Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-03-23

An these people eats nOthin' but
grass" shorty groaned An they've
got il up to their ears That proves
you're AZ wrong, Smoke You're splelin
a theory, but this condition sure knocks
the spots out o your theory. Scurvys
catchin. an that's why they've all got
it, an rotten bad at that You an
nell get 1t too If we hang around this
diggin'
Smoke laughed skepucally and
knocked on a cabin door.
what do you want?" came wo-
mans sharp voice.
We want to see yon." Smoke an
swered
who are your"
Two doctors from Dawson" Shorty
blurted in. with a levity that brought a
punch In the short ribs from Smokes
elbow
Don't want to see any doctors" the
woman said in tones crisp and STAG
cato. go away. Good night We
don't believe in doctors"
Smoke pulled the latch. showed the
door open and entered. turning up the
low famed kerosene lamp so that he
could see. In four hunks tour women
ceased from groaning and signing to
stare at the intruders Two were
young. thin faced creatures the third
was an elderly and very stout woman,
identified by her voice. was the thin
nest, frailest specimen Of the human
race he had ever seen.
AS he quickly learned. she was Laura
Sibley. the seeress and professional
clairvoyant. who had organized the e&
peditian In Los Angeles and led II tc
this death camp on the NordhS-ka
The conversation that ensued Vas
acrimonious Laura Sibley did not be
beve in doctors; also, TO add TO hel
purgatOry. she had well nigh ceased
TO believe IN herself
why didn't you send out for help2,
Smoke asked when she paused breath
less and exhausted from her ipida
TRADE. There's camp at Sfewari
river. and eighteen days travel wOulo
fetch Dawson from here"
why didn't Amos Wentworth 20?
she demanded. with a WI n that Dor
: ~ - -svsteria
Ion know the Gentleman" Smoke
countered What's he been doingY
Nothing. except that he's the only
one that hasn't caught the scurvy
And why hasn't he caught the scurvy,
I'll tell you. No. J won't And What
would have been the use? Donf )
know? I'm not a fool. Our caches
are filed with every kind OF frui
juice and preserved vegetables ",
are better situated than any Other
camp In Alaska TO fight scurvy. There
is no prepared vegetable. fruit ano
nut food we haven't. and in plenty
She's got you there. Smoke" Shorty
exulted An it's a condition, not p
theory. You say vegetables cure
Here's the vegetables. an where's thu
cure2"
There's no explanation can see.
Smoke acknowledged yet there is
no camp in Alaska like this I've seen
scurvy-a sprinkling OF cases here anc
there-but ] never saw whole camr
with It. nor did ] ever see such terri
bic cases. which is neither here nor
there. shorty We've got to do what
we can for these people, but first weye
got TO make camp and take care OF the
dogs Wen see you In the morning.
er-MrsS Sibley."
Miss Sibley." she bridled. "Ano
now, young man. II you come fooling
around this cabin with any doctor stun
III oil you full OF bird shot
Next morning. after daylight, Smoke
encountered a man carrying a heavy
sled load OF irewood He was littl.
man. clean looking aud spry. who walk
ed brislEly despite the load Smoke ex
perienced an immediate dislike.
What's the matter with your" h,
asked.
Nothing" the little man answered
II know that" Smoke said That's
why ! asked you. You're Amos Went
worth. Now, why under the SUI
haven't you the scurvy like all the
rest7"