hr.thecarpetbaggers-第122节

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　〃Then　you'll　take　the　thousand　dollars？〃
　She　nodded。　〃And　the　scholarship　to　St。　Mary's；　too。　That　way；　you'll　be　able　to　live　while　I'm　away。〃
　〃I　won't　accept　your　money。〃
　〃Yes；　you　will；　Daddy；〃　she　said　softly。　〃At　least；　until　you　find　a　job　and　get　back　on　your　feet　again。〃
　He　felt　the　tears　rush　into　his　eyes　and　suddenly　he　pulled　her　to　him。　〃Do　you　love　me；　Jennie　Bear？　Do　you　love　your　poor　miserable　failure　of　a　father？〃
　〃You　know　I　do；　Daddy；〃　she　said　quickly；　her　head　against　his　chest。　And　they　clung　to　each　other；　crying；　there　on　the　steps　in　the　quiet；　cool　autumn　twilight。
　
　7
　
　THE　ONLY　SOUND　FOR　A　MOMENT　WAS　THE　SLIGHT　HISSING　THAT　CAME　FROM　THE　FLUORESCENT　LAMPS　OVER　THE　SURGICAL　AREA。　Dr。　Grant's　hands　were　quick　and　sure　as　he　deftly　lifted　the　perfectly　normal　appendix　from　the　heavy…set；　wealthy　woman　lying　on　the　operating　table。　His　deep；　masculine　voice　rumbled　in　the　silence。　〃That　will　do　it；〃　he　said；　sighing　in　satisfaction。　〃You　can　close　her　up　now；　Dr。　Lobb。〃
　He　turned　away　from　the　table　and　one　of　the　nurses　quickly　wiped　the　perspiration　from　his　face　as　the　surgical　resident　began　to　clamp　the　edges　of　the　incision　together。
　Jennie　glanced　up　at　Sister　M。　Christopher。　If　the　senior　nurse　was　aware　that　the　appendix　had　not　been　infected；　her　dark　eyes；　visible　over　the　face　mask；　gave　no　indication。
　〃Suture；〃　Dr。　Lobb　grunted；　holding　out　his　hand。　Automatically　Jennie　gave　it　to　him。　Then　she　didn't　have　time　to　look　up　for　a　few　minutes。　She　was　too　busy。　But　she　was　aware　that　Sister　Christopher　was　watching　her。　It　didn't　make　her　nervous；　as　it　had　at　first。　But　that　was　almost　three　years　ago。　Next　month　was　graduation。
　Sister　Christopher　watched　Jennie　with　approbation。　This　girl　was　one　of　the　bright　spots　in　her　class。　Perhaps　one　girl　in　a　hundred　had　a　vocation　for　surgery　the　way　Jennie　had。　There　were　so　many　things　needed　and　Jennie　had　them　all。　The　sight　of　blood　didn't　upset　her；　not　even　the　first　time　she'd　experienced　it。　And　Jennie　was　deft　and　sure　in　her　actions。　Quickly　she'd　developed　an　affinity　between　herself　and　the　instruments；　then　between　herself　and　the　surgeons。　Without　the　affinity；　which　permitted　an　unspoken　form　of　munication　between　the　doctor　and　the　nurse；　surgery　could　be　dangerously　delayed　while　instruments　were　fumbled　back　and　forth。
　The　final　important　factor　was　strength。　No　one　ever　quite　realized　how　important　it　was　for　a　surgical　nurse　to　be　strong。　To　be　able　to　stand　for　hours　beside　the　quiet　white　table；　even　though　your　feet　hurt　and　your　thighs　and　back　ached　from　that　peculiar；　slightly…leaning…forward　position。　To　be　able　to　feed　the　doctor　that　strength　and　reassure　him　with　it；　so　that　the　chain　of　healing　formed　one　unbroken　line。　And　the　strength　to　be　stoic　when　the　chain　was　broken　and　the　now　forever　silent　patient　was　wheeled　away；　to　stand　there　quietly　and　begin　to　scrub　up　again；　sure　that　the　chain　would　rebuild　itself　when　a　new　patient　was　wheeled　in。
