[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
thank you for coming!
The young man replied, I thank you, mees, for I get
to see my father. And he thank you he pressed the
strange and beautiful ring into her hand for saving
hees life.
Cherry accepted the ring with thanks and good-bys.
I have to thank you too, Cherry, Major Fortune said.
Such relief was in his seamed face! I m going to see
Colonel Wylie immediately!
Lex and Cherry were left alone.
How are you feeling, Lieutenant Ames? he inquired
politely.
I am feeling very, very much relieved! she replied.
In fact, Captain, now that the truth is beginning to
dawn on me, I am beginning to feel wonderful!
Hold on, Cherry my girl. We ve got another very im-
portant part of our job to do and it may be very un-
pleasant. Were you forgetting that Lieutenant Ames and
Captain Upham must report their findings to their
Commanding Officer, Colonel Wylie, at once? Lex
tried desperately to lend his question a light touch, but
he could not keep a note of apprehension from creeping
into his voice. Seeing Cherry shrink, he tossed off
202 CHERRY AMES, ARMY NURSE
lightly, Here s a talisman for luck, Cherry. We ll both
need it. He kissed her gently on her forehead. Ready?
he asked. Cherry straightened up. Ready! she said.
They hurried to Colonel Wylie s headquarters, anxious
to get the unpleasant task over.
Colonel Wylie listened to Lex s report and refrained
from making any comment during the entire report.
When Lex had finished, Colonel Wylie immediately
reached for a telephone and called up the Public
Health Service to relay the important information on
to them. These were the findings of Lieutenant
Ames and Captain Upham of the U.S. Army Medical
Corps, he said into the phone. There were several
moments of silence in the room while Colonel Wylie
listened to the voice at the other end of the wire. A very
faint metallic sentence: These two people are to be
congratulated, Colonel Wylie, came drifting into
the room. Harumph! exclaimed Colonel Wylie as he
hung up.
Colonel Wylie fixed his steely gray eyes on both
Cherry and Lex. In addition to the other charges, you
now have charged against you the suppression and with-
holding of important clues. You may leave now. You will
hear further in due time.
Lex and Cherry, on exchanging notes after leaving
Colonel Wylie s office, both agreed he had not sounded
too gruff.
EMERGENCY! 203
They walked back to Lex s office. Lex had something
more to tell Cherry. When the door was closed behind
them, Lex asked Cherry to let him look at the Indian s
ring again. With a puzzled frown Cherry handed it to him.
You know what that ring is? It s a birthday present,
Lex reminded her.
Gosh, today is my birthday! I d entirely forgotten!
The day before Christmas, Lex confirmed, I have
a birthday present for you, too, if you ll accept it.
Lex s present was a ring, too. An engagement ring. An
old-fashioned gold and opal ring which was a family
heirloom.
Cherry gasped and admired it. Then she looked
dazedly and affectionately at Lex. You . . . you can t
propose to me in a hospital office! And anyhow, even
though Army nurses are permitted to marry, I don t
know what to say! I don t even know, she wailed, if I
want to get married yet!
Lex smiled gamely. All right, Cherry, you think it
over. I know you ve been out of school only a few
months, and I don t want to rush you. I . . . I suppose I
ought to make a romantic speech about love, but I m
not very good at that kind of stuff. Anyway, you already
know how I feel about you.
Cherry seized his hands and held them tight in her
own. Lex, you re the best fellow I ever knew, or ever
hope to know, she said softly.
204 CHERRY AMES, ARMY NURSE
A bell rang in the corridor.
Seven o clock, she gasped. I m due on duty! Lex,
forgive me for not answering now. Honestly I don t
know what to say . . . and I ve got to run! But she stood
there, hesitating, reluctant to leave him.
Lex strode to the door and smilingly held it open
for her.
chapter x
Special Mission
later that evening, while cherry was on the
ward, the phone rang.
Lieutenant Ames, report to Colonel Wylie s office
immediately!
Colonel Wylie faced Cherry across his desk. Pack
your things at once, Lieutenant Ames! he ordered. You
are taking a plane in an hour!
Cherry clung to the edge of his desk. She thought
desperately, They must be sending me home! They are
discharging me from the Army Nurse Corps! She
glanced pleadingly at Bunce and Dr. Joe and Johnny
Mae Cowan, who were standing in Colonel Wylie s
office looking mystified. In a weak voice, she got out,
Where am I being sent, sir?
205
206 CHERRY AMES, ARMY NURSE
To the Pacific. Colonel Wylie chuckled at Cherry s
look of amazement. Major Fortune s serum has been
used on the Indian for three weeks now and we finally
see signs that it can cure blackwater fever. You are to
deliver Major Fortune s priceless new serum to a Pacific
island Army hospital. His colleagues there, who have
been working unsuccessfully on the same thing, are
waiting for it. These research doctors will develop
the serum further, for there are actually cases of
blackwater fever in the Pacific area. It is the first of the
serum ever to be sent and you are the first Army nurse
to be entrusted with a special mission of this kind. The
surgeon added dryly, It is a very great honor.
The faces of the other three in the room lighted up
with excitement and pleasure.
Cherry thought she would faint. I m going to . . . fly?
To the Pacific? To bring Dr. Joe s research friends his
new serum?
Yes. Now you, sir. Colonel Wylie turned to Bunce,
who paled. Private Smith!
Bunce shuffled his feet. He was past being able to
talk. Cherry held her breath. She was safe, but what was
going to happen to Bunce?
I have here, Colonel Wylie barked, recommenda-
tions for your admission to Medical Technicians School
and for your promotion to a corporalcy, from Lieutenant
Ames, Captain Upham, and Chief Nurse Cowan.
SPECIAL MISSION 207
Cherry glanced up at Johnny Mae Cowan, sur-
prised and pleased. So she had put in a good word for
Bunce! And for Cherry, too, apparently! The Chief
Nurse smiled back at her a shade reprovingly.
Colonel Wylie cleared his throat. I also have here . . .
hmm . . . a very bad report on you, Smith, from Captain
Endicott. Colonel Wylie silently read over Paul s
charges. Very bad indeed. So bad, Smith, that I think
I shall disregard Captain Endicott s report entirely.
Bunce forgot himself and whooped. Everyone in the
room laughed, and Cherry and Bunce were pumping
hands in a joyous handshake. Colonel Wylie, still
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]