The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-02-05
CHAPTER XII.
Pestiience.

FeStuenCes
As Annette's party passed along,
single file, up the narrow overgrown
shore road, slapping and swatting
mosquitoes to their hearts content,
they heard quick step behind them!
They turned. An officer closing up
their rear, saluted.
He was the ships surgeon. He
strobe on with brisk pace. "Let me
get ahead there If you please" he
said, there's something that I don't
like about this place-I4w want to have
a look" e"
Scarcely had he said 1t before
native woman darted out ora tumble
down hut-one of many that fronted
on the shore road.
= "Madre di Dios," she cried in shrill
accents. "Americanos- help-succor.
For the love of heaven" !
She kneeled by the roadside and a.
the surgeon swung along, she clasped
him by the knees. .eS
my child-my man child-my only
one," she walled, in the Spanish
tongue. che is at deaths door. Help,
Senior, sonora, senorita-help." III!
The surgeon lifted the woman TO
her feet. He spoke soothingly in
Spanish to her, and turned and told
the others what she said. II
go on, everybody" he cried, point
ing up the road, "let nobody follow
me. Go your way" @t
Annette and her little party pro.
ceeded forthwith to the hotel-a flimsy
affair, rejoicing in the oognomen Of
the Inn of the Spanish Don. q
Hut after hut the surgeon 2entered,
glancing -quizzically into the face Of
some sufferer nodding solemnly with
pursed-up lips-1eft3 tablets and direo.
lions, and then went on his way.
Finally he found his way to the CEN
ter of the town and made an inquiry.
He was directed to somewhat formal
looking building. -
The surgeon =strede ION into the
house. He found the mayor IN his
pajamas, smokingaa cigar. =.
The surgeon seated himself and ao-.
copied palmleaf FAM Sorry" he
said, "but your place.sreeks with yell
low fever-you'vezgota m epidemic on
your hands, 81,
Mayor Ramon Carrot started up.
"Madre di Dtos, ;. he cried, '@what-not
another one.= They viii ampeach me-
it is ruin. Say not So" :,
4 -~A 49,
cited, Senior Carroll" he returned, Tor
tunately the Albany is in the road
stead. I'll fetch over hospital force.
Well do what We can. Have you got
a piece of paper-1 want half q dozen
sheets. That's what I came here for.''
He got them and went on his way.
His way lay past the Inn of the Span
ish Don. He stopped. IS
Here, Gunner Hardin" he cried,
come out in the road and spray me
with this" Neal sprayed him. The
surgeon sat down in the hotel office
and harangued Annette's party. He
harrangued them from distance. You
people," he said, ARE In no danger
not even Mrs. aHardin-aif you follow
! my Instructions. =
1.-THE important thing went on the
surgeon, lis the mosquitoes. 1t isn't
likely the bites you've got have done
you any harm. Ill leave you tablets
anyhow, toward the fever off. But
Ill2do more-1ll have mosquito net
ting fetched over from the ship and
you can sleep under it at night. Now
want help" r..y sf9
He distributed the sheets OF Official
paper he had obtained from Mayor
Ramon Carol. g
I "Sit ,down-all of you-anywhere,''
he commanded, "and write out what T
say. It'll be In Spanish -andsit's got
to be plain. I'll spell the words 50
you won't go wrong. Begin" g
And then he dictated the warning
that was posted that afternoon IN ~
the public places Of the town.