The Marshall republican., 1911-07-06

has gone through. I'm afraid to 60
back now
"All right Ross soothingly agreed.
"But you'n have to keep quiet till you
get over this fever you're suffering
from"
'If Lize weren't so far away she'd
come and nurse me. I'm pretty sick"
Swenson came back 60 say that
probably Redfeld and the doctor
would reach the station by noon, and
thereafter. for the reason that Cava-
dragged woefully. II was after I
o'clock before Swenson announced
that two trnms were coming with
three men and two In them
They'll be here In half an hour"
The rangers heart lcHped. Two
women. Could one of them be Lee
virginia? What folly-wiirt sweet.
desperate folly. And the o:har-sbe
could not be Lie. for Lie was too
feeble to ride so far. "Stop them ~
the other side Of the bridge he COLI
manded. Don't let them cross the
creek on any pretext."
AZ he stood In the door the hutter
Of n handkerchief. the waving Of a
hand. made his pulse glow and his
eyes grow dim. II was Virginia!
Lie did not iutter n kerchief or
wave a hand. but when Swenson stop
ped the carriage Mt the bridge she said:
"No. you don't. I'm going across. I'm
going Go see Ross. and II he needs help
I'm going 10 roll up my sleeves and
take hold"
Cavanngh saw her advancing. and rs
she came near enough for his voice to
reach her he called out: Don't come
amy closer. Stop, I tell your His
voice was stern. you must not come
n step carer. Go back acros the
dead line aud stay there. No one but
the doctor shall enter this door. Now.
That's fnal."
II want TO hclp!' she protested.
81 know you do. but I won't have IL.
This quarantine Is real. and II gocs!"
"But suppose you yourself get sickf'
Wen cross that bridge when we
get 10 Il, I'm NIL right 80 far. and I'll
call for help when I need t."
His tone was Imperative. and she
obeyed, grumbling about his youth aud
the value OF his life to the service.
"fhat's all very NICE" he replied.
'but I'm In II. aud I don't intend 10
expose you or any II else to the con-
tagion."
"Tve had IL once" she asserted.
m. tu.ts.a -. H.. 49, ...ll.l A.. N
ignition Of her subtcrfugc.
"No matter: you're niling and might
take Il ogain. 80 toddle back. It's
mighty good OF you aud OF Lee "a
come. but there isn't a thing you car
do. and here's the DOCTOR" he added
as he recognized the young student
who passed for d physician IN tho
Fork. lie was n benrdlcss youth oI
small experience and no great cour
age. and as he approached with hesi
tant feet he asked;
Are you sure It's smallpox"
Cavanngh smiled. The indications
arc all that way. That last importa
ton OF Basques brought II probably
from the stcerage OF the ship. I'm
toiu thcy We nhu tcNerui chscs oNcr III
the basin"
"Have you been yaccinatedr'
"Ycs. when | was In the army"
"Then you're all right"
81 hope So"
There was u certain comic relief II
this long distance diagnosing Of |,
cease" by n boy. and yet the tragic
fact beneath Il all was that wether
ford was dying. n broken and dlshon
ored husband aud father. and that hii
identity must be concealed from hi
wife aud daughter. who were mucl
moro deeply concerned over the ran
ger than over the desperate condition
Of his patient. "And this must con
tinue 10 be So" Cavanagh decided
Aud as he stood there looking towar,
the girls fair figure on the bridge h
came TO the final. fixed DETERMINATION
never to speak one word or make
sign that night lead to the dylnj
mans Identification. 'of what use I
~" he asked himself. "Why shoni'
even Lie be made 10 suffer; WeibgI
ford's poor misspent life Is alrcid
over for her. aud for Lee he Is only
din memory"