Polly of the Hospital Staff | Page 9

was just what Dr. Dudley wanted.
"You can have exactly ten minutes to do all your talking in," was the physician's parting sally; "so you'd better hurry."
Polly's eyes and David's met in smiling appreciation.
"He says such funny things." praised Polly.
Polly did n't quite know how to begin to cheer the lad up. Her tender heart was stirred to unusual sympathy, as she gazed into the pitifully drawn little face, with its big doll-blue eyes. She must surely say something to make David happier--and the minutes were going fast. After all, it was David that was first to speak again.
"Do you like stories?" he asked.
"Oh, I just love them!"
"So do I. You must know a great many. The Doctor said you told them to the children. I wish there was time for you to tell me one."
"I'm afraid there is n't to-day," responded Polly; "but maybe I can stay longer when I come again."
"I hope so," returned David politely. "My mother read me a story the evening before I was hurt. It was about a king and queen that lived beautiful stories, and I was going to live such a brave, splendid one every day--and then the horse knocked me down! Such a lot of miserable stories as I've lived since I came here, not much like the ones I'd planned! But to-day's will be better, because you'll be in it," he ended brightly.
Polly's eyes had been growing rounder and rounder with surprise and delight.
"Oh! Was it a Cherry-Pudding Story?" she asked eagerly.
"Why, have you read it?" and the little white face actually grew pink. "My aunt wrote it, and sent us a paper that had it in!"
"Why--ee!" cried Polly. "is n't that funny! And we've been trying to live nice stories, too--all of us, up in the ward! Miss Lucy said we'd see which could live the best one. A lady told me the story. And your aunt really made it all up?"
"Yes; she writes lots of stories," smiled David. "Then she sends them to mamma and me and wen they're printed."
"How splendid!" beamed Polly. "When you get well enough to come down in our ward, you can tell us some, can't you?"
The boy's face saddened. "I guess I can't ever come," he said.
"Why not?"
"Because I was hurt so badly. I don't think I'm going to get well."
"Oh, yes, you will!" asserted Polly. "Of course Dr. Dudley will cure you! Goodness! You ought to have seen how I was all smashed up! But Dr. Dudley cured me--he can cure anybody!"
"He can?" echoed David, a little doubtfully. "How 'd you get hurt? Were you run over?"
"Yes, by a building," Polly laughed. "Only it did n't run; it fell. I was 'way up on the third floor, and all of a sudden it went--just like that!" Polly's little hands dropped flat in her lap. "I heard a great noise, and felt myself going, and I remember I clutched hold of Uncle Gregory. Then I did n't know another thing till I woke up over in that corner. See that bed with the dark-haired little girl in it, the third from the end? That was my cot."
"Was your leg broken?" asked David, in a most interested tone.
"Yes, my leg was broken, and my hip was discolated (Polly sometimes twisted her long words a little), and my ankle was hurt, and two ribs, and, oh, lots of things! Doctor says now that he really did n't think I'd ever walk again--I mean, without crutches."
"And you're not lame a bit?" David returned incredulously.
"Not a mite, not the least mite!" Polly assured him.
"Then perhaps I shall get well," the boy began brightly.
"Of course you will!" broke in Dr. Dudley's happy voice.
He put his hand on the lad's wrist, and stood for a moment, noting his pulse.
"It does n't seem to hurt you to have visitors," he smiled; "but they must n't stay too long. Say good-bye, Polly."
"Will you bring her again tomorrow?" invited David timidly. "And let her stay long enough to tell me a story?"
"I should n't wonder," the Doctor promised. And they left the boy smiling as he had not smiled since he had been in the hospital.
After that, Polly went every day to see David, until, one morning, Dr. Dudley told her that he was not quite well enough to have a visitor. She had come to look forward to her quiet talks with the blue-eyed lad as the happiest portion of the whole day, for Miss Hortensia Price still stayed in the convalescent ward, and the Doctor had been too busy to take her out in his automobile. Elsie and Brida and Aimee and the rest were all good comrades, yet none of them possessed David's powers of quick comprehension. Often Polly had to explain things to them; David always kept up with