Marion Marlowe's Noble Work, or, The Tragedy at the Hospital — page 4: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

= | MY QUEEN. “Yes, ‘Big Belle, the Confidence Queen,’ is head nurse there now, I believe,” Brookes, ‘ laughed ‘or at least she is guardian of the woman’s ward just at present. I expect I'll have to leave my watch and money outside when I go on duty. She oe try her skill on me, just to keep in practice.” “Well, [ am sorry for you, doc; still it is better than no berth at all,’ said Greenaway, sadly, “I didn’t get a thing, and I’m the poor- est man in the college.” “By Jove, that’s too bad!” Brookes, with feeling. said Reginald “But, say, what are you going to do; yofi can’t go into general practice without capital.” Fred Greenaway shrugged his shoulders and frowned slightly. he said, briefly, “but I'll eet on to something. I’m not worrying about it.” “T used up all I had on my education,” Dick Fielding rushed away at tae n moment in answer to a call from a friend, and in a flash Dr, Brookes put his hand on Green- away’s shoulder. “Let me lend you five thousand to start with, old chap! I can do it as well as not, and you can give me an I. O. U. for se- curity.” Fred Greenaway looked up at the hand- some fellow in amazement. “Great Cesar! , he asked, excitedly. “Certainly,”,said young Brv >kes, briefly, as he drew a check book from his pocket. “Why the deuce didn’t you tell me you were hard up before. [ thought you considered me your friend, you rascal!” Fred Greenaway did not speak for the space of a minute. Such generosity as this was totally unknown to him, and just at this time it was doubly and trebly grateful. “T guess [| should have gone to the wall in as Brookes check. “TI spite of my rit,” he said slowly, folded and handed him the Do you mean that, doc?” haven’t five dollars in my pocket this min- ute, and as there wasn’t a ghost of a show in sight for me to practice my profession, I was starting out to apply for a job as motorman on a street car, or something of that sort.” “Let me know how you get on,” said Brookes, as he waited for the I. O. U. that “I'll be on the. Island for a year, I suppose, unless I find, as Greenaway was scribbling. Fielding says, that I am actually rusting.” Brookes ?” “With your money, what is to hinder your coming “But why do you go there, asked his friend, rather anxiously. straight into practice?” Reginald Brookes did not answer the ques~ — tion immediately; he appeared to be a little embarrassed. “T’ll tell you, Fred!’ he blurted out finally, “but don’t give me away, old man, or the boys will say I lack ambition ; but the fact is I’m in love—desperately in love, and it is with a sweet little nurse who is ‘on proba- tion’ in Charity.” “I see,” said Greenaway, with a smile of amusement. “And you can’t bear the idea of having the East River roll between you! Well, I don’t know that I blame you, doc, for after all, what’s the good of money if you can’t be independent !” “Tt is just this way,” said Brookes, seri- ously, as the two {friends started slowly up Fifty-ninth street. “She is a beautiful girl, a country lass, and fresh as a daisy. I’m sure I don’t know how she can endure that place, but she is determined to stay there and — = take care of those poor wretches, and some way I thought she would be happier if | went — over and helped her.” “Oh, how generous we are!” said Green- away, laughing. would be happier on Blackwell’s Island with her than you would on Fifth avenue with — any other woman.” “T see you know how it is,” Gomicboo CS com YY “You mean you knew you — said young ae