Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-04-13


do this. but his one was that Of il bro
ken and distraught dotard. All the
landmarks of his life seemed suddenly
shifted.
Meanwhile the sufferings of Wether-
ford were increasing. and Cavanagh
was forced to give up all hope of get
ting him down the trail next morn
ing, and when SWenson. the forest
guard from the South Fork, knocked
at the door to say that he had been to
the valley and that the doctor was
coming up with Redfeld and the dis
trict forester Ross thanked him, but
ordered him to go into camp across
the river and to warn everybody to
keep clear of the cabin. Put your
packages down outside the door," he
added. land take charge of the situa-
ton on the outside. I'll take care of
the business inside"
Wetherford was in great pain, but
the poison of the disease had misted
his brain. and he no longer worried
yer the possible disclosure Of his iden-
tity. At times he lost the sense of his
surroundings and talked Of his prison
life or Of the long ride northward.
Once he rose in his bed to beat off
the wolves which he said were attack
ing his pony.
He was a piteous figure as he strug-
gled thus, and it needed neither his
relationship to Lee nor his bravery in
caring for the Basque herder to fill
the rangers heart with a desire to re-
lieve his suffering. perhaps should
have sent for Lie at once" he unused
as the light brought out the red sig
natures of the plague.
Once the old man 10 )ked up with
wide, dark, unseeing eyes and MUIR
INJURED, II don't seem to know you"
I'm a friend. My name is Cava-
nagh."
II can't place you" he sadly admit
ted. 81 feel pretty bad. If l ever get
out of this place I'm going back to the
Fork. I'll get a gold mine; then I'll
go back and make up for what Lie
has gone through. I'm afraid to go
back now"
"AIl right" Ross soothingly agreed.
"But you'll have to keep quiet till you
get over this fever you're suffering
from"
eff Lie weren't SO far away she'd
come and nurse me. I'm pretty sick"
Swenson came back to say that
probably Redfeld 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.
"They'r 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 a handkerchief, the waving Of a
hand, made his pulse glow and his
eyes grow dim. 1t vas Virginia!
Lie did not futter a kerchief or
wave a 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"
Cayanagh saw her advancing, and as
she came near enough for his voice to
reach her he called out: Don't come
any closer. Stop, l tell you'll" 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"
81 want to help!.. she protested.
81 know you do, but | won't have it.
This quarantine is real, and it goes!'
"But suppose you yourself get sick?'
We'll cross that bridge when we
get to it. I'm all right so far, and III
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.
"Ihat's all very nice" he replied,
"but I'm in it, and l don't intend to
expose you or one else to the con-
tagion."
Eve had it once" she asserted.
He looked at her and smiled in rec
ognition 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 a 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 a beardless youth of
small experience and no great our
age, and as he approached with hest
tant feet he asked:
Are you SURE it's smallpox"
Cavana2h smiled. THE indications
are all that way. That last importa-
ton of Basques brought it probably