The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1916-05-05
CHAPTER XII.
Pestilence,


AS Annettes party passed along,
single file, up the narrow overgrown
shore road Shaping 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 | don't
like about this place. want to have
look"
Scarcely had he said it before a
native woman darted out of a tumble
down hut-one of many that fronted
on the shore road.
"Madre di Dios," she cried in shrill
accents. "Americanos-help
For the love of heaven"
She kneeled by the roadside and as
the surgeon swung along. she clasped
him by the knees.
"My child-my man child-my only
one" she walled. in the Spanish
tongue, "he is at deaths door. Help,
Senior, sonora, senorita-help."
The surgeon lifted the woman to
her feet. He spoke soothingly in
Spanish to her. and turned and told
the others what she said.
go on, everybody" he cried, point
ing up the road, 'let nobody follow
me. Go your way"
Annette and her little party pro-
ceeded forthwith to the hotel-a flimsy
affair, rejoicing in the cognomen of
the Inn of the Spanish Don.
Hut after hut the surgeon entered,
CHANGING quizzically into the face of
somc understanding solemnly with
pursedup lips-left tablets and direc-
tions, 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 a somewhat formal
looking building.
The surgeon strobe on into the
house. He found the mayor in his
pajamas, smoking a cigar.
The surgeon seated himself and ac-
cepted a palmleaf fan. Sorry" he
said, but your place reeks with yell
low fever-youve got an epidemic on
your hands"
Mayor Ramon Carroll started up.
"Madre di Dios," he cried, 'what-not
another one. They will impeach me-
it is ruin. Say not So"
The surgeon nodded. Don't get ex-
cited, Senior Carroll" he returned, for
tunately the Albany is in the road
stead I'll fetch over hospital force.
Wen do what we can. Have you got
a piece of paper want half dozen
sheets. That's what l came here for"
He got them and went on his way.
His way lay past the Inn of the Span
ish Don. He stopped.
Here, Gunner Hardin" he cried,
e'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. Hardin-if you follow
my instructions.
The important thing" went on the
surgeon, lis the mosquitoes. 1t isn't
likely the bites you've got have done
you any harm. I'll leave you tablets
anyhow, to ward the fever off. But
Ill do more-Ill have mosquito net
ting fetched over from the ship and
you can sleep under it at night. Now
want help"
He distributed the sheets of official
paper he had obtained from Mayor
Ramon Carol.
Sit down-all OF you-anywhere,"
he commanded, and write out what /
say. ltll be in Spanish-anG it's got
to be plain. Ill spell the words so
you won't go wrong. Begin"
And then he dictated the warning
that was posted that afternoon in all
the public places Of the town.