Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1906-05-05
CHAPTER v.-(Continued.,

paler than usual, and dark circles round
her eyes gave evidence Of a sleepless
night. She opened her red lips to speak.
and then, seeing vickers, stopped alb
ruptly.
We'll, what is it?'
She looked from ono 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 tho ladder In an In
slant, with scared face. Pine caught the
girls round firm arm. Where have
you been?"
Two great flakes of red came out In
ner white cheeks, and she shot an indg-
nant glance at Blunt.
Were You with the child last night ?"
went on Pine
NO; l 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. Il beg your pardon" he
said, gruffiy 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 60"
Sarah Purfoy stood motioness for an
instant, in deadly terror. Her lips part
cd 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 feverl | have heard Of It'll Men
nave 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 1T NAV
Knock off few dozen prisoners or So
!hey are pretty close packed down
there What is the matter?"
"Nothing-a pain. I did not sleep
last night. | have the toothache," said
she, putting her hand to her face.
ooihe iduuanum, says Blunt,
with dim recolections of his old mothers
treatment OF such ailments. "Od 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"
blunts cabin was In the starboard
SIDE OF the ship, just under the awning.
ana possessed three windows-one look
ing out over the side, and two upon !
geek. The corresponding cabin on the
other side was occupied by Mr.. Maui
glee Frere. He closed the door and took
down small medicine chest
Here said he, opening it. "I've
carried this little box for years, but it
am OFTEN l want to use 1t. 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
II oeiore. And she put the bottle in her
pocket
Her tears were all dry long ago. and
mad only given increased color to her
race. This agreeable woman never wept
long enough to make herself distaste-
full. She raised her dark eyes TO his for
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 ewes filed
with tears, real ones this time.
Poor little thing" she said: "I hone
she won't die
And then she threw herself on her he'd
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 falsifed her carefully made cal
culations, and cast an almost insur
mountable obstacle In her path?
She die! and through me? How did
| know that he had fever? Perhaps I
have taken 1t myself, l feel ILL.," She
turned over on the bed as il In pain |
ana then started to a sitting position. |
stung by sudden thought "Perhaps
he might die! The fever spreads quick
~ and II so, all this plotting will have
been useless. 1t must be done at once |
1t will never do to break down now.u
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 III go through with 1t, and. |
If the worse comes to the worst, / 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. |
Il will get little sleep II l can" she |
said. They have got the note, and
it shall be done tonight"