Page:Armistice Day.djvu/434

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412
ARMISTICE DAY
 

Maine, and studied medicine at Johns Hopkins!

The Surgeon (after a pause). You are a Christian, I take it?

The Visitor. Why—naturally.

The Surgeon. You believe that miracle happened in Palestine. You deny that another might happen in Flanders.

The Visitor (uneasily). Well, if you put it that way—

The Surgeon. Now I'm going to read you the boy's statement. (He sits at the table, and goes through the contents of one of the drawers. The first door opens slowly. The Visitor watches it, fascinated. He draws his breath sharply. The Surgeon looks up; takes in the situation.)

The Visitor. The door's opening!

The Surgeon. I warned you; it has a habit of doing that. (The Orderly enters through the opened door, crosses to the other door, goes. The Visitor draws a breath of relief.)

The Surgeon (smiling). For a disbeliever you are easily startled. (The Visitor does not reply.) Now listen. (He reads.) "I saw them. I know I saw them. Whether they were angels, whether they were devils, whether they were living or dead, I do not know. But they were shining shapes, and nothing could withstand them. We were pressed—hard pressed. Another ten