Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-09-27
solutely essential to prevent the fact

les, knew what they meant, and die
not care to have another one. Dom
let the plague loose among the camp
"You can rely upon that" replied
Dr. Sherwood, rising and pushing bacl
the papers upon his desk. II must
prepare disinfectants at once"
He made step as il to go to his Ia.
boratory which led off from the hall
but even at that very moment the dooi
leading to the veranda was flung open
and a man came rapidly and uncere-
imoniously into the room, startling al
there by his impetuosity.
The newcomer was Swiftwind, and
although his face was as stolid as
usual, his manner betrayed that some
thing quite out Of the common course
had occurred.
He gave a quick glance about the
room and then came at once toward
Sherwood.
"Dr. Sherwood"
Eyes. what is it?"
The Indian looked him straight in
the face, and in his look there was
something both threatening and ac-
cusing.
"She Is dead" he said, shortly.
He did not lower his voice In the
least, but spoke out in a tone which
was distinctly audible to all in the
room. ...
"Dead?" echoed every one, and all
eyes were fixed upon him.
"Who, John?-the Indian woman?"
asked the colonel.
Swiftwind bowed his head in assent.
Then a low chanting cry was heard
outside, a moan, for 1t was little more
than that, of mourning, Of misery.
There was something uncanny in the
sound, something which seemed to be
not of this world, and, with the ex-
ception Of Swiftwind to whom the
plant in his childhood had been ia
miliar. there was not one who did not
shudder with a superstition impossi-
BILE to control.
Helen Dare started to her feet.
What is that?" she cried.
Swiftwind turned toward her.
"It is the child Starlight" he an
swered in tones which were clear cut
and yet almost expressionless, ia
menting her mother" .
Again the weird, haunting cry went
up.
"Oh, how piteous!" said Helen, with
something that was almost a sob. ,
The little major was crying, and
made no effort to conceal 1t.
Poor little Starlight"
But Swiftwind's face was unchang-
ed. It was as IL moulded in copper.
When he spoke, too, his voice was as
hard and aggressive as his face.
"When l entered the hut few mo-
ment ago. the door and windows were
wide open, and the blanket had been
thrown from her breast. She had died
from a sudden chill"
While Swiftwlnd was speaking, Hell
en- Dare had risen slowly to her feet.
Remembering all that she knew in re-
gard to those old days in Germany, a
horrible suspicion entered her mind,
and she fixed her eyes upon Sherwood
in stern, accusing gaze. Strive as
he would he could not meet her look,
fortunately or unfortunately, as one
may regard It, and his eyes fell before
the stern questioning Of hers.
With an inward shiver Of horror
Helen was convinced that her suspi-
cions were correct.
This by-play was observed by none
of the others. Indeed. there was no
one present who had any reason to be
or the watch.
What could have done it?" ex-
claimed the colonel his honest soul up
In arms at the thought that such q
dastardly action could have been per-
formed In a place under his command,
although for the life Of him he could
see no reason for it. "Such careless
ness is nothing short of criminal"
II agree with you, colonel" said
Swiftwind, slowly and emphatically.
His. thin face was as impassive as
ever but his black eyes snapped.
AS If moved by a power he was una
BILE to control, Sherwood turned and
looked at him.
For a moment the two men stood
watching each other and questioning
each other with their eyes.
Then Sherwood spoke, reckless,
harassed look on his face:
Perhaps Starlight"
"No!" interrupted Swiftwind, stern
ly, "she was at the hospital" With
his glance never varying, he drew a
handkerchief from his pocket and ex-
tended 1t to Sherwood. "This Is yours,
doctor. I found 1t by the bedside. You
probably dropped it there earlier in
the evening""
ITO Be Continued).