Newport weekly independent., 1903-10-09

l
 You have botched the whole thing, Hogg, groaned the captain. Now we are in devil of a mess"
 Told her your identical words, sir" explained MT. Hogg. T said it might be catching, and she says I'll come and nurse him, and bring doctor"
 You didn't come out strong enough on it's being catching" said the cap- tain, in despair.
 Indeed, I did, sir" said MT. Hogg, i wringing his hands, "and she says: I'll nurse my poor Henry if he has all the plaques of Egypt"
 At that moment tall, reddish-haired | young woman and slender man with spectacles on his nose walked on deck 1 and asked for the captain. The two officers sheepishly descended from the bridge and approached the | couple.
 "Oh, captain!" cried the lady, "is Henry worse?"
 Hes no better" replied the cap- | tain, guardedly.
 I've come to nurse him, and have y. Take me to him."
 Some sicknesses are catching" said the captain, hesitating.
 "Orful," chimed in MT. Hogg.
 I'm not afraid when Henry's life is in danger" she persisted. Take me to him."
 The two officers, with perturbed coun- l tQn3napS 1a6 10 way halouv o,l lady pushed the burly man on guard away as if he wa of straw.
 Henry, are you very sick?" she asked.
 MT. Smiley caught the glowering eye of the captain, and said, feebly, that he felt very ill, which was not far from the truth, as the mixture of oil and beef tea was not having a pleasing effect. T have come to nurse you, Henry" she said, "and have brought the doc- tor to examine you.' MT. Smiley turned very pale as the doctor stepped forward and asked him to put out his tongue Then he tapped his chest and asked him to draw deep breath.
 
 tor, with concern; 'let me feel your pulse.
 This is very serious" he continued. l placing his ear to where MT. Smiley's heart was supposed to be. Whats the matter?" asked MT. Smiley in cold sweat of terror. Where does this young mans family l loO o,I-A nity
 "Is there something the matter with me?" asked the engineer, piteously. Am going to die?"
 Be quiet, poor fellow" said the doc- tor, sadly.
 Capt. Pray, with pallid face, dragged the doctor from the stateroom.
 Do you mean to say he's sick?" he asked, hoarsely. He may be dead before morning." replied the doctor
 He was we'll enough a little while ago"
 My dear captain, some illnesses come like the flash of gun," replied the doc tor, but I haven't given up hope We may save him."
 T suppose you've plenty of tar on the ship"
 Lots" excitedly replied the captain.
 Make two large plasters and place one on his back and the other on his breast" said the doctor.
 'Ill do it." asseverated the captian.
 The doctor then persuaded the young lady to go home, as the patient was in good hands, and they left It was bad night for MT Smiley, as between the tar plasters and the large doses of cod-liver oil which the captain insisted on administering at intervals, he had much to bear, but the next morn- ing the doctor reported him as better. but not out of danger.
 The captain accompanied the doctor on deck, and, pointing to the spouts which were emptying the grain into the hold of the steamer, said, earnestly: See here, doctor, I've got to sail to- morrow and I can't sail without an en- gineer. Is it likely Smiley will be able to be up by tomorrow" MT. Smiley" replied the doctor, "has remarkable disesae. It comes quick, and either kills or goes as quickly. Thanks to your knowledge and prompt use of cod-liver oil, 1 think he will be as we'll as ever he was by tomorrow"
 The next morning when the doctor boarded the Grimsby the assistant en- gineer had steam up, and everything was in readiness for start. He hurried be- low, and, examining the engineer, said: You can get up, MT. Smiley. You are entirely well, but you have had narrow escape. Here's a letter for you"
 While the Grimsby was steaming down the bay, MT. Smiley read by the sunlight gleaming in port the following let ter:
 "Dear MT. Smiley: never intended marrying you. was racking my brain for a reason to break it off when I heard 0f vOur traachery and I resolved to scara