the red cross girl-第3部分

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and　Hewitt；　the　city　editor；　humored　him。

〃What's　the　matter　with　the　story？〃　asked　the　city　editor。
〃With　the　speeches　and　lists　of　names　it　ought　to　run　to　two
columns。〃

〃Suppose　it　does！〃　exclaimed　Ward；　〃anybody　can　collect
type…written　speeches　and　lists　of　names。　That's　a　messenger
boy's　job。　Where's　there　any　heart…interest　in　a　Wall　Street
broker　like　Flagg　waving　a　silver　trowel　and　singing；　'See
what　a　good　boy　am！'　and　a　lot　of　grownup　men　in　pinafores
saying；　'This　stone　is　well　and　truly　laid。'　Where's　the
story　in　that？〃

〃When　I　was　a　reporter；〃　declared　the　city　editor；　〃I　used　to
be　glad　to　get　a　day　in　the　country。〃

〃Because　you'd　never　lived　in　the　country；〃　returned　Sam。　〃If
you'd　wasted　twenty…six　years　in　the　backwoods；　as　I　did；
you'd　know　that　every　minute　you　spend　outside　of　New　York
you're　robbing　yourself。〃

〃Of　what？〃　demanded　the　city　editor。　〃There's　nothing　to　New
York　except　cement；　iron　girders；　noise；　and　zinc　garbage
cans。　You　never　see　the　sun　in　New　York；　you　never　see　the
moon　unless　you　stand　in　the　middle　of　the　street　and　bend
backward。　We　never　see　flowers　in　New　York　except　on　the
women's　hats。　We　never　see　the　women　except　in　cages　in　the
elevatorsthey　spend　their　lives　shooting　up　and　down
elevator　shafts　in　department　stores；　in　apartment　houses；　in
office　buildings。　And　we　never　see　children　in　New　York
because　the　janitors　won't　let　the　women　who　live　in
elevators　have　children！　Don't　talk　to　me！　New　York's　a
Little　Nemo　nightmare。　It's　a　joke。　It's　an　insult！〃

〃How　curious！〃　said　Sam。　〃Now　I　see　why　they　took　you　off　the
street　and　made　you　a　city　editor。　I　don't　agree　with
anything　you　say。　Especially　are　you　wrong　about　the　women。
They　ought　to　be　caged　in　elevators；　but　they're　not。
Instead；　they　flash　past　you　in　the　street；　they　shine　upon
you　from　boxes　in　the　theatre；　they　frown　at　you　from　the
tops　of　buses；　they　smile　at　you　from　the　cushions　of　a　taxi；
across　restaurant　tables　under　red　candle　shades；　when　you
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