ching
frantically at--anything--at hope.

A man poked his head in at the door.

"Hello, Tom!" said the attendant, in no polite voice, "What have you
got for me?"

The man winked, and Dorothy turned away. "Can't you leave her?" he
whispered.

The woman looked at Dorothy, who pretended to be almost stupid. She
had hidden her face in her hands.

"I guess she'll keep," Dorothy heard her say, and with that the nurse
stepped out of the door, and Dorothy heard a laugh in the hall. But
she did not yet dare to move. In another moment the woman returned. "I
have got to go out for a minute," she said; "just take this pill and
sleep. You look tired."

Dorothy saw in the woman's hand a slip of yellow paper. Of course it
was some message that would violate the rules. And the woman had given
her some medicine to make her sleep.

"I am _too_ sleepy now," said Dorothy. "Let me alone."

That was all the attendant wanted. Quickly she went out, and then
Dorothy jumped up. It was but a moment's work to open the suit-case,
and slip on the plain, white, linen dress. Then for something on her
head. Yes! the cap, there it was all ready to be put on for the day's
work. The looking glass reflected a new Dorothy!

She did look like a nurse, and then no one yet knew Miss Bell. But she
might be back from breakfast at any moment!

Hurry, Dorothy! Hurry!

One more look! The long dress seemed strange, but not so strange as
the agitation that filled her heart and tingled her nerves.

She opened the door, and went out into the hall, just as an attendant
was turning out the electrics, for it was daylight.

"Good morning!" said the first guard, sitting in his big chair, while
the marble hall seemed like an ocean to Dorothy.

"Good morning!" replied Dorothy lightly.

Then the nurses were leaving breakfast. She could hear the voices. If
only she could get out before Miss Bell came!

"Did you see the new girl?" she heard some one say.

"Yes, and she has been called into the office!"

That would give Dorothy time!

More guards--so many there seemed to be now, and each with his "good
morning!" But Dorothy had taken courage. She felt better out of that
room; it was glorious to be so near freedom.

"Is that the new nurse?" said a big man, who actually stood at the
door.

"Looks like her," replied another, with something like a sneer.

"She'd be a lot of good with any one but--babies," said a third. Then
he stepped up to Dorothy. She