Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1911-06-02

'ICDS up, Doc?" asked
expectantly.
Il want the 'elp of man as as
the nerve to do an ugly job before
daylight" he whispered sententiously.
MURDER" / tried to smile.
"Mayhap!" he quietly replied, to my
amazement.
THAT lets me out, Doc. I'm on
for my bunk"
mo 1t Doesn't" he hissed, follow
ing my hesitant retreat. What brings
me ere late at night In a storm Is
more important to the company and
its hundred and sixty-two hands In
camp, than to you and me. This Jobs
goin' for-ard tonight, come what may.
And you who are handy with gun
and l who have no talent for talk
afterward-wels, it's we two for the
perfawmence. I'm dead serious, am,
and you'll stand by-Im certain of
that. Come, the tides just a-turnin'.
Well have to be movin' with 1t. Every
moment we're nearer stampede and
a panic in camp. Get your gun and
sneak to my hut right away. Not a
peep to them gents from Boston, nor
to any one else. We're going for
bear, understan', plain brown bear
tomorrow"
That Alaskan night was of the foul
estl A fretful kamook bayed dismal
ly on the opposite shore where Haida
Indians sometimes dwell ON their
canoe voyages among the Prince of
Wales Islands. The Coplan Copper
company's smelter cast fitful patterns
of light and shadow upon the freezing
bay. The wild voice of the hills smote
the sea beyond with hiss and roar.
January was in angry mood In the
wilderness as l kicked the snow from
my boots before the Doctors cabin,
and his hound uttered a long, low
growl within. 1t seemed but a mo-
ment when our pipes were loaded, the
"whuskey" on the rude table beside US,
and the fire roaring In the doctors lit
tie rusty stove.
Turning suddenly and bringing his
fist to the level of my face, the little
man unpacked himself brusquely:
Am correctly informed that
you're leaving camp for the east on
the next boat?"
That's my intention unless this
storm detains me-"
We'll, sir" continued the doctor, as
he placed foot on the hounds thich
neck and recharged his glass, II hope
nothing will interfere with your leav
in; but l can't see the horizon of g
little mess down near the Indian quar-
ters behind the mill You see, l CAM
say anything to those timid city direc
tors about it, fearin' of their indis
cretion and tangle with the health
officer at the port o. entry. Them di
rectors hate me! Now you've appealed
to me as a man of the woods. You've
been about some where a mans got
to be several times a man. This
ID Indian must be handled
nightly rough tonight. At least wt
can't weep over him. He sneaked II
night before last without permission
and it'll explode any minute"
When the doctor rummaged for two
black shroud-like gowns and careless
ly threw them across the bed, sus
pected that we were either to lyncl
somebody, commit corpse to the Sc;
or participate in some ghoulish cere
mony of pagan belief amongst tn,
Siwash across the bay. Finally
blurted: Doc, what are these blacl
kimonas for? Looks like a hanging.
1T might better be hangin'," h,
retorted, paving amongst his apothe
cary stores, from which he occasion
ally set aside package. Its small
pox! That's what it is-in a CAM
of panicky miners ready to bolt on tn,
first Whit. Smailpox-fourteen-d
stage, and pest house harboring th
ID case. Do you understand
Smallpox"
Then with toss Of the head an
one OF those sudden turns upon hi
auditor which characterized all his In
tense utterances. no growled: Com
along now, we've got to mope tha
case out of camp before dawn or, vel
you'll see the companys boat in tn
hands Of mutinous miners, and 1t
creditors dividin' its assets In banh
ruptcy. and me a-goin' to the coop TO
violatin' the law"
We skulked along the beach as ia
as possible from the glare OF tn
smelter. Black buzzards, sheltering &
a wood pile, chartered raucously.
The doctor whispered: Our plar
remember II the buck shows fght
do your part; III do mine. We
avoid rough-and-tumble as long a
possible. Hear that sea racing pas
the inlet! Gad what a night fo
women and children! This bread an
bacon won't be needed. I'm believin