smiled wistfully. “He’s a very nice fellow,” he said. “Even now -I have a little twinge of conscience when I think about trying to cut -in on him.” He laughed. “Guys like me are always the worst. If anyone -tried to date Eileen, now, I’d really be sore.” - -“She’s a wonderful girl,” Jean agreed. “And I don’t think you have to -worry.” - -“It still seems too good to be true,” Gerald said. - -“What do you mean?” - -“Oh, I don’t know. I acted like such a jerk when I first came. Things -are different with everyone now. I’ve got my girl, and I’ve made good -friends with the doctors at the clinic. You know, I graduate, myself, -pretty soon.” - -“That’s right,” Jean said. “Your internship is almost over.” - -Gerald fought back a lump in his throat. “But the thing that gets me is -that they want me to stay on. Dr. Barsch, Ted Loring ... Daley, Jenkins -... all of them. Jean, you know, this is the first time in my life I -realize that people like me just because of myself.” - -Jean squeezed his hand in quick sympathy. - -Gerald cleared his throat. “And that poses a problem,” he said in a -very business-like voice. “Dr. Barsch is trying to convince me to go -into surgery. I’ve always been interested in psychiatry. But I think -I’ll stay on for a while and see what surgery is all about. After all, -they’re sort of my family, now. And I’ve been away from home too long.” - -Jean was so touched that tears came to her eyes. - -“Hey, here’s your sister, Kit,” Gerald said gruffly. - -Jean slipped away from him. “And Frank Howard. Come and meet him.” - -Kit and Frank were standing in the doorway, arm in arm. - -“Is this my party, Jean?” Frank teased as she and Gerald came over to -them. - -“No, sir, it’s mine,” Jean retorted. “But come in, anyway, and have a -good time.” - -Frank smiled down at Kit. “It’s not for us,” he said with mock -wistfulness. “Shall we stay? Or shall we get up our own party?” - -Kit sighed with pretended disappointment. “I guess we’ll have to make -the best of it. Let’s stay. It’s the only dance band in town.” - -“If you two idiots will stop talking for a minute, I’d like Frank to -meet Dr. Gerald Benson,” Jean cried. - -The two men shook hands. Before they could get past the door, Eileen -and Ralph joined them. Frank and Ralph shook hands. - -“Where’re your mother and father, Kit?” Frank asked. “Oh, I see them.” -The small crowd made its way across the dance floor to Mr. and Mrs. -Craig. Mrs. Craig took both of Frank’s hands in hers and kissed him on -the cheek. Mr. Craig shook his hand. - -“This is what you call the grand entrance,” Mr. Craig said. “I hope you -don’t mind a little dancing after a day of traveling.” - -“Not at all,” Frank said, slipping his arm around Kit’s waist. “It’s a -fine idea.” - -“You’ve got to meet someone else,” Kit whispered as they danced off. -“I haven’t told you yet about Doris’s young man, have I?” - -Frank looked at her in astonishment. “Doris!” he exclaimed. “That -child!” - -“Doris is exactly the age I was when I met you,” Kit reminded him. - -“Oh, my goodness!” Frank cried. “I forgot what an old woman you are, -now.” - -“Well, anyhow,” Kit said, ignoring his remark, “they should be around -here somewhere.” She scanned the ballroom. “I don’t see them, but -they’ll turn up.” - -After intermission, the band leader played _Stardust_ again for Jean -and Ralph. Then, when the music ended, he held up his hand. - -“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “I have a real surprise for you -tonight. Miss Craig has requested that my boys move over and make room -for a duet. Now, these are real musicians. They play classics. And -they’ve a number they want to play for the bride tonight.” - -Everyone applauded as Doris and Bert came to the stage and prepared to -play. In the hush that preceded their opening notes, the outer door to -the ballroom banged open. Everyone turned around to look. - -“I might have known,” Jean said under her breath to Ralph. “It’s Ted -and Ethel. He’s making his usual entrance.” - -Ethel, blushing furiously, turned to her husband, who was blithely -walking towards Jean and Ralph. “I _told_ you there was something going -on!” she hissed. - -Ted glanced up at the stage and saw Doris and Bert waiting for the -confusion to stop. “I guess I did it again,” he admitted sheepishly. -“Hush, everyone,” he said in an ineffectual effort to quiet the crowd. - -“Hush, yourself,” Ethel commanded in indignation. She turned to Jean. -“How on earth can I apologize?” - -Jean laughed. “Don’t try, Ethel,” she giggled. “Someday Ted is going to -make a quiet entrance somewhere, and we’ll all pass out from the shock.” - -The guests quieted down, and Doris