　Dr。　Lobb　looked　up　and　nodded。　〃Dressing。〃　He　held　his　white…gloved　hand　out　over　the　neatly　stitched　incision。
　Jennie　was　ready　with　the　gauze　packing　as　he　lifted　his　hand。　Immediately；　she　covered　the　incision；　while　with　her　other　hand；　she　lifted　the　strips　of　adhesive　tape　from　the　clip　board　at　the　side　of　the　table。　She　pressed　the　tape　down　firmly　with　her　fingers；　checking　the　bandage　for　smoothness　and　support；　then　lifted　both　hands　to　signify　she　had　finished。
　Sister　Christopher　nodded　and　the　patient　was　quickly　wrapped　and　transferred　to　another　table　by　the　assistants。　There　was　a　click　as　the　fluorescents　went　out。　The　morning　operating…room　schedule　at　St。　Mary's　had　been　pleted。
　
　〃That's　the　fourth　good　appendix　he's　taken　out　this　month；〃　Jennie　whispered　above　the　gush　of　water　into　the　basin。　〃Why　does　he　do　it？〃
　The　young　resident　laughed。　〃At　two　hundred　and　fifty　dollars　a　crack；　you　don't　fight　the　patients。〃
　〃But　he　doesn't　have　to；〃　she　whispered。　〃He's　a　great　surgeon。　He　has　scarcely　enough　time　for　all　he　has　to　do。〃
　〃Sure；〃　Dr。　Lobb　whispered　back。　〃But　even　great　surgeons　have　to　eat。　Most　of　the　trick　cases　are　either　for　free　or　tough　collections。　So　who's　to　blame　if　once　in　a　while；　he　lifts　a　harmless　appendix　from　some　rich　old　hypochondriac？　There's　no　risk　in　it。　The　doctor　can　pay　his　bills　and　the　patient　can　brag　about　his　operation。〃
　He　straightened　up；　reaching　for　a　towel。　〃Oh…oh；〃　he　said　warningly。　〃Here　es　the　great　man　himself。〃
　Jennie　took　a　towel　from　the　rack　and　began　to　dry　her　hands。　The　doctor's　voice　came　from　behind　her。　〃Miss　Denton？〃
　She　turned　around；　looking　at　him。　〃Yes；　Dr。　Grant？〃
　〃I　understand　you're　graduating　next　month。〃
　〃I　hope　so。〃
　〃I　don't　think　you　have　anything　to　worry　about；〃　he　said。　〃I　was　just　talking　to　Sister　Christopher。　She　thinks　a　great　deal　of　you。　And　so　do　I。〃
　〃Thank　you。〃
　〃Have　you　made　any　plans　yet　for　after　graduation？〃
　〃Not　really；〃　Jennie　answered。　〃I'm　going　to　take　the　state　exam　and　get　my　name　on　the　lists　for　one　of　the　big　hospitals。〃
　〃All　hospitals　are　pretty　well　staffed。〃
　Jennie　knew　what　he　really　meant。　They　weren't　well　staffed；　at　all。　Actually；　they　were　all　understaffed　because　there　was　no　money　to　pay　for　the　staff　they　needed。　Especially　those　in　the　operating　room。　They　were　the　best　paid　of　all。　〃I　know；〃　she　said。
　He　hesitated　a　moment。　〃Are　you　doing　anything　right　now？〃
　〃I　was　just　going　down　to　the　cafeteria　for　lunch。〃
　〃I'd　like　to　talk　to　you。　Sister　Christopher　said　it　would　be　all　right　if　you　left　the　hospital　for　lunch。　How　about　the　Steak　'n'　Sauce？〃
　〃That　sounds　fine；〃　Jennie　said。
　〃Good。〃　He　smiled。　〃I'll　meet　you　down　at　my　car。　It's　the　black　Packard。〃
　〃I　know；〃　she　said　quickly。　All　the　nurses　knew　the　car。　It　was　always　parked　just　opposite　their　dormitory。　Outside　of　Dr。　Gedeon's　black　Cadillac；　it　was　the　most　expensive　car　at　the　hospital。
　〃See　you　in　fifteen　minutes；　then。〃
　Jennie　walked　out　into　the　corridor　and　pressed　the　button　for　the　elevator。　The　door　opened　and　she　stepped　in。　Dr。　Lobb　rushed　in　right　after　her。
