Polly of the Hospital Staff | Page 7

waiving the children's eager
questions.
"Oh, they sent to have her come somewhere!" answered Ethel Jones.
"She went in an awful hurry, and said prob'ly she'd be back pretty soon;

but she has n't come yet."
"She let Leonora be monitor," put in Elsie Meyer. "I guess she'd 'a' let
me, if I'd been up."
"I wish she would come," said Polly anxiously, "for I want to surprise
her with Popover--it's Miss Lucy's birthday, you know."
"Somebody's coming now," and Cornelius O'Shaughnessy bent his
head to listen. "'T ain't her step," he decided disappointedly, and the
next moment the tall form of Miss Hortensia Price was seen in the
doorway.
"Quick! Keep her out o' sight!" whispered Polly, pushing Popover's
little black head down under the sheet.
The stately young woman walked the length of the room without a
word, and calmly sat down at the small table where Miss Lucy was
accustomed to prepare her medicines and to make such notes as were
needful.
As Miss Price took up the little memorandum book and began to look it
over, Polly's heart almost stood still with consternation. She had come
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 in
the convalescent ward, and Miss Lucy had been in charge for so long
now that she had ceased giving herself any worry over a possible
change.
For a moment the little girl stood hesitant; then the sight of Brida, white
and scared on her pillow, roused her to quick thought. If she could only
smuggle Popover down into Dr Dudley's office before she was
discovered! Instinct told her that "High Price" would never tolerate a
kitten in the ward. She took one step forward.
"Me-ew!" sounded faintly from Brida's cot.
The nurse raised her head, listened inquiringly, and then resumed her

work of examining the patients' records.
Polly stole nearer the bed.
"Me-ew!" came again, louder than before. This time there was no
mistaking its locality.
Miss Price sprang from her chair, and strode straight to where Brida lay
trembling. Popover's insistence for more air and a free outlook was
causing the coverlet to rise and fall in a startling way.
"How came that cat here?" demanded the nurse, pulling aside the
bedclothing.
"I brought her," answered Polly. "She's Brida's kitty, and we were
going to give Miss Lucy a birthday surprise."
A faint smile flickered on the young woman's face. The she made a
grab at the now frightened kitten; but the little creature slipped from her
hand, and jumping to the floor dared towards the hall.
"Oh, me dirlin' kitty!" wailed Brida. "She'll be losted! Oh, Polly, ketch
her!"
Polly, however, was already flying in pursuit of the terrified cat.
"Shut that door!" called the mistress of the ward, as the eager children
rushed after. "And stay inside, all of you!"
Cornelius O'Shaughnessy reluctantly obeyed the first order, and the rest
trailed back in disappointment. So exciting a race was not an everyday
occurrence.
Polly, too far away to heed either command, was alarmed lest Popover
might manage to escape from the building, in which case there would
be small chance of catching her. On and on 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 that, into room after room whose doors stood enticingly open,

raced Popover and Poly, while nurses and physicians that chanced their
way stared and laughed at the astonishing sight.
Just as the kitten reached the foot of the first-floor staircase, with her
pursuer close behind, the front door opened, and Popover darted
towards the passage of escape.
"Oh, shut the door quick! Catch her! Catch her! Don't let her get out!"
This most unexpected command, in Polly's voice, Dr. Dudley
endeavored to obey. He did succeed in slamming the door in front of
pussy, though at the risk of nipping her little black nose; but when he
stooped to snatch her she slipped between his feet, and dashed into his
office. Polly flew after, and the door went together just as the Doctor
reached it.
"Rather an unusual reception this is," he twinkled, as Polly let him in, a
minute later. "Frighten me out of my wits by screaming 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 by such extraordinary
conduct, Miss Polly May?" The physician shook a threatening finger
and the flushed and laughing little girl.
"You don't look very scared," she giggled; and then as he dropped into
his lounging-chair she slipped into her favorite