Evening star., 1921-09-04
Ing up his last few days of life to help

Ing up his last few days of life to help
The stewardess laid down the pa
per. and sat still. looking out through
the doorway. Palm branches waved
low and dark against the dim steel of
the sea; somewhere not far away
shone out the small. bright lights Of
q steamer. The stewardess looked at
them all as a ghost might look from
share has passed away. Then she
rose up. and went over TO her patient
Mrs. Arthurs was sinking fast.
And not too soon." said the stew