the red cross girl(红十字姑娘)-第4节
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assembled friends and sycophants how glad he was they were there to see
him give away a million dollars。
〃Aren't you going to get his speech？〃； asked Redding； the staff
photographer。
〃Get HIS speech！〃 said Sam。 〃They have Pinkertons all over the
grounds to see that you don't escape with less than three copies。 I'm
waiting to hear the ritual they always have； and then I'm going to sprint for
the first train back to the centre of civilization。〃
〃There's going to be a fine lunch；〃 said Redding； 〃and reporters are
expected。 I asked the policeman if we were； and he said we were。〃
Sam rose； shook his trousers into place； stuck his stick under his
armpit and smoothed his yellow gloves。 He was very thoughtful of his
clothes and always treated them with courtesy。
〃You can have my share；〃 he said。 〃I cannot forget that I am fifty…five
minutes from Broadway。 And even if I were starving I would rather have a
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club sandwich in New York than a Thanksgiving turkey dinner in New
Rochelle。〃
He nodded and with eager； athletic strides started toward the iron gates；
but he did not reach the iron gates； for on the instant trouble barred his
way。 Trouble came to him wearing the blue cambric uniform of a nursing
sister； with a red cross on her arm； with a white collar turned down； white
cuffs turned back； and a tiny black velvet bonnet。 A bow of white lawn
chucked her impudently under the chin。 She had hair like golden…rod and
eyes as blue as flax； and a complexion of such health and cleanliness and
dewiness as blooms only on trained nurses。
She was so lovely that Redding swung his hooded camera at her as
swiftly as a cowboy could have covered her with his gun。
Reporters become star reporters because they observe things that other
people miss and because they do not let it appear that they have observed
them。 When the great man who is being interviewed blurts out that which
is indiscreet but most important； the cub reporter says： 〃That's most
interesting； sir。 I'll make a note of that。〃 And so warns the great man into
silence。 But the star reporter receives the indiscreet utterance as though it
bored him； and the great man does not know he has blundered until he
reads of it the next morning under screaming headlines。
Other men； on being suddenly confronted by Sister Anne； which was
the official title of the nursing sister； would have fallen backward； or
swooned； or gazed at her with soulful； worshipping eyes； or； were they
that sort of beast； would have ogled her with impertinent approval。 Now
Sam； because he was a star reporter； observed that the lady before him was
the most beautiful young woman he had ever seen； but no one would have
guessed that he observed thatleast of all Sister Anne。 He stood in her way
and lifted his hat； and even looked into the eyes of blue as impersonally
and as calmly as though she were his great…auntas though his heart was
not beating so fast that it choked him。
〃I am from the REPUBLIC；〃 he said。 〃Everybody is so busy here to…
day that I'm not able to get what I need about the Home。 It seems a pity；〃
he added disappointedly； 〃because it's so well done that people ought to
know about it。〃 He frowned at the big hospital buildings。 It was apparent
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THE RED CROSS GIRL
that the ignorance of the public concerning their excellence greatly
annoyed him。
When again he looked at Sister Anne she was regarding him in alarm
obviously she was upon the point of instant flight。
〃You are a reporter？〃 she said。
Some people like to place themselves in the hands of a reporter
because they hope he will print their names in black letters； a few others
only reporters know how fewwould as soon place themselves in the
hands of a dentist。
〃A reporter from the REPUBLIC；〃 repeated Sam。
〃But why ask ME？〃 demanded Sister Anne。
Sam could see no reason for her question； in extenuation and
explanation he glanced at her uniform。
〃I thought you were at work here；〃 he said simply。 〃I beg your
pardon。〃
He stepped aside as though he meant to leave her。 In giving that
impression he was distinctly dishonest。
〃There was no other reason；〃 persisted Sister Anne。 〃I mean for
speaking to me？〃
The reason for speaking to her was so obvious that Sam wondered
whether this could be the height of innocence or the most banal coquetry。
The hostile look in the eyes of the lady proved it could not be coquetry。
〃I am sorry；〃 said Sam。 〃I mistook you for one of the nurses here； and；
as you didn't seem busy； I thought you might give me some statistics about
the Home not really statistics； you know； but local color。〃
Sister Anne returned his look with one as steady as his own。
Apparently she was weighing his statement。 She seemed to disbelieve it。
Inwardly he was asking himself what could be the dark secret in the past
of this young woman that at the mere approach of a reportereven of such
a nice…looking reporter as himselfshe should shake and shudder。 〃If
that's what you really want to know；〃 said Sister Anne doubtfully；〃 I'll try
and help you； but；〃 she added； looking at him as one who issues an
ultimatum； 〃you must not say anything about me！〃
Sam knew that a woman of the self…advertising； club… organizing class
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will always say that to a reporter at the time she gives him her card so that
he can spell her name correctly； but Sam recognized that this young
woman meant it。 Besides； what was there that he could write about her？
Much as he might like to do so； he could not begin his story with： 〃The
Flagg Home for Convalescents is also the home of the most beautiful of
all living women。〃 No copy editor would let that get by him。 So； as there
was nothing to say that he would be allowed to say； he promised to say
nothing。 Sister Anne smiled； and it seemed to Sam that she smiled； not
because his promise had set her mind at ease； but because the promise
amused her。 Sam wondered why。
Sister Anne fell into step beside him and led him through the wards of
the hospital。 He found that it existed for and revolved entirely about one
person。 He found that a million dollars and some acres of buildings；
containing sun…rooms and hundreds of rigid white beds； had been donated
by Spencer Flagg only to provide a background for Sister Anneonly to
exhibit the depth of her charity； the kindness of her heart； the unselfishness
of her nature。
〃Do you really scrub the floors？〃 he demanded〃I mean you yourself…
…down on your knees； with a pail and water and scrubbing brush？〃
Sister Anne raised her beautiful eyebrows and laughed at him。
〃We do that when we first come here；〃 she said〃when we are
probationers。 Is there a newer way of scrubbing floors？〃
〃And these awful patients；〃 demanded Sam〃do you wait on them？
Do you have to submit to their complaints and whinings and ingratitude？〃
He glared at the unhappy convalescents as though by that glance he would
annihilate them。 〃It's not fair！〃 exclaimed Sam。 〃It's ridiculous。 I'd like to
choke them！〃
〃That's not exactly the object of a home for convalescents；〃 said Sister
Anne。
〃You know perfectly well what I mean；〃 said Sam。 〃Here are youif
you'll allow me to say soa magnificent； splendid； healthy young person；
wearing out your young life over a lot of lame ducks； failures； and
cripples。〃
〃Nor is that quite the way we look at；〃 said Sister Anne。
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〃We？〃 demanded Sam。
Sister Anne nodded toward a group of nurse
〃I'm not the only nurse here；〃 she said 〃There are over forty。〃
〃You are the only one here；〃 said S
