Polly of the Hospital Staff

po

of the big House of Suffering. Polly herself beamed on everybody, and all the hospita

flitted from cot to cot with her little fluttering fan and her cooling drinks. T

ponse, for Polly's supply of cat tales-the kind which

I wisht I had me own darlin' Popover right here in me arms!-Why don't yer

heme was taking shape in

isper that should not reach Miss Lucy at the other end of the ward, "I've t

's little pale, freckled fac

ive-when you're hom

gh! Say, don't you s'pose your mother 'd let me take Popover and bring h

k with joy. "Sure, me mother 'd let

is here! It's her birthday to-day, and it'll be such a beautiful su

kitty!" returned Bri

y meant the surprise. Popover can amuse the

beamed Brida. "How'd

perhaps we can keep her a week or so, if we'll let her have a li

have all she can dri

now," said Polly. "Wh

repeated Brida; "an old bro

strong yet; but the little girl urged it with such sparkling eyes that she finally let

nion, but was taken somewhat aback when she looked at

quite three hundred numbers more, and half of those a

be out of doors, for lounging men and women filled the doorways, and the sidewalks were scattered with children. The air grew hot and stifling and full of disagreeable o

umbered 703; but with the glad thought that the "brow

shment of the mischievous tricksters, Polly skipped into time as adroitly as the most expert rope-jumper could have wished, and the giggling pair almost forg

where Mrs. MacCarthy lives

nted to a fat, red-cheeked woman, who was cooling herself

e, and Polly descended the short fl

looked up

the little girl announced modestly, "a

rthy's face expanded in

' 'long rale well! An' ye're from th' hospital! Moira! Where's yer manners? Fetch th' little lady a

her, eager for news from the beloved Brida. There were only encouraging accounts to give of the little girl with the broken ankle; but they led

at the visitor's side, and at the first ca

mother, and in the momentary excitemen

r two blocks up the street, and then, with numerous

en making little spurts of speed as she would wonder if Miss Lucy were becoming anxious about her. After awhile, however, instead of hurrying, she was obliged to stop now and then on a corner, to catch t

e windows with books and pictures; several were on the floor playing quiet games. So softly did she step that nobody

s were outstretched to lift the now uneasy burden from h

le owner delightedly, snuggling

nded Polly, waiving the c

hel Jones. "She went in an awful hurry, and said prob'l

ut in Elsie Meyer. "I guess she

usly, "for I want to surprise her with Po

listen. "'T ain't her step," he decided disappointedly, and the next

spered Polly, pushing Popover's lit

, and calmly sat down at the small table where Miss Lucy was accusto

to stay! Polly knew the signs. Such sudden shifts were common enough in the hospital, but only twice, during Polly's stay, had the occurred

her to quick thought. If she could only smuggle Popover down into Dr Dudley's office before she was discove

ed faintly fro

inquiringly, and then resumed her wo

le nearer

han before. This time there w

da lay trembling. Popover's insistence for more air and a free out

demanded the nurse, pull

's Brida's kitty, and we were going t

grab at the now frightened kitten; but the little creature slipp

iled Brida. "She'll be los

ready flying in pursui

f the ward, as the eager children rushe

t order, and the rest trailed back in disappointmen

the little cat led her, giving no ear to the coaxing, "Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!" which she was constantly calling. Around and around the big halls, up this flight of stairs and down

taircase, with her pursuer close behind, the front door

k! Catch her! Catch her

front of pussy, though at the risk of nipping her little black nose; but when he stooped to snatch her she slipped bet

g at me to catch a wild animal, and then, when I've done my best, shut the door of my office right in my face! What do you mean

pped into his lounging-chair she slipped into her favorite po

sighed, smiling across at the little creature,

e breathing, that you and the

never catch her. You see she was going to be a birthday sur

noon was narrated in P

should come just then?" she sig

ng woman and a good nurs

er for my nurse," Pol

ed the Doctor, "I could not hope for

e High Price would do; but if I knew anything I shoul

chuckled re

appreciate Miss Luc

s went up. "Don't I?

t you to, for she's so sweet and little and-cuddly, you

pply to her," agreed the Doc

ver going to get along without M

es she d

her! Why, the other night, when Aimee's arm ached, Miss Lucy took her right in her lap, and rocked her to sleep! And when little Isabel cries for her mamma, Miss Lucy's just as nice to her, and cuddles her p

ghed. Then the

se Miss Price of what she may never do? B

ed. "Excuse me, please. But I wish you could know

inkled; but Polly, a

k Miss Lucy'll come b

the women's wards. It is uncertai

the Doctor's knee. "Is n't she cute? Brida thinks lots of her-there!" she broke out compunctiously, "I forgot all about Brida, and she does n't

her home in the

lov

as looking a

tea-time?" Po

lescent ward," he laughed. "You'd better come

e nice! I'll run up and tel