Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1911-07-20
49,
- kAn0hr
By hAMLIN GARLAND
Copyright. 1910. by Hamlin Garland

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"
IF Lie 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 Cava-
nagh expected their coming the hours
dragged woefully. 1t was after !
o'clock before Swenson announced
that two teams were coming with
three men and two women in them.
'Theyl, 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! And the other-she
could not be Lie. for Lie 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 pretext."
AS he stood in the door the flutter
Of handkerchief, the waving of a
hand. made his pulse glow and his
eyes grow dim. 1t was Virginia..
Lie did not hutter a kerchief or
wave hand, but when Swenson stop
ped the carriage at the bridge she said:
mo. you don't! I'm 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, tell your 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"
II want to help!" she protested.
II know you do, but l won't have II.
This quarantine is real, and it goesw
But suppose you yourself get sick"
We'll 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.
THAT'S all very NICE" he replied.
"but I'm in it. and l don't intend to
expose you or any one else to the con.
tagion."
'I've had ii once" she asserted.
He looked at her and smiled in rec
ignition of her subterfuge.
mo 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 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 hest
tant feet he asked:
Are you sure it's smallpox"
Cavanagh smiled. 1.-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 vaccinated|"
"Yes. when was In the army"
"Then you're all right"
II hope So"
There was a certain comic relief In
this long distance diagnosing Of
cease" by boy, and yet the tragic
fact beneath 1t all was that Wether-
ford was dying. 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
it?" he asked himself "Why should
G'Sh A<AnC NC "
Sord's poor misspent life is already
aver for her. and for Lee he is only
dim memory"
Redfeld came near enough to see
that the rangers face, though tired,
showed no sign of illness and was re-
lieved. who Is this old herderT he
asked. Hasn't he any relatives in
the countryY'
"He came from Texas, so he said
You're not coming imp he broke off
to say to tho young physician, whom
Lie had shamed into returning to the
cabin.
II suppose I'll have to-" he protest
ed weakly.
~ don't see the need of it. The
whole place reeks Of the poison, and
you might carry it away with you.
Unless you insist on coming in and
a. n.