Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1903-02-27

all Soe WHuls ldlrly shouted Ut
him. what are you talking about?
Young man." said the slow fellow,
solemnly-I found out afterward that
he had been chosen for this mission on
account of his calm nature-..you are
on special train, carrying nurses and
doctors to the fever towns. You are in
quarantined country now, and how you
are going to get back don't know"
"Oh, I'll get back" I said, eheerfuIly.
"Just let Inc off at the next town, and
I'll find my way back
Il wouldn't do anything rash, If
were you," he said.
1t was very still little town where
| stopped. There was only one other
passenger for that place-a slender girl
with a clever face that looked too
young for nurses. I walked briskly
down the empty platform. hot with
sunshine, and exuding a strong smell
of rosin from the new pine boards.
There was black sign over one Of the
closed doors with Telegraph Office"
lin white letters. Inside there was a
"click, click" of instruments, but the
door was locked A negro lad came
Elounging round the corner.
"You needn't try to get in thah." he
said. Importantly. s'The operatah he's
daid. TIL fevah's got him.
! isn't there anybody in this town
who can send a messenger" I inquired.
| There was touch ON my arm. /
Eturned, to see the girl. 81 cam" she
said. Il am the volunteer operator
Fwho has come to take charge OF this
office and send dispatches about the
state Of things here ~sasss.
weren't you afraid?" I asked her.
She looked so young.
mo" she said. II have had the
fever New Orleans is my native city,
| and had it there years ago. couldn't
take this sort they have, so far north"
And then, turning to the boy. she asked
for the key.
Ten minutes later he had returned
from the house where the last operator
lay dead, with the big door key, and
we were let into the sweltering. dusty
little box OF room, which seemed
to me as If it still held traces Of the
disease. 1 opened the windows to
make the girl comfortable. and sent
the boy out after some ice water and
some lemons. Then l remembered
something
Say l called to him, and went
outside and asked him where I could
find the nearest bar.
iiZ''Ovah thah in tn tavehn." pointing
to Il long, low. implanted house
ran across the street, followed
leisurely by the boy, and found my.
way into bare room with a shelf
across it, and perhaps dozen bottles.
A portly man, in soiled yellow linen,
was doing in a chair. awakened
him.
Have you any tonic?" said.
Who's got it now?" he asked, with a
start.
"Got what?"
The fevah. Yes, sah I've got plen-
W sah;;' and he went into another
room, and brought out two greenish
bottles of tonic.
Its the best medicine thah Is fur
IT, Who's got it? The muses. bring
down tonic. but it's no SIGH brand as
this?"
No. | suppose not" said; and then
| asked after ice, but found that be-
yond the supply held by the "nri ses,'
| there wasn't any in the town.
1 took the bottles and went back
across the street. followed presently by
the boy with the water.
i can cool it, the girl said. and she
sent the boy back after an earthen jar
OF water. She wrapped it in wet cloths,
put the bottles in it, and set the whole
in the window.
What's that message of yours?" she
asked. found she had already intro
duced herself to the other offices along
the line. l sent a telegram to Ransom.
telling him in the office cipher of my
plight, and instructing him to make
some arrangements about getting me
OUT OF the fix was 10, without saying
anything about 1t. 7 wanted to. sneeir
oack without being Quarantina1