The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1911-06-27

%Jl~ the Forest. What's
oO up, Doc?" asked
expectantly.
Il want the 'elp of a 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 let's me out. Doc. I'm of
for my bunk"
NO 1t doesn't" he Kissed. follow
Ing my hesitant retreat. What brings
me ERE late at night In 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 a gun
and | who have no talent for talk
afterward-wels, it's we two for the
perfawmence. I'm dead serious, l am,
and you'll stand by-Im certain of
that Come. the tides just a-turnin'.
Wen have to be movin' with it. Every
moment we're nearer a 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
20 any one else. We're going for
bear, understan'. plain brown bear
tomorrow"
That Alaskan night was of the foul
est! 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 a hiss and roar.
January was in angry mood in the
wilderness as | 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 l correctly informed that
you're leaving camp for the east on
the next boat?"
That's my intention unless this
storm detains me-
well, sir" continued the doctor. as
he placed foot on the hounds thick
neck and recharged his glass, Il hope
nothing will interfere with your leav-
In; but | can't see the horizon of a
little mess down near the Indian quar-
ters behind the mill You see, can't
say anything to those timid city direc-
tors about it, fearin' Of their indis-
erection and a tangle with the health
officer at the port o. entry. Them di-
rectors hate me! Now you've appealed
to me as 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 we
can't weep over him. He sneaked In
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 lynch
somebody, commit a corpse TO the sea
or participate In some ghoullsh cere.
mony OF pagan belief amongst the
Siwash across the bay Finally I
blurted: DOC, what are these black
ktmonas for? Looks like a hanging"
1T might better be a hangin'," he
retorted, paving amongst his apothe-
cary stores, from which he occasion.
ally set aside package. TITS small
POI! That's what 1t is-in a camp
of panicky miners ready to bolt on the
first whin. ox-fourteen-day-
stage, and pest house harboring the
id case. Do you understand?
Smallpox"
Then with toss OF the head and
one OF those sudden turns upon his
auditor which characterized all his in
tense utterances, no growled: Come
along now, we've got to move that
case out of camp before dawn or. we'll
you'll see the company's boat In the
hands Of mutlnous miners. and its
creditors dividin' its assets I'm bank.
roptcy, and me a-goin' to the coon for
violatin' the law"
We skulked along the beach as far
as possible from the glare OF the
snelter. Black buzzards. sheltering In
a wood pile. chartered raucousIy.
The doctor whispered: our plan.
remember. II the buck shows fight
do your part; I'll do mine. Wen
avoid rough-and-tumble as long as
possible. Hear that sea racing past
the inlet Cad what a night for
women and cbildreni This bread and
bacon won't be needed. I'm believin'.