and Bert began to play. Ralph -touched Jean’s arm and beckoned to her to follow him to the porch. They -stepped through the French windows and stood listening to the music. -Ralph put his arm around Jean and she put her head on his shoulder. -With reverence he touched a curl on the top of her head. “It wasn’t -very polite to sneak away from the concert, was it?” he whispered in -her ear. - -Jean shook her head. “No,” she whispered back, “it wasn’t.” - -“But I wanted to hear them play just with you,” Ralph continued in a -whisper. - -Jean reached up and squeezed his hand. The soft strains of the violin -drifted out to the porch and engulfed them. They listened breathlessly -till the last notes died away. Then Ralph leaned over and whispered, -“Miss Craig, I love you!” - - - - -21. Summer’s End - - -Mrs. Craig surveyed the chaotic parlor, sighed and sat down. She picked -up a small black notebook and a pencil and started to write headings on -separate pages. The first page was devoted to Kit and the things she -would need before she returned to Hope College. The second page she -labeled “Doris.” Then, with a nostalgic sigh, she headed the third page -“Jean.” She knew that plans for the wedding would fill the rest of the -book. - -Two trunks stood near the door to the hall. Two trunks which would -go in almost opposite directions. Mrs. Craig smiled as she looked at -the two piles of clothes to be packed. One could tell the differences -between Kit and Doris just from looking at those piles. - -Kit’s was the larger. Her wardrobe was gay, collegiate and nearly -complete. Doris’s was much more utilitarian, but at the same time, more -feminine. Mrs. Craig shook herself out of her contemplations and got -up. Going to the foot of the stairs, she called: - -“Kit! Doris! Girls, please come down. Your things are all over the -parlor waiting to be packed!” - -Arm in arm, Kit and Doris appeared at the top of the stairs. - -“Coming, Mother,” Kit called. They scrambled down the stairs. - -“Golly, I don’t know where the summer’s gone,” Kit protested. “Here -it is August, and Frank has to go back home, and I have to go back to -school, and it’s almost time for Jean’s wedding ... and, oh, Mother!” -she threw herself into her mother’s arms. “Why does she have to go so -far away!” - -“Never mind, dear,” Mrs. Craig said. - -Doris looked at the mess in the parlor and shook her head. “How’re we -going to get everything in?” - -Kit shrugged. “We always do,” she said philosophically. “Come on. Let’s -get to work.” - -As they packed, Mrs. Craig jotted down the errands which must be done -in the remaining two months before the wedding. Invitations, lists -of bridesmaids and ushers, parties, flowers and decorations for the -house.... - -“Somehow, it hardly seems worthwhile _going_ to school till after the -wedding,” Kit said. “I’ll no sooner get settled than I’ll have to turn -around and come back.” - -“Me, too,” said Doris. - -“Is Bert going to drive you down?” Kit asked nonchalantly. - -“Great heavens!” Mrs. Craig exclaimed. - -“Don’t be silly,” Doris said. “He isn’t even going to drive. He’s -afraid to take the car on such a long trip. It’s pretty old, you know.” - -“With Jean working so hard,” Mrs. Craig commented, “I’ll have to do all -this myself.” - -“Well, certainly Becky will help you, Mother,” Kit said. - -“Of course she will,” Mrs. Craig said. “But you know Becky. You ask her -for an inch, and she gives a mile. Land, she’s busy enough, these days.” - -“By the way, where are all the men in this house?” Doris asked. - -“Oh, around,” Kit said, jamming her sweaters into a trunk drawer. - -“Tommy and Jack are down with the chickens,” Mrs. Craig said. “Your -father and Frank are downtown. Ralph is upstairs waiting for Jean to -call from the hospital. They have an appointment with Dr. Fisher this -afternoon.” - -“Dr. who?” Kit asked. “What for?” - -“The Reverend Dr. Fisher,” Doris said. “The man who’s going to _marry_ -them.” - -“Oh,” said Kit. She started to hang her skirts on the trunk’s hangers. -“Getting married is an awful nuisance,” she said. - -“Why, Kit!” Mrs. Craig cried. - -Kit smiled. “I guess I’ll have to elope. Think of all the trouble I’ll -save you.” - -“You can finish your packing, young lady, and stop talking nonsense if -you want to save me trouble,” Mrs. Craig said. - -As Kit finished packing her trunk, Frank poked his head in the doorway. -“Hi,” he called. “Anyone need any help?” - -“Nope,” Doris said. “We’re all through.” - -Mrs. Craig laughed helplessly. “Why don’t you young people run along? I -want to concentrate.” - -Frank grinned. “Come on, Kit. Let’s take a walk.” - -“Just a minute,” Kit said. “I’ll