Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-30

isn't my secret. 1t was important
enough to make me leave my uncle
at Seattle at an hours notice when
we found there was no one else who
could. go. That's all can say.
took my maid with me, but the sailors
caught her just as she was following
me down the ships ladder. She had
my bag of clothes when they seized
her. cast off the rope and rowed
ashore as fast as could, but they
lowered another boat and followed
me-"
The captain cred her sharply, and
his grim lines softened bit for. she
was clean-cut and womanly, and ut
terly out of place. He took her IN
shrewdly, detail, then spoke directly
to her:
"My dear young LADY the other
ships will get there just as quickly
as ours, maybe more quickly. To-
morrow we strike the ice-pack and
then 1t is all matter Of luck"
Eyes, but the ship left won't get
there"
At this the commander started, and,
darting a great, thick-f1ngered hand
at her, spoke savagely:
What's that? What ship? Which
one did you come from? Answer me-
"The Ohio" she replied, with the
effect Of a handgrenade. The master
glared at her.
"The Ohio! Good God! You dare to
stand there and tell me that?" He
turned and poured his rage upon the
others.
"she says the Ohio, dye heare
You've ruined me! I'll put you in
irons-all of you The Ohio!"
What dye mean? What's up?"
Whats up There's smallpox
aboard the Ohio! This girl has
broken quarantine. The health In
spectors bottled up the boat at six
O'Clock last night! That's why pull
ed out Of Unalaska ahead of time, to
avoid any possible delay. Now we'll
all be held up when we get to Nome.
Great Heavens! do you realize what
this means bringing this hussy
aboard?"
His eyes burned and his voice
shook, while the two partners stared
at each other in dismay. Too we'll
they knew the result of smallpox
panic aboard this crowded troop-ship.
Not only was every available cabin
bullying with passengers, but the low.
er decks were damned with both
humanity and live stock all in the
most unsanitary conditions. The craft
built for three hundred passengers,
was carry triple her capacity; men
and women were slowed away like
cattle. Order and half-tolerable
condition were maintained only by
the efforts Of the passengers them
selves. who held to the thought that
Imprisonment and inconvenience
would last but few days longer
They had been aboards three weeks
and every heart was aflame with the
desire to reach Nome to reach Il
ahead of the pressing horde behind.
What would be the temper Of this
gold-frenzied army If thrown int
quarantine within sight of their goal:
The impatient hundreds would have
to lie packed in their floating prison
submitting to the foul disease. Ions
they must lie thus, till a month
should has passed after the disappear
ance of the last symptom If the
disease required sporadically; thai
that might mean endless weeks d
maddening idleness. 1t might even be
impossible to impose the necessar,
restraint; there would be violence
perhaps mutiny.
The fear of the sickness was moth
ing to- Dextry and Glenister, but q
their mine they thought with terror
What would happen in their absence
where conditions were as unsettled as
in this new land; where titles were
hid only by physical possession o
the premises? During the long white.
of their absence, ice had held thei
treasure inviolate, but with the warm
ing summer the jewel they had fough1
for so YEARLY would lie naked ant
exposed to the first conner. The
Midas lay in the valley of the richest
creek, where men had schemed ant
fought and slain for the right tt
inches. 1t was the fruit OF cherries
barren years of toll, and if they could
not guard it they knew the result
The girl interrupted their distress
ing reflections.
Don't blame these men, SIR" she
begged the captain 81 am the onl,
one at fault. Oh! had to get away
| have papers here that must be de
livered quickly" She laid her hant
upon her bosom "They couldn't b.
trusted to the unsettled mail service
It's almost life and death. And as
sure you there is no need of puttins
me in quarantine. haven't the small
pox. l wasn't even exposed to it,
There's nothing else to do" sale
Stephens. "I'll isolate you in the decl
smoking-cabin. God knows what thes.
madmen on board will do when the,
hear about it, though. They're apt e
tear you to shreds They're crazy!'