sighed. "Right now I've
just exactly $2 and I'm not going to send an SOS home for money unless
I get down to my last penny."

"I've a little more," confessed Jane, tucking a wisp of wavy, brown
hair back under her prim little cap. "To be exact, there's $4.23 in my
purse and I don't want to ask the folks at home for anything if I can
help it."

Jane was a bit taller than Sue and her brown eyes matched the color of
her hair. They had stuck by each other through all of the tribulations
of nurses' training; now, though both hesitated to mention it, each
feared that graduation would terminate their close companionship.

Miss Hardy, the supervisor of nurses, broke away from another group and
joined them.

"Drop in at my office before you go to the dorm for the night," she
said. Before she could explain what she wanted, an intern stepped into
the room and called her away on an emergency case.

Rules had been lifted for graduation night and a kindly theater
manager, realizing how little spending money most of the girls had,
sent up passes for his show.

Jane and Sue slipped out of the assembly room, diplomas in hand.
Hurrying to the dormitory on fourth floor back, they changed from their
uniforms into street clothes and a few minutes later were on their way
down town, the towering bulk of Good Samaritan with its scores of
shaded lights behind them.

The show proved entertaining and they passed a pleasant two hours at
the theater. On their way home, Sue slackened her pace in front of a
drug store and looked longingly at the gleaming soda fountain inside.

"Feel the urge of a chocolate soda?" asked Jane, who knew her friend's
weakness.

"It's practically irresistible," confessed Sue.

"Then let's celebrate. The treat's on me for I'm at least two dollars
richer than you."

The sodas were delicious and the newly graduated nurses sipped them in
luxurious leisure.

"My, but it's going to seem good not to have to jump every time a bell
clangs," said Sue.

"I don't know about that. I'm so used to bells I'm afraid I'll miss
them just a little bit," Jane said.

"What do you suppose Miss Hardy wants?"

"Maybe it's about a job."

"Don't worry. If there was anything like that in sight, she'd give it
to one of her pets. We'd never have a chance," said Sue bitterly.

Jane and Sue had steadfastly refused to court the favor of the
supervisor of nurses and as a result many unnecessary little tasks had
been heaped on thei