the red cross girl-第3章

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offer　them　a　seat　in　the　subway。　They　are　the　only　thing　in
New　York　that　gives　me　any　trouble。〃

The　city　editor　sighed。　〃How　young　you　are！〃　he　exclaimed。
〃However；　to…morrow　you　will　be　free　from　your　only　trouble。
There　will　be　few　women　at　the　celebration；　and　they　will　be
interested　only　in　convalescentsand　you　do　not　look　like　a
convalescent。〃

Sam　Ward　sat　at　the　outer　edge　of　the　crowd　of　overdressed
females　and　overfed　men；　and；　with　a　sardonic　smile；　listened
to　Flagg　telling　his　assembled　friends　and　sycophants　how
glad　he　was　they　were　there　to　see　him　give　away　a　million
dollars。

〃Aren't　you　going　to　get　his　speech？〃；　asked　Redding；　the
staff　photographer。

〃Get　HIS　speech！〃　said　Sam。　〃They　have　Pinkertons　all　over
the　grounds　to　see　that　you　don't　escape　with　less　than　three
copies。　I'm　waiting　to　hear　the　ritual　they　always　have；　and
then　I'm　going　to　sprint　for　the　first　train　back　to　the
centre　of　civilization。〃

〃There's　going　to　be　a　fine　lunch；〃　said　Redding；　〃and
reporters　are　expected。　I　asked　the　policeman　if　we　were；　and
he　said　we　were。〃

Sam　rose；　shook　his　trousers　into　place；　stuck　his　stick
under　his　armpit　and　smoothed　his　yellow　gloves。　He　was　very
thoughtful　of　his　clothes　and　always　treated　them　with
courtesy。

〃You　can　have　my　share；〃　he　said。　〃I　cannot　forget　that　I　am
fifty…five　minutes　from　Broadway。　And　even　if　I　were　starving
I　would　rather　have　a　club　sandwich　in　New　York　than　a
Thanksgiving　turkey　dinner　in　New　Rochelle。〃

He　nodded　and　with　eager；　athletic　strides　started　toward　the
iron　gates；　but　he　did　not　reach　the　iron　gates；　for　on　the
instant　trouble　barred　his　way。　Trouble　came　to　him　wearing
the　blue　cambric　uniform　of　a　nursing　sister；　with　a　red
cross　on　her　arm；　with　a　white　collar　turned　down；　white
cuffs　turned　back；　and　a　tiny　black　velvet　bonnet。　A　bow　of
white　lawn　chucked　her　impudently　under　the　chin。　She　had
hair　like　golden…rod　and　eyes　as　blue　as　flax；　and　a
complexion　of　such　health　and　cleanliness　and　dewiness　as
blooms　only　on　trained　nurses。

She　was　so　lovely　that　Redding　swung　his　hooded　camera　at　her
as　swiftly　as　a　cowboy　could　have　covered　her　with　his　gun。

Reporters　become　star　reporters　because　they　observe　things
that　other　people　miss　and　because　they　do　not　let　it　appear
that　they　have　observed　them。　When　the　great　man　who　is　being
interviewed　blurts　out　that　which　is　indiscreet　but　most
important；　the　cub　reporter　says：　〃That's　most　interesting；
sir。　I'll　make　a　note　of　that。〃　And　so　warns　the　great　man
into　silence。　But　the　star　reporter　receives　the　indiscreet
utterance　as　though　it　bored　him；　and　the　great　man　does　not
know　he　has　blundered　until　he　reads　of　it　the　next　morning
under　screaming　headlines。

Other　men；　on　being　suddenly　confronted　by　Sister　Anne；　which
was　the　official　title　of　the　nursing　sister；　would　have
fallen　backward；　or　swooned；　or　gazed　at　her　with　soulful；
worshipping　eyes；　or；　were　they　that　sort　of　beast；　would
have　ogled　her　with　impertinent　approval。　Now　Sam；　because　he
was　a　star　reporter；　observed　that　the　lady　before　him　was
the　most　beautiful　young　woman　he　had　ever　seen；　but　no　one
would　have　guessed　that　he　observed　thatleast　of　all　Sister
Anne。　He　stood　in　her　way　and　lifted　his　hat；　and　even　looked
into　the　eyes　of　blue　as　impersonally　and　as　calmly　as　though
she　were　his　great…auntas　though　his　heart　was　not　beating
so　fast　that　it　choked　him。

〃I　am　from　the　REPUBLIC；〃　he　said。　〃Everybody　is　so　busy　here
to…day　that　I'm　not　able　to　get　what　I　need　about　the　Home。
It　seems　a　pity；〃　he　added　disappointedly；　〃because　it's　so
well　done　that　people　ought　to　know　about　it。〃　He　frowned　at
the　big　hospital　buildings。　It　was　apparent　that　the
ignorance　of　the　public　concerning　their　excellence　greatly
annoyed　him。

