The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-12
The Spoilers.
By REX E. BEACH.
copyrfsht. 1905. by E. Beach.
By REX E. BEACH.


Don't blame these men, sir,'' she
begged the captain. Il am the only
one at fault. Oh, had to get away!
have papers here that must be deliv-
cred quickly" She laid a hand upon
her boRm. They couldn't be trusted
to the unsettled mail service. It's al
most life and death. And assure
you there is no need Of putting me in
quarantine. 1 haven't the smallpox.
1 wasn't even exposed to it,
There's nothing else to do" said
Stephens. ''I'll 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 10
tear you to shreds. They're crazy
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"
Bah! Let 'em try it. I'll put 'em
down" The officers square jaws
clicked.
Maybe so; but what then? We
"each 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 five
thousand a day 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 it amounts to.
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 carelessness. Curse you-you
say it well. Don't you realize that l
am criminally liable if I don't take
every precautions" He paused for a
moment, considering. IN hand her
over to the ships DOCTOR
See here, now" Glenister urged
well be in Nome In a week-before
| the young lady would have time to
| show symptoms of the disease, even
| If she were going to have it--and a
| thousand to one she hasn't been eX-
posed and Will never show a trace of
It, 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'H save your
ship and your company-nObody will
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 so 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 It means as
| much to US as it does to you. We've
| got to be on Anvil creek before the
| ground thaws Or We'll lose the Midas.
If you make a 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 observation-disclosures of the pretty
| ones are no good. They've fooled me
many a time, and I made n 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 out into the passage and
closed the door carefully.