lf an hour by an emergency case on third floor surgery, Jane
had just slipped into the room and taken the remaining chair on the end
of the line.

Dr. Albert Anthony, trim, energetic young head of the staff, was
speaking. Beside him was the little white stack of diplomas, all of
them rolled and tied with blue and white ribbon. Doctor Anthony's sharp
voice was informing the student nurses that they were about to embark
on careers of their own. Jane smiled a bit grimly.

She wondered just what career was ahead of her. The girl next in line
turned and a fleeting suggestion of a smile hovered about her lips. She
was Sue Hawley, friend and companion of Jane through the long, arduous
months of training.

"Here's hoping he'll tell us where we can get jobs," whispered Sue, the
words so close-clipped that it was almost impossible to detect her lips
moving.

Jane nodded. That was the one big problem facing most of the girls who
were graduating from nurses' training at Good Samaritan. As for
herself, she had no idea what she would be doing after the following
noon when she stepped through the doors of the great hospital.

Doctor Anthony finished his speech and the nurses applauded politely.
He picked up the diplomas and called the roll of graduates. As her name
was called, each girl stepped forward, her stiffly starched skirts
swishing, and received the tube of paper.

Queer shivers chased themselves up and down Jane's back. For three
years she had been working toward this moment and now that it was at
hand she suddenly felt cheated. Perhaps it was because she was grasping
so desperately for something to do after she left the hospital.

Sue's name was called and she stepped forward and received her diploma.
Jane was the last and she walked slowly toward the rostrum. A mist
clouded her eyes and her hand shook as she accepted the diploma. It
meant cutting loose from the old routine, leaving the firmly
established and venturing out alone.

Jane wouldn't have admitted, even to Sue, that she was _scared_, for
she was far too proud.

Then the program was over. Parents hastened up to congratulate their
daughters and Jane and Sue drifted away from the others. Their homes
were in a neighboring state and it had been too far for their own
fathers and mothers to make the trip.

Sue looked down at her diploma. She was slender, blond, with sparkling
blue eyes and peach-bloom complexion.

"Wonder if I'll ever have this framed?" she