When　again　he　looked　at　Sister　Anne　she　was　regarding　him　in
alarmobviously　she　was　upon　the　point　of　instant　flight。

〃You　are　a　reporter？〃　she　said。

Some　people　like　to　place　themselves　in　the　hands　of　a
reporter　because　they　hope　he　will　print　their　names　in　black
letters；　a　few　othersonly　reporters　know　how　fewwould　as
soon　place　themselves　in　the　hands　of　a　dentist。

〃A　reporter　from　the　REPUBLIC；〃　repeated　Sam。

〃But　why　ask　ME？〃　demanded　Sister　Anne。

Sam　could　see　no　reason　for　her　question；　in　extenuation　and
explanation　he　glanced　at　her　uniform。

〃I　thought　you　were　at　work　here；〃　he　said　simply。　〃I　beg
your　pardon。〃

He　stepped　aside　as　though　he　meant　to　leave　her。　In　giving
that　impression　he　was　distinctly　dishonest。

〃There　was　no　other　reason；〃　persisted　Sister　Anne。　〃I　mean
for　speaking　to　me？〃

The　reason　for　speaking　to　her　was　so　obvious　that　Sam
wondered　whether　this　could　be　the　height　of　innocence　or　the
most　banal　coquetry。　The　hostile　look　in　the　eyes　of　the　lady
proved　it　could　not　be　coquetry。

〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　Sam。　〃I　mistook　you　for　one　of　the　nurses
here；　and；　as　you　didn't　seem　busy；　I　thought　you　might　give
me　some　statistics　about　the　Home　not　really　statistics；　you
know；　but　local　color。〃

Sister　Anne　returned　his　look　with　one　as　steady　as　his　own。
Apparently　she　was　weighing　his　statement。　She　seemed　to
disbelieve　it。　Inwardly　he　was　asking　himself　what　could　be
the　dark　secret　in　the　past　of　this　young　woman　that　at　the
mere　approach　of　a　reportereven　of　such　a　nice…looking　
reporter　as　himselfshe　should　shake　and　shudder。　〃If　that's
what　you　really　want　to　know；〃　said　Sister　Anne　doubtfully；〃
I'll　try　and　help　you；　but；〃　she　added；　looking　at　him　as　one
who　issues　an　ultimatum；　〃you　must　not　say　anything　about
me！〃

Sam　knew　that　a　woman　of　the　self…advertising；　club…
organizing　class　will　always　say　that　to　a　reporter　at　the
time　she　gives　him　her　card　so　that　he　can　spell　her　name
correctly；　but　Sam　recognized　that　this　young　woman　meant　it。
Besides；　what　was　there　that　he　could　write　about　her？　Much
as　he　might　like　to　do　so；　he　could　not　begin　his　story　with：
〃The　Flagg　Home　for　Convalescents　is　also　the　home　of　the
most　beautiful　of　all　living　women。〃　No　copy　editor　would　let
that　get　by　him。　So；　as　there　was　nothing　to　say　that　he
would　be　allowed　to　say；　he　promised　to　say　nothing。　Sister
Anne　smiled；　and　it　seemed　to　Sam　that　she　smiled；　not
because　his　promise　had　set　her　mind　at　ease；　but　because　the
promise　amused　her。　Sam　wondered　why。

Sister　Anne　fell　into　step　beside　him　and　led　him　through　the
wards　of　the　hospital。　He　found　that　it　existed　for　and
revolved　entirely　about　one　person。　He　found　that　a　million
dollars　and　some　acres　of　buildings；　containing　sun…rooms　and
hundreds　of　rigid　white　beds；　had　been　donated　by　Spencer
Flagg　only　to　provide　a　background　for　Sister　Anneonly　to
exhibit　the　depth　of　her　charity；　the　kindness　of　her　heart；
the　unselfishness　of　her　nature。

〃Do　you　really　scrub　the　floors？〃　he　demanded〃I　mean　you
yourselfdown　on　your　knees；　with　a　pail　and　water　and
scrubbing　brush？〃

Sister　Anne　raised　her　beautiful　eyebrows　and　laughed　at　him。

〃We　do　that　when　we　first　come　here；〃　she　said〃when　we　are
probationers。　Is　there　a　newer　way　of　scrubbing　floors？〃

〃And　these　awful　patients；〃　demanded　Sam〃do　you　wait　on
them？　Do　you　have　to　submit　to　their　complaints　and　whinings
and　ingratitude？〃　He　glared　at　the　unhappy　convalescents　as
though　by　that　glance　he　would　annihilate　them。　〃It's　not
fair！〃　exclaimed　Sam。　〃It's　ridiculous。　I'd　like　to　choke
them！〃

