Adventure Magazine, Mid-September 1917 — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

Wild and Woolly it would give the hospital such a hard name if you would sue. She asks as a special favor that you say nothing of the matter even to Dr. Hansen.” Jonesy reflected. “Well, it all depends,” he said. “All I want is to be treated decently. You can tell ’em that.” She left the room and soon returned. ‘‘Miss Evans said you are to be given extraordinary attention. If you want any- thing at all just ask for it.” Miss Powell hesitated as if undecided about what she had planned to say next. “Oh, yes, Mr. Jones,” she continued finally, “‘if it’s just the same to you Miss Simpson requests especially that you make absolutely no mention of those little private matters concerning her— whatever they are.”’ “It’s all right about that. You say I get everything I want from now on—huh?”’ She nodded. “Everything in our power to let you have.” “All right then, what about puttin’ my bed over by the window so I can see the ball park.” “‘Q-o-o-oh! Mis—ter Jones! The doctor said pos——” ‘‘Aw, intern the doc an’ anything he said. Besides I can be pushed back every day before he comes to see me.” Miss Powell left the room. When she returned it was with a negro porter who pushed Jonesy’s bed across the room. ‘““Now, what about some sporting pages?”’ Jonesy asked. 7 The student-nurse frowned. “Oh, you terrible thing,’’ she complained. But the sporting pages were placed be- fore him in a short time, and, propped-up in bed, Jonesy pored over them intently. He slapped his thigh when he saw that Live- burg had come from the bottom to third by sensational playing since he had been laid up. Most of their work had been done in the past two weeks, in this time ten succes- Sive wins being placed to Liveburg’s credit. ‘Gosh, ain’t that baseball!’ he beamed upon Miss Powell. He was surprised to see marked concern in her face. ‘‘What—what’s got you now, child?” he asked, letting the papers fall from his grasp. ‘“‘Oh, please, please don’t allow yourself to get so excited. You are not going to get well—nearly so fast.” 97 There was something in this appeal which did not sound at all coldly professional. There was something which again made him think that she belonged more in a cozy home than in a hospital. “‘Come here,” he commanded. She took a seat at the side of the bed and Jonesy picked up both of her hands. Her lips were trembling, tears came to her eyes and she turned her head in an effort to con- ceal them. A lock of soft brown hair fell from her forehead. ‘Twisting the hair about his finger Jonesy gave a yank. Her face turned toward him. For a long while he looked into her eyes. Then he tugged several times on the lock of hair with the result that her cheek was very soon resting against Jonesy’s, he was kissing her with abandon and she was sobbing on his shoulder. ‘Jerusalem, but my shoulder’s gettin’ soaked,” exclaimed Jonesy after five min- utes of this ecstasy. He pulled on her ear until she was look- ing into his eyes. She had to smile. ‘“We’re not goin’ to be able to live in any upstairs flat if you expect to stage this. April business very much.” Again Miss Powell’s face dropped to Jonesy’s shoulder. This time her color was crimson. She clung to him until he thumped her on the chin. “Hey, come out of it, quick. Here comes somebody,” he warned. pe up a spectacle-case on the dresser and retired without a word. “Darn that pelican,” he growled. ways interrupting meetin’s of the board. if a fly’d light on the end of her nose she’d have to throw the swatter to get him.” “Shame on you,” chided Miss Powell, lifting up his head so she could straighten around his pillow. Jonesy submissively permitted her to also rearrange the covers and brush his hair. He closed his eyes so he could throw his whole mind into the en- joyment of her ministrations. IT WAS Miss Simpson. She picked “AL She had taken hold of him as if she were - his boss; and he liked it. It was almost time for the game. Car after car, packed with fans, passed down the street on their way to Sportsman’ S Park. Several times Jonesy tried to sit up in bed to get a better look, but each time he was pushed firmly back upon the mattress where he met Miss Powell’s play-scorn look COmiclboo (©