Part 9

“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.