〃That's　not　exactly　the　object　of　a　home　for　convalescents；〃
said　Sister　Anne。

〃You　know　perfectly　well　what　I　mean；〃　said　Sam。　〃Here　are
youif　you'll　allow　me　to　say　soa　magnificent；　splendid；
healthy　young　person；　wearing　out　your　young　life　over　a　lot
of　lame　ducks；　failures；　and　cripples。〃

〃Nor　is　that　quite　the　way　we　look　at；〃　said　Sister　Anne。

〃We？〃　demanded　Sam。

Sister　Anne　nodded　toward　a　group　of　nurse

〃I'm　not　the　only　nurse　here；〃　she　said　〃There　are　over
forty。〃

〃You　are　the　only　one　here；〃　said　Sam；　〃who　is　not！　That's
Just　what　I　meanI　appreciate　the　work　of　a　trained　nurse；　I
understand　the　ministering　angel　part　of　it；　but　youI'm　not
talking　about　anybody　else；　I'm　talking　about　youyou　are
too　young！　Somehow　you　are　different；　you　are　not　meant　to
wear　yourself　out　fighting　disease　and　sickness；　measuring
beef　broth　and　making　beds。〃

Sister　Anne　laughed　with　delight。

〃I　beg　your　pardon；〃　said　Sam　stiffly。

〃Nopardon　me；〃　said　Sister　Anne；　〃but　your　ideas　of　the
duties　of　a　nurse　are　so　quaint。〃

〃No　matter　what　the　duties　are；〃　declared　Sam；　〃You　should
not　be　here！〃

Sister　Anne　shrugged　her　shoulders；　they　were　charming
shouldersas　delicate　as　the　pinions　of　a　bird。

〃One　must　live；〃　said　Sister　Anne。

They　had　passed　through　the　last　cold　corridor；　between　the
last　rows　of　rigid　white　cots；　and　had　come　out　into　the
sunshine。　Below　them　stretched　Connecticut；　painted　in　autumn
colors。　Sister　Anne　seated　herself　upon　the　marble　railing　of
the　terrace　and　looked　down　upon　the　flashing　waters　of　the
Sound。

〃Yes；　that's　it；〃　she　repeated　softly〃one　must　live。〃

Sam　looked　at　herbut；　finding　that　to　do　so　made　speech
difficult；　looked　hurriedly　away。　He　admitted　to　himself　that
it　was　one　of　those　occasions；　only　too　frequent　with　him；
when　his　indignant　sympathy　was　heightened　by　the　fact　that
〃the　woman。　was　very　fair。〃　He　conceded　that。　He　was　not
going　to　pretend　to　himself　that　he　was　not　prejudiced　by　the
outrageous　beauty　of　Sister　Anne；　by　the　assault　upon　his
feelings　made　by　her　uniformmade　by　the　appeal　of　her
profession；　the　gentlest　and　most　gracious　of　all
professions。　He　was　honestly　disturbed　that　this　young　girl
should　devote　her　life　to　the　service　of　selfish　sick　people。

〃If　you　do　it　because　you　must　live；　then　it　can　easily　be
arranged；　for　there　are　other　ways　of　earning　a　living。〃

The　girl　looked　at　him　quickly；　but　he　was　quite　sincereand
again　she　smiled。

〃Now　what　would　you　suggest？〃　she　asked。　〃You　see；〃　she　said；
〃I　have　no　one　to　advise　meno　man　of　my　own　age。　I　have　no
brothers　to　go　to。　I　have　a　father；　but　it　was　his　idea　that
I　should　come　here；　and　so　I　doubt　if　he　would　approve　of　my
changing　to　any　other　work。　Your　own　work　must　make　you
acquainted　with　many　women　who　earn　their　own　living。　Maybe
you　could　advise　me？〃

Sam　did　not　at　once　answer。　He　was　calculating　hastily　how
far　his　salary　would　go　toward　supporting　a　wife。　He　was
trying　to　remember　which　of　the　men　in　the　office　were
married；　and　whether　they　were　those　whose　salaries　were
smaller　than　his　own。　Collins；　one　of　the　copy　editors；　he
knew；　was　very　ill…paid；　but　Sam　also　knew　that　Collins　was
married；　because　his　wife　used　to　wait　for　him　in　the　office
to　take　her　to　the　theatre；　and　often　Sam　had　thought　she　was
extremely　well　dressed。　Of　course　Sister　Anne　was　so
beautiful　that　what　she　might　wear　would　be　a　matter　of
indifference；　but　then　women　did　not　always　look　at　it　that
way。　Sam　was　so　long　considering　offering　Sister　Anne　a　life
position　that　his　silence　had　become　significant；　and　to
cover　his　real　thoughts　he　said　hurriedly：

〃Take　type…writing；　for　instance。　That　pays　very　well。　The
hours　are　not　dif