　〃The　Steak　'n'　Sauce！〃
　〃I　wonder　what　he　wants？〃　Jennie　asked。
　His　grin　grew　broader。　〃I　know　what　he　wants；〃　he　said　lewdly。　〃But　I　didn't　have　any　luck　getting　it　at　the　Greasy　Spoon。〃
　She　returned　his　grin。　〃His　luck　won't　be　any　better　at　the　Steak　'n'　Sauce。〃
　〃I　don't　know。〃　He　laughed。　〃One　of　these　days；　you're　goin'　to　give　it　up　to　somebody。　There's　no　sense　feeding　it　to　the　worms。〃
　〃That　will　never　happen；〃　she　said。　Too　late　for　that；　she　thought。　But　it　didn't　matter　now。　It　was　forgotten　and　no　one　here　had　heard　about　it。　〃I　still　wonder　what　he　wants？〃
　〃Maybe　he　wants　you　to　work　for　him。　Ever　think　of　that？〃
　〃I　thought　about　it；〃　she　admitted。　〃But　it　doesn't　make　sense。　Why　me？　He　can　have　his　pick　of　the　best　around。〃
　Dr。　Lobb　grinned　but　his　eyes　were　serious。　〃You　are　the　best　around；　honey。　It's　about　time　you　realized　that。〃
　The　elevator　door　opened　and　they　stepped　out　into　the　basement　corridor；　where　the　employees'　cafeteria　was。　Jennie　looked　down　at　her　white　uniform。　〃I'd　better　get　out　of　this　and　into　a　dress。〃
　〃I'd　be　just　as　happy　if　you　just　got　out　of　that。〃　He　laughed。　〃You　don't　have　to　put　on　a　dress　for　me。〃
　She　looked　up　at　him；　smiling。　Someday；　this　young　man　was　going　to　be　one　of　the　really　good　ones。　〃Maybe　I'll　surprise　you　sometime。〃
　〃Surprise　me　by　bringing　back　a　steak　sandwich；〃　he　called　after　her。　〃I've　about　given　up　on　the　other。〃
　
　Doctor　Grant　held　a　package　of　cigarettes　out　toward　her。　She　took　one　and　he　held　a　match。　His　eyes　met　hers　over　the　flickering　flame。　〃I　suppose　you're　wondering　why　I　asked　you　to　lunch？〃
　She　nodded。　〃I　was　curious；　to　say　the　least。〃
　He　smiled。　〃I'm　sorry　if　I　provoked　your　curiosity。　But　I　really　meant　it　when　I　said　I　like　to　forget　about　my　practice　during　lunch。　But　I　guess　now　it's　time　to　get　down　to　business。〃
　She　didn't　answer。
　〃During　the　past　year；　Miss　Denton；　I've　had　an　excellent　opportunity　to　observe　your　work　in　surgery。　From　the　very　first；　I　was　aware　of　your　aptitude　and　I　have　always　appreciated；　as　a　surgeon；　the　extremely　petent　manner　in　which　you　render　assistance。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Dr。　Grant。〃
　〃As　you　may　know；　Miss　Denton；　I　have　a　rather　extensive　and　busy　practice。　There　are　many　physicians　who　refer　their　patients　to　me　for　surgery。　Much　of　this　practice　is　of　a　minor　nature　and　under　proper　conditions；　can　be　attended　to　in　my　office。　It　relieves　the　patient　of　a　considerable　part　of　the　economic　burden。
　Jennie　nodded　silently。
　〃This　morning；　I　learned　from　Miss　Janney；　who's　been　associated　with　me　for　many　years；　that　she's　getting　married　and　plans　to　move　to　Southern　California。〃　He　drew　on　his　cigarette。　〃When　I　came　to　the　hospital　today；　I　took　the　liberty　of　speaking　to　Sister　Christopher　about　you。　She　agrees　that　you'd　make　an　excellent　replacement　for　Miss　Janney。〃
　〃You　mean　you　want　me　to　work　for　you？〃
　He　smiled。　〃In　my　roundabout　manner；　that　is　what　I　was　about　to　ask。　Are　you　interested？〃
　〃Of　course。　What　g