meet you down by the mailbox.” - -Kit and Doris walked out into the hall. - -“Before I go out, Doris, I want to give you something,” Kit said, -handing her a small, ugly doll. - -Doris took it and looked at it. - -“It’s some sort of good luck charm that Uncle Bart and I found in that -mummy we were examining together. You know, when I first went up to -Hope. I want you to have it.” - -Doris’s fingers closed around the doll. “Gee, thanks, Kit,” she said. - -“You know why, I guess,” Kit said. “I kept it with me all year at -school. And it’s pretty exciting, going away to school for the first -time. I guess you know how proud we all are of you.” Kit looked down. -“Jean and I ... well, we always have a lot of things going. And of -course now Jean has graduated, and that was pretty exciting. But -neither of us ever did anything like winning an honest-to-goodness -scholarship. Sometimes I think people get the wrong impression. They -always think we can do things. But it’s _you_ who can _really_ do -_wonderful_ things.” - -Doris hugged her sister. “Kit, you shouldn’t talk like that,” she -cried. “All in the world I ever want is to live up to you!” - -“You’ll do better than that,” Kit said. “And another thing. It was mean -of me to tease you about Bert. He’s one of the nicest boys I’ve ever -met.” - -Doris looked down. “Thanks, Kit,” she said softly. “I think so, too.” - -Kit turned and ran out of the front door. Doris watched her as she -waved to Frank and dashed down the long driveway. - -Frank took her hand, and together they started down towards the river. - -“The end of summer,” Kit said moodily. “All year long you live with the -hope of the benevolent season, and then it comes and goes.” - -“My goodness, but you sound gloomy today,” Frank said, sitting down on -the bank of the stream. - -“Oh, I’m glad to be going back to college, I guess,” Kit said. “Only I -sort of wish this summer hadn’t had such _definite_ results. It makes -me feel all empty inside when I think about going away to Wisconsin -when you’ll be in Washington.” - -Frank lifted her hand and studied her palm. “Empty, Kit?” he asked. “It -shouldn’t. You should be fuller than before. Wherever you go, I go,” he -said softly. - -Kit threw herself into his arms. “Oh, Frank, think about me all the -time! Sometimes I think I won’t be so lonely if I know you’ll have me -in your thoughts!” - -“You know I will, Kit.” - -“And next summer will come before we know it,” she said bravely. - -Frank nodded. “We’ll both be here for the wedding. And maybe at -Christmas time. Kit, the year will go by before you realize it.” - -She nestled in his arms. “Oh, look,” she said. “Here comes Jean. She -must have changed her mind about calling Ralph from the hospital.” - -They watched Jean stroll up the driveway. Then they saw Ralph come out -onto the porch. And as they watched, Jean and Ralph ran towards each -other, met, and embraced with the tenderness and ardor of a precious -and invaluable love. - - - - -Transcriber’s Note: - -Punctuation has been standardised. Hyphenation has been retained as -published in the original publication. Changes have been made as -follows: - - Page 13 - thinking of Jack, the Craig’s _changed to_ - thinking of Jack, the Craigs’ - - Page 14 - be at the hopital now _changed to_ - be at the hospital now - - Page 30 - the Craig’s farmhouse _changed to_ - the Craigs’ farmhouse - - Page 43 - choose sodium pentathol _changed to_ - choose sodium pentothal - - Page 58 - Mr. Craig came downtairs _changed to_ - Mr. Craig came downstairs - - Page 64 - The following lines in the original book have been moved - from the fifth to sixth paragraph: - - minerals have calories. The function of the mineral - is not to provide body heat.” She flipped a page. “Now - - Page 65 - Sally nooded _changed to_ - Sally nodded - - Page 69 - Dr. Benson pounded his first _changed to_ - Dr. Benson pounded his fist - - Page 90 - a decent meals in months _changed to_ - a decent meal in months - - Page 147 - the tour started for the center of town _changed to_ - the four started for the center of town - - Page 171 - the doorway, She saw Tommy _changed to_ - the doorway, she saw Tommy - - Page 175 - he hold timself _changed to_ - he told himself - - Page 197 - he he exclaimed _changed to_ - he exclaimed - - Page 211 - whispered back, “It wasn’t.” _changed to_ - whispered back, “it wasn’t.” - - Page 215 - in that mummy we were examing _changed to_ - in that mummy we were examining - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JEAN CRAIG, GRADUATE -NURSE *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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