The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-05-04
Tor he Term of his Natural life
By MARCUS CLARKE
CHAPTER V.-(Continued)

Inc woman or whom they were speak
ing met him at the ladder. Her face was
paler than usual, and dark circles round
her eyes gave evidence of sleepless
night. She opened her red lips to speak
and them seeing Vickers, stopped alb
ruptly.
well. what is it?''
She looked from one to the other 81
came for Doctor Pine"
Vickers. with the quick intelligence
OF affection. guessed her errand. "Some
one is ill?"
Miss Sylvia, sir. 1t is nothing to sig
nifty, l 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, firm arm. where have
you beenY'
Two great flakes of red came out In
her white cheeks, and she shot an indig-
nant glance at Blunt.
Were you with the child last night 2?
went on Pine
No; have not been in the cabin
since dinner yesterday. Mrs. Vickers
only called me in just now. Let go my
arm, sir; you hurt me-"
Pine loosed his hold as if satisfied at
the reply. 81 beg your pardon" he
said, gruffly. Il did not mean to hurt
you. But the fever has broken out in
the prison, and l think the child has
caught it. You must be careful where
you CO."
Sarah Purfoy stood motionless for an
instant, in deadly terror. Her lips part
ed. her eyes glittered, and she made a
movement as though to retrace her steps.
poor soul!" thought honest Blunt,
'how she feels for the child. That
lubberly 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 it 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 off few dozen prisoners or So.
They are pretty close packed down
there. What is the matter?"
"Nothing-a pain. l did not sleep
last night. l 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 it. 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 it. 1--WE
carried this little box for years, but it
amt often | want TO use it, Now, then
put some of this into your mouth, and
hold 1t 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 increa sed color to her
face. This agreeable woman never wept
long enough to make herself distaste-
full. She raised her dark eyes to his for
q moment. with saucy smile, and gain
ed 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.
The 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 path?
"She die! and through me? How did
1 know that he had a fever? Perhaps I
have taken it myself. feel ILL.," She
turned over on the bed. as if in pain.
and then started to a sitting position.
stung by sudden thought. "Perhaps
he might die. The fever spreads quick
~, and If SO. all this plotting will have
been useless. 1t must be done at once.
1t will never do to break down now"
and taking the phial from her pocket,
she held 1t up, to see how much it con-
tanned. 1t was three parts full Enough
for BOTH" she said, between her set
teeth. The action Of holding up the
bottle reminded her Of Blunt. and she
smiled. I'll go through with it. and,
IF the worse comes to the worst. l can
fall back on Maurice" She loosened the
cork of the phial. so that it would come
out with as little noise as possible. and
then placed it carefully in her bosom.
Il will get a little sleep If 1 cam" she
said. ''They have got the note, and
1t shall be done tonight"
CHAPTER VI.
The felon, Rufus Dawes, had stretch
ed himself In his bunk and tried to
sleep. But though he was tired and sore.
and his head felt like lead. he could not
but keep broad awake. The long pull
through the pure air. if it had tired
him, had revived him. and he felt strong
er; but for all that the fatal sickness
that was on him maintained its hold;
his pulse beat thickly, and his brain
throbbed with unnatural heat. Lying in
bis narrow space in the ssmi-darkness,