The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-21

packageS ooWn outSlde the Qoor,s ne added, "and take charge of the situa- ton on the outside. I'll take care O. the business inside"
 Wetherford was in great pain, but the poison of the disease had mistet his brain, and he no longer worrie6. over the possible disclosure of his iden tity. At times he lost the sense of his surroundings and talked of his prisor; life or of the long ride northward Once he rose in his bed to beat of the wolves which he said were attack ing his pony.
 He was piteous figure as he strug- gled thus, and 1t needed neither his caring for the Basque hsrder to fl. the rangers heart with desire to re lieve his suffering. Perhaps I should have sent for Lize at once," he unused as the light brought out the red sig natures of the plague.
 Once the old man looked up with wide, dark, unseeing eyes and mur- mured, "I don't seem to know you"
 "T'm friend. My name is Cava- nagh."
 T can't place you," he sadly admit ted. "I feel pretty bad. If ever get out of this place I'm going back to the Fork. I'll get gold mine; then I'll go back and make up for what Lize has gone through. I'm afraid to go back now"
 "All right" Ross soothingly agreed. ''But you'll have to keep quiet till you get over this fever you're suffering from"
 eff Lize weren't so far away she'd come and nurse me. I'm pretty sick" Swenson came back to say that probably Redfield and the doctor would reach the station by noon, and thereafter, for the reason that Caya- nagh expected their coming, the hours dragged woefully. It was after o'clock before Swenson announced that two teams were coming with three men and two women in them. They'll be here in half an hour"
 The rangers heart leaped. Two women! Could one of them be Lee Virginia? What folly-what sweet, desperate folly!e And the other-she could not be Lize, for Lize was too feeble to ride so far. "stop them on the other side of the bridge" he com manded. Don't let them cross the creek on any prete1t."
 AS he stood in the door the futter of a handkerchief, the waving of 8 hand, made his pulse glow and his eyes grow dim. It was virginial
 Lize did not futter kerchief or wave hand, but when Swenson stop ped the carriage at the bridge she said "No, you don't! Pm going across. I'm going to see Ross, and if 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 closer! Stop, I tell youw His voice was stern. "You must not come a step nearer. Go back across the dead line and stay there. No one but the doctor shall enter this door. Now, that's final"
 "I want to helpw she protested.
 "I know you do, but won't have it. This quarantine is real. and it goesr' "But suppose you yourself get sick?''
 wen cross that bridge when we get to 1t. I'm all right so far, and I'll call for help when I need it." His tone was imperative, and she obeyed. grumbling about his youth and the value of his life to the service.
 That's all very nice." he replied. "but I'm in 1t, and don't intend to expose you or any one else to the con- tagion."
 i've had it once," she asserted. He looked at her and smiled in rec ognition of her subterfuge. "No matter; you're ailing and might take it again, so toddle back. It's mighty good of you and of Lee to come, but there isn't a thing you can do. and here's the doctor" he added as he recognized the young student who passed for physician in the Fork. He was a beardless youth of small experience and no great cour- age. and as he approached with hesi- tant feet he asked:
 "Are you sure it's smallpox?" Cayanagh smiled "The indications are all that way. That last importa- ton Of Basques brought it probably from the steerage of the ship. I'm told they've had several cases over in the basin."
 Have you been vaccinatedw 'Yes. when I was in the army"
 "Then you're all right" "I hope so."
 There was a certain comic relief in this long distance diagnosing of . cease" & boy, and yet the tragic fact beneath it all was that Wether. ford was dying, a broken and dishon- ored husband and father, and that his identity must be concealed from his wife and daughter, who were much more deeply concerned over the ran ger than over the desperate condition of his patient. And this must con- tinue to be so," Cavanagh decided. And as he stood there looking toward the girls fair figure on the bridge he came to the final, fixed determination never to speak one word or make a sign that might lead to the dying mans identification. "Of what use is itT' be asked himself. "why shouid even Lize be made to suffer? Wether, lords poor misspent life is already over for her. and for Lee he is only a dim memory"
 Reddeld came near enough to see