The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1906-05-04
for The Term of His Natural Life
BY MARCUS CLARKE
N~~.~~~~N~>~o~~~~>~
CHAPTER y.--fContinued.1

CHAPTER v.--(Continued.r
Tbs woman of whom they were speak
ing met him at the ladder. Her face was
palsr than usual. and dark circles round
her eyes gave evidence Of q slsepless
night She opened her red lips to speak.
and then, seeing Vickers. stopped alb
ruptly.
''Wsll, what Is itY'
She looked from one to the other. 81
came for Doctor Pine"
vickers, with the quick intelligence
Of affection. guessed her errand. "Some
ene IL III r
''Mlss Sylvia, sir. It Is nothing to sig
nifty, think. A little feverish and hot
and my mistress"
vickers was down the ladder in an in
slant, with scared face. Pine caught the
girls round, arm arm. where have
you beenT"
Two great fakes Of red came out In
her white cheeks, and she shot an indig-
nant glance at Blunt.
Were you with the child last nightT
went on Pine.
"No; have not been In the cabin
since dinner yesterday. Mrs. vickers
only called me In just now. Let 60 my
arm, sir; you hurt me-"
Pine loosed his hold as II satisfied at
me reply. II beg your pardon" he
said. gruffiy. II did not mean to hurt
you. But the fever has broken out In
the prison, and think the child has
caught 1t. You must be careful where
you CO."
Sarah Purfoy stood motionless for an
Instant. In deadly terror. Her lips part
I'd, her eyes glittered, and she made
movement as though to retrace her steps.
Poor soul!' thought honest Blunt,
show she feels for the child! That
iubberly surgeon, he's hurt her! Never
mind, my lass" he said, aloud. 1t was
broad daylight, and he had not as much
courage In love making as at night.
Don't be afraid. I've been In ships
with fever before now"
Awaking, as 1t were. at the sound Of
his voice, she came closer to him. But
ship fever! l have heard Of It! Men
have died like rotten sheep In crowded
vessels like this"
flush! Not they. Don't be fright
ened; Miss Sylvia won't die, nor you
neither" He took her hand. ut may
knock of few dozen prisoners or so.
They are pretty close packed down
there. What is the matter?'
Nothing pain. l did not sleep
last night have the toothache," said
she, putting her hand to her face.
Take some laudanum," says Blunt
with dim recollections of his old mothers
treatment of such ailments. "Old Pine'll
give you some. No, I'll get It for you.
You sha'n't ask that bear for 1t. Come
into my cabin"
Blunt's cabin was in the starboard
side of the ship. just under the awning
and possessed three windows-one look
Ing out over the side, and two upon
deck The corresponding cabin on the
other side was occupied by Mr.. Maui
rice Frere. He closed the door and took
down a small medicine chest.
Here" said he, opening 1t. 1--WE
carried this little box for years. but It
Amt often l want to use It. Now, then.
put some of this into your mouth, and
hold II there"
Good gracious. Captain Blunt, you'll
poison me! Give me the bottle; I'll help
myself. You need not fear. I've used
1t before" And she put the bottle in her
pocket.
Her tears were all dry long ago, and
had only given increased color to her
face. This agreeable woman never wept
long enough to make herself dlstaste-
full She raised her dark eyes to his for
moment, with a saucy smile, and gain
cd her cabin. 1t was next to that of
her mistress, and she could hear the sick
child feebly moaning. Her eyes filled
with tears, real ones this time.
"Poor little thing" she said; II hope
she won't die"
And then she threw herself on her bed
and buried her hot head In the pillow
Tho intelligence Of the fever seemed to
have terrified her. Had the news disar-
ranged some well-concocted plan of hers
Being near the accomplishment of some
cherished scheme, long kept in view. had
the sudden and unexpected presence of
disease falsified her carefully made cal
culations, and cast an almost insur-
mountable obstacle in her path2
''She del and through msl How did
turned taken a,s. ! g. Ks g.. @ |" 81, shs
ttuns By i sudden thought: ''perhaps
he might die! The fever spreads quick
y, and Y 80, al this plotting viii have
beer useless, Il must be done at once
III WIN never do to break down now,"
and taking the phial from her pocket
ehe held II up, TO see now much II con
tained. 1t was three parts full. Enough
for both" she said between her sci
teeth. The action Of holding up the
bottle reminded her Of Blunt, and che
smiled. "I'll 60 through with 1t, and
II the worse comes to the worst, car
fall back on Maurice" She loosened tn.
cork Of the phial. SO that 1t would com,
out with as little noise as possible, and
then placed 1t carefully in her bosom
II will get little sleep II can" sh,
said. "They have got the note, ant
It shall be done tonight"
CHAPTER VI.
The felon, Rufus Dawes, had stretch
cd himself in his bunk and tried t,
sleep. But though he was tired and sore
and his head felt like lead he could no
but keep broad awake. The long pull
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