The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-04-01


O'Clock before Swenson announced
TINT two teoms were coming With
three men aud two women IN them
They'll be here IN half an hour"
The rangers heart leaped Two
women! Could Que Of them be Leo
Virginia. What folly what sweet
desperate folly! And the other she
could not be Lie for Lie was too
feeble 10 ride 30 far stop thrm on
the other side ~ the bridge" h' com.
manded Don't let them cross the
creek on any pretext"
As he stood IN the door the hutter
Of handkerchief, the waving Of
hand. made his pulse glow and his
eyes grow dim II was Nirglnlal
Lie did not hutter kercbief or
wave a hand. but when Swcnsou stop
ped the carriage OF the bridge she said
mo. you don't I'm going across. I'm
going to see Ross. aud II he needs help
I'm going TO roll up my sleeves and
take hold"
Cavanagh saw her advancing. and as
she came near enough for his voice TO
reach her he called out: Don't come
any closerl stop. tell youl" His
voice was stern. You must not come
step nearer. Go back across the
dead line and stay there No one but
the doctor shall enter this door. Now.
that's final"
81 want to belp"' she protested
81 know you do. but I won't have IT,
| This quarantine IS real and it goes!"
But suppose you yourself get sick?'
Well cross that bridge when we
get TO IT, I'm all right so far, and I'll
call for help when need IT,"
His tone was imperative. and she
obeyed, grumbling about his youth and
the value OF his life to the service
"Thats all very nice" he replied
"but I'm IN #. and don't intend to
expose you or any one else 10 the con
tagiou."
"Tve had II once" she asserted
He looked at her aud smiled in rec
ogpition of her subterfuge
"No matter; you're aliug and might
take IT. again. so toddle back. It's
mighty good Of you aud of Lee to
come. but there isn't q thing you can
do. and here's the DOCTOR he added
as he recognized the young student
who passed for a. physician In the
Fork. He was n beardess youth of
small experience aud no great cour.
age, and as he approached with hest.
tant feet he asked:
Are you sure it's smallpox"
Cavanugh smiled. "The indications
are all that way. That last importa.
ton of Basques brought il probably
from the steerage OF the ship. I'm
told they've had several casss over in
the basin"
Have you been vaccinatedT'
Yes. when was in the army"
Then you're all right"
"T hope So III.
There was a certain comic relief I'm
this long distance diagnosing OF q
ease" by boy aud yet the tragic
fact beneath II all was that wether.
ford was dying. broken and dishon-
ored husband and father and tnat his
Identity must be concealed from his
wife aud daughter. who were much
more deeply concerued over the ran
ger than over the desperate condition
OF his patient "And this must con.
tinue to be So" Cavauagh decided
And as he stood there looking toward
the girls fair figure on the bridge he
came to the final. tixed determination
never 10 speak one word or make Il
sign that might lead 10 the dying
mans Identification. "Of what use 10
itT' he asked himself "Why should
even Lie he made 20 suffer? Wether
ford's poor misspeut life is already
over for her. and for Lee he is only a
dim memory"
Redheld came near enough 10 see
that the rangers face. though tired
showed no sign Of illness and was re
lleved. "Who is this old herderf" he
asked Hasn't he any relatives IN
the countryg
He came from Texas. so he snid
You're not coming in?' he broke o6
TO say to the young physician. whom
Lie had shamed into returning TO tn,
) cabin.
81 suppose I'll have TO-" he protest
ed weakly.
| hVH SEE AlF Aftu VI " N'
, whole place reeks Of the poison. anC
) you might carry 1t away with you
p Unless you Insist on coming In auC
/ are sure you can prevent further con
, tagion ! shall oppose your entrance
, You are in the company Of others
r must consider their welfare
, The young fellow was relieved
We'll. so long rs we know what II f.
? | can prescribe just ms we'll riGh
here" he said and gave directions fo
the treatment. which the ranger agreed
TO carry out.
81 tried to bring nurse" explained
Redheld. but | couldn't find anybody
but old Lie who would come"
81 don't blame them replied Ross
ut isn't a nice Job, even when you'v,
J got all the conveniences."
His eyes as ho spoke we're on tn,
figure Of Lee, who still stood on ~
bridge, awed and worshipful, barred o
approach by Lie. "She shall p,
know" ne silently vowed why pu
! her through useless suffering anC
shame? Edward Wetherfords disor
4