Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-04-20
FOr Ihe Term of Ills Natural Life
CHAPTER v.-(Continued1
By MARCUS Clarke

-. s"'0 e'iuence Oh sleeplesS
nisnt' she opened her red lips to speak.
ruptly.
well, what is itT
ehe looked from one to the other. al
came for Doctor Pine"
Vickers, with the quick Intelligence
oi anectlon, guessed her errand. "Some
one is ill?"
Miss Sylvia, sir. 1t is nothing to sig
nify' think. A little feversh and hot
and my mistress"
NlcKers was down the ladder In an in
etant, with scared face. Pine caught the
girls round, firm arm. "Where have
you beenT
Two great fakes of red came out in
hef white cheeks. and she shot an indig-
nant glance at Blunt
We're you with the child last night?'
went on Pine.
No; | have not been in the cabin
since dinner yesterday. Mrs. Vickers
only called me in just now. Let 20 my
arm, sir; you hurt me-"
Fine loosed his hold as If satisfied at
the reply. Il beg your pardon" he
said, gruffiy. 81 did not mean to hurt
you. But the fever has broken out in
tAe prison, and l think the child has
caught it. You must be careful where
you 60"
Sarah Purfoy stood motionless for an
instant, in deadly terror. Her lips part
.ed' her eyes glittered, and she made
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! have heard of it! Men
have died like rotten sheep In crowded
vessels like this"
"Tush Not they. Don't be fright
ened; Miss Sylvia won't die, nor you
neither" He took her hand. at may
knock off a few dozen prisoners or SO.
They are pretty close packed down
there What is the matterr
"Nothing-a 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 recollectons of his old mothers
treatment Of such ailments. "Old Pine'll
give you some. No, I'll get 1t 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 l 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 increased color to her
face. This agreeable woman never wept
full. She raised her dark eyes to his for
a 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; "I 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
culatons, and cast an almost insur-
mountable obstacle In her path?
"She die! and through me? How did
/ know that he had fever? Perhaps l
have taken 1t myself, l feel ILL.," She
turned over on the bed, as If in pain,
and then started to sitting position,
stung by sudden thought. perhaps
he might die! The fever spreads quick
ly, 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. "Tll go through with 1t, and,
If the worse comes to the worst, l can
fall back on Maurice" She loosened the
cork of the phial, so that 1t would come
out with as little noise as possible, and
then placed it carefully in her bosom.
81 will get little sleep II can," 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,
f. 4