West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-10-17
'She says the Ohio. dye hearf You've
ruined met I'll put you In !rops-aii OF
YOU The OhIor'

WHATS upl There's smallpox aboard
the Ohio! This girl has broken quar-
antine. Tho health inspectors bottled
up the boat at O o'clock last night.
That's why pulled out OF Unalaska
ahead OF time. to avoid any possible
delay. Now well all bo held up when
we get TO Nome. Great Heavensl DO
you realize what this means-brlnglng
this hussy aboard2"
His eyes burned, and his voice shook
while tho two partners stared Mt each
other In dlsmay. Too well they knew
tho result OF n smallpox panic aboard
this crowded troop ship. Not only was
every available cabin bulglng with pas
sengerr. but the lower decks were jam.
med with both humanity and live stock
all In tho most unsanltary conditions.
The craft. built for 400 passengers, was
carrying triple her capacity. Men and
women were slowed away like cattle.
Order aud half tolerable condition
were maintained only by the efforts OF
the passengers themselves, who held 20
the thought that Imprisonment and In
convenience would last but few days
longer. They had been aboard three
weeks. and every heart was afiame
with the desire TO reach Nome - TO
reach II ahead OF the pressing horde
behind.
What would be tho temper OF this
gold frcnzled army IL thrown into
quarantine within sight OF their goal?
The impatient hundreds would have 20
lie packed In their floating prison. sub
mittlng 10 the foul disease. Long they
must lie thus. till n month should have
passed after the disappearance OF the
last symptom. III the disease REQUIRED
sporadically. that might mean endless
weeks OF maddening idleness. It might
even be impossible TO Impose the neces-
sary restraint There would be vio-
lence, perhaps mutiny.
The fear Of tho sickness was moth
Ing to Dcxtry and Glenlster, but OF
their mine they thought with terror.
What would happen In their absence,
where conditions were az unsettled as
In this new land, where titles were held
only by physical possession OF the
premises? During the long winter OF
their absence ice had held their treas
ure invlolate. but with tho warming
summer the jewel they had fought for
80 wearily would lie naked and ex-
posed 10 the first conner. The Midas
lay In the valley OF the richest creek,
where men had schemed and fought
and slain for the right TO inches. IL
was the fruit or cherries, barren years
OF toll, and IL they could not guard IL
they knew the result.
The girl interrupted their distressing
reflections
Don't blame these men, sir" she
begged the captain. 81 am the cnIy
one at fault. oh, had TO get awayl
have papers here that must be deIiv-
cred quickly" She laid hand upon
her bosom. "Tbey couldn't be trusted
to tho unsettled mail service. It's al
most life and death. And I assure
you there is no need OF putting me IN
quarantine. I haven't the smallpox.
1 wasn't even exposed to It."
There's nothing else to do" said
stephens. "I'll isolate you I'm the deck
smoking cabin. God knows what these
madmen on board VIII do when they
hear about IL, though. They're apt 20
tear you 10 shreds. They're crazyr'
Glenister had been thinking RAPIDLY.
"If you do that, you'll have mutiny
In an hour. This isn't the crowd TO
stand that sort OF thing"
"Bahl Let 'em try It. I'll put 'em
down" Tho officers square Jaws
clicked.
Maybe so; but what then? Wo
reach Nome and the health inspector
hears OF smallpox suspects, then we're
all qusrahtined for thirty days; 800
OF us. Well lie at Egg island all sum-
mer Willie your company pays Ave
thousand day for this ship. That's
not all. The firm is liable In damages
for your cGrelessness ia letting dIseago
aboard"
my careIessnessw Tho old man
ground his teeth.
Yes; that's what Il amounts 10.
You'll ruin your owners, all right.
You'll tie up your ship and lose your
Job, that's a cinchp
Captain Stephens wiped the moisture
from his brow angrily.
MY carelessnessl Curse you-you
say IL Welt Don't you realize that
nm crIminally liable II don't tako
every precautionr He paused for a
moment. considering "I'll hand her
over TO the ships doctor"
See here. now" GlenIstcr urged.
Wen be In Nome in week-beforo
the young lady would have time TO
show symptoms of the disease, even
IL she were going TO have It-and n
thousand TO one she hasn't been ex-
posed aud will never show trace OF
IT. Nobody knows she's aboard but wo
three. Nobody will see her get or.
She'll stay In this cabin, which will be
just as effectual as though you Isolated
her In any other part OF the boat 10
viii avoid a panlc--yOu'll save your
ship and your company-DObOdy Will
be the wiser-then II the girl comes
down with smallpox after she gets
ashore she can go TO the pcsthDuse and
not jeopardize the health Of al tho
people aboard this ship. You go up
forrad TO your bridge, sir, and forget
that you stepped I'm 90 see old Bill
DeItry this morning. Wen take caro-
OF this matter all right It means a.
much TO us as IL does 10 you. We've
got 20 be on Anvil creek before the
ground thaws OF we'iI lose the Midas.
IL you make n fuss you'll ruin us all"
For some moments they watched
him breathlessly as no frowned in In
decision, then:
You'll have 20 look out for the
steward" he said and tho girl sank 90
stool while two great tears rolled
down her cheeks. The captains eyes
softened, and his voice was gentle ss
he laid his hand on her head.
Don't feel hurt over what 1 said,
miss. You see, appearances don't tell
much hereabouts-most Of the pretty
ones are no good. They've fooled mo
many time. and I made mistake.