Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-30
Glenister had been thinking rapid

in an hour. This isn't the crowd to
stand that sort of thing
'sah! Let m try 1t. I'll put 'em
down." The officers square jaws
clicked.
Maybe SO; but what then? We
reach Nome and the Health Inspector
hears Of smallpox suspects, then
we're all quarantined for thirty days,
eight hundred of us. We'll lie at
Egg Island all summer while your
for this ship. That's not all. The
firm is liable In damages for your
carelessness in letting disease
aboard
my carelessness! The old man
ground his teeth.
yes; that's what 1t amounts TO-
You'll tie up your ship and lose. your
Job, that's a cfnch!"
Captain Stephens wiped the mois-
ture from his brow angrily.
MY carelessness! Curse you-you
say 1T we'll Don't you realize that I
am criminally liable If don't take
every precaution?" He paused for a
moment, considering. "I'll hand her
over to the ships doctor"
See here. now" Glenister urged.
We'll be in Nome in week-before
the young lady would Fave time to
show symptoms of the disease, even
If she were going to have it and
thousand to one she hasn't been ex-
posed, and will never show trace of
1t. Nobody knows she's aboard but
we three. Nobody will see her get
off. She'll stay in this cabin, which
will be just as effectual as though
you isolated her in any other part of
the boat. 1t will avoid a panic
you'll save your ship and your com
pany- no one will be the wiser
then if the girl comes down with
smallpox after she gets ashore, she
can go to the pest-house and not jeop-
ardize the health Of all the people
aboard this ship. You go up forrad
to your bridge, sir, and forget that
you stepped in to see old Bill Dextry
this morning. Well take care Of this
matter all right. 1t means as much
to us as 10 does to you. We've got to
be on Anvil Greek before the ground
thaws or we'll lose the Midas. If you
make fuss, you'll ruin us all"
For some moments they watched
him breathlessly as he frowned in in
decision. then
you'll have to look out for the
steward" he said, and the girl sank
to a stool while two great tears rolled
down her cheeks. The captains eyes
softened and his voice was gentle as
he laid his hand on her head.
Don't feel hurt over what said,
miss. You see. appearances don't tell
much, hereabouts- most Of the pretty
ones are no good. They've fooled me
many time, and made a mistake
These men will help you through ]
can't Then when you get to Nome
make your sweetheart marry you the
day you land. You are too far north
to be alone
He stepped out into the passage ant
closed the door carefully.
CHAPTER III
Well, bein' as me an Glenister X
gougin' into the bowles Of Anvil Creek
all last summer, we don't really gel
the fresh-grub habit fastened on us
none. You see, the gamblers down
town cop out the few aigs an green
vegetables that stray OFF the ships
SO they never get out as far as the
Creek none: except, maybe, in the
shape of anecdotes.
"We don't get intimate with no nut
riments except hog-boosum an brown
beans, of which luxuries we have un
stinted measure, an bein as this is
our third year in the country we hank.
er for bony fido grub, somethin' scan
lous. Yes, ma'am- three years with
out a taste Of fresh fruit not meat mol
nuthin' except pork an beans. Why
I've ate bacon till my immortal sou
has growed rind.
When it comes time to close down
the claim, the boy is sick with the
fever an the only ship In port is 9
Point Barrow whaler, bound for Seat
tie. After l book our passage. I find
they have nothin aboard to eat except
canned salmon, 1t bein' the end Of 6
two years cruise, SO when land IL
the States after seventeen days of 6
fish diet am what you might cal
stated with canned grub, and hav,
added salmon to the list Of things
concernfn' which am goin' to econ
omize.
"Soon's ever get the boy into {
hospital, gallop up to the best res
tarawnt in town an prepare for the
huge pot-latch This here, deter
mine, is to be gormandizin' jag
which shall live "A hist'ry an wharo
in later years the natives of Puget
Sound shall speak with bated breath.
First, call for five dollars worth
of pork an beans an then a full
grown platter of canned salmoon
When the waiter lays EN- out In from
of me, look them vittles colby II
| their disgustin' visages, an say in sar
castle accents:
"Set there damn you! an watch m,
eat real grub which proceed to do
cleanin' the menu from soda to hook
When 1 have done my worst, pill;
bones Of mourishment, stick tooth
picks into 'em, an havin' offered EN-
what other indignities occur to me,
leave the place"
Dextry and the girl were leanin,
over the stern-rail, chatting idly 4
| the darkness. 1t was the second nigh
out and the ship lay dead in the ice
4 pack. All about them was fiat, foe
clogged sea, leprous and notified il
1 the deem TWILIGHT that n,idnjoh