The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1907-11-10


reach it ahead OF the pressing horde
behind.
What would be the temper of this
gold frenzied army if thrown into
quarantine within sight of their goal?
The impatient hundreds would have TO
lie packed in their floating prison. sub
hitting to the foal disease Long they
must lie thus, till month should have
passed after the disappearance of the
last symptom. II 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 the sickness was moth
ing TO Dextry and Glenister, but Of
their mine they thought with terror.
What would happen in their absence.
where conditions were as unsettled as
in this new land, where titles We're held
only by physical possession of the
premises? During the long winter of
their absence ice had held their treas
ure inyiolate. but with the warming
summer the jewel they had fought for
SO YEARLY would lie naked aud ex-
lay in the valley of the richest creek,
where men had schemed and fought
ana slain for the right to inches. 1t
was the frnit OF cheeriess, barren years
o. eolI. and if they couid not siidfa IL
they knew the result
The girl interrupted their distressing
reflections.
Don't blame these men. SIR she
begged the captain. Il am the only
one at fault. oh, I had TO get away.
I have papers here that must be deliv-
cred quickly" she laid hand upon
her bosom. They couldn't be trusted
to the unsettled mali service. It's al
most life and death. And | assure
you there is no need of putting me in
quarantine. | haven't the smallpox.
l wasn't even exposed to it,
There's nothing else TO do" said
Stephens. "I'I isolate you in the deck
smoking cabin. God knows what these
madmen on board will do when they
hear about it, though They're apt to
tear you TO shreds. They're crazy"'
Glenfster 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
Bah, Let 'em try it. I'll put 'em
down" The officers square jaws
clicked
s'Maybe so; but what then? We
reach Nome and the health inspector
hears of smallpox suspects, then we're
all quarantined for thirty days; 800
of us. Wen lie at Egg island all sum
mer while your company pays i've
thousand q day fer this ship That's
not all. The firm IS liable in damages
for your carelessness III letting disease
aboard"
My carelessness!' The old man
ground his teeth.
Yes; that's what it amounts to-
You'll ruin your owners, all right
You'll tie up your ship and lose your
job. that's a cinch!'
Captain Stephens wiped the moisture
from his brow angriIy.
My carelessness, Curse you-you
say it well! Don't you realize that l
am criminally liable if / don't take
every precautionf' 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 have time to
show symptoms of the disease even
il she were going to have it-and a
thousand to one she hasn't been ex-
posed and will never show trace Of
it. Nobody knows shes aboard but we
three. Nobody Will see her get off
She'll stay in this cabin, which vii, be
= lS lot cd
her III any other part of the boat. 1t
will avoid q panic-you'll save your
ship and your company nobody viii
be the wiser-then if the girl comes
down with smallpox after she gets
ashore she can go to the pesthouse and
not jeopardize 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. Wen take care
OF this matter all right. 1t means as
much to us Us 1t does to you. We've
got to be on Anvil creek before the
ground thaws or weli lose the Midas.
If you make fuss you'li ruin us ALL
For some moments they watched
him breathlessly rs 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.
"Dont feel hurt over what I said.
miss. You see, appearances don't tell
much observation-disclosures 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 two far north
TO be alone
He stepped ont into the passage and
closed the door carefully.