Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-09-19

all in the most unSlnitary conditions.
The craft, built for 800 passengers, was
carrying triple her capacity. Men and
women were slowed away like cattle.
Order and half tolc9abe condition
were maintained only by the efforts of
the passengers themselves, who held to
the thought that Imprisonment and In
convenience would last but few days
longer. They had been aboard three
weeks, and every heart was aname
with the desire to reach Nome - to
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 foul disease. Long they
must lie thus, till month should have
passed after the disappearance Of the
last symptom If 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 vlo-
renee, perhaps nullny.
The fear of the sickness was moth
ing to Dcxtry 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 were held
only by physical possession Of the
premises? During the long winter of
4. / 4. Al
ure inviolate, but with the warming
summer the jewel they had fought for
so YEARLY would lie naked and ex-
posed TO the first conner. The Midas
lay in the valley of the richest creek,
where men had schemed and fought
and slain for the right to inches. 1t
was the fruit Of chcerless barren years
of toll, and II they could not guard 1t
they knew the result
The girl interrupted their distressing
reflections
Don't blame these men, sir" she
begged the captain. Il AIN the only
one at fault. oh, | had to get away.
have papers here that must be dellv-
cred quickly" She laid hand upon
her bosom. "They couldn't be trusted
to the unsettled mall service. It's al
most life and death And | assure
you there is no need Of putting me in
quarantine. l haven't the smallpox.
| wasn't even exposed to IT.
"Thcre's nothing else to do" said
| Stephens. I'll isolate you In the deck
smoking cabin. God knows what these
mndmen on board will do when they
hear about 1t, though. They're apt to
tear you to shreds. They're crazy"
Glenister had been thinking rapidly.
"If you do that. yonll have mutiny
in an hour. This isn't the crowd to
stand that sort of thing"
BAH Let 'em try 1t. I'll put EN-
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
n. quarantlned for thirty days; 500
of us. Well 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 cinch"
Captain Stephens wiped the moisture
from his brow angrily.
MY carelcsSness. Curse you--you
say it we'll. Don't you realize that
am criminally liable if | don't take
every precautionE' He paused for a
moment, considering. IN hand her
over to the ships doctor"
See here, now" Glenister urged.
We'll he in Nome in weck-bsfore
the young lady would have timo 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 II 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 elfectllal as though you isolated
her in any other part of the boat. 1t
will avoid panc-you'll save your
ship and your mpany-nobody Will
be the wiser-then If the girl comes
down with smallpox after she gets
ashore she can go to the pesthousc 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 Wen take care
of this matter all right. 1t 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 fuss you'll ruin lis ALL
For some moments they watched
him breathlessly as he frowued in in
decision, then;
You'll have TO lock out for the
steward" he said. and the girl sank &c
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 tel
much hcreaboutS-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 two far NORTH