“She doesn’t look as if she could afford to pay a swell surgeon like Doctor Ashmore—she’s a better subject for the hospital, miss,” said the man slightingly.
“Well, but I am not going to allow her to be put into an ambulance and driven a long way over these rough pavements to any hospital,” Allison asserted decidedly. “I know Doctor Ashmore—he is a first-class surgeon, and I will be responsible for his charge. Now, pray do as I ask you, and do not let this poor thing lie here upon the hard sidewalk a moment longer” she concluded, somewhat impatiently, for people were beginning to gather about them.
“All right, miss; if you choose to look out for her, it’s no affair of mine,” said the policeman, and, calling another man to his aid, the two lifted the still unconscious girl and bore her into the noted surgeon’s office, Allison swiftly leading the way thither.
“I have brought you a patient, Doctor Ashmore,” she observed, as he entered, and the gentleman came forward to greet her, whereupon he ordered the men to deposit their burden upon a couch, and at once proceeded to make an examination of the case.
“The arm is broken above the elbow,” he observed, after ripping up the sleeve of the girl’s dress. “Who is this protégée of yours, Miss Brewster?”
“I do not know,” Allison replied; “I found her leaning against a lamp-post crying, and asked her what the trouble was, when she merely pointed to her arm, and then fainted away.”
“Well, we will soon have her comfortably fixed. Perhaps you would like to go into another room while I set the bone,” said Doctor Ashmore, after calling his assistant, and ordering him to bring splints, bandages, and other necessary appliances.
“No, thank you; the poor thing will perhaps feel better if she comes to herself and finds me here, and I will try not to mind the operation,” replied Allison, in a spirit of true self-abnegation, yet not feeling nearly so brave as her words had sounded.
Nothing more was said, and the surgeon proceeded at once about his task, without attempting to revive his patient, who was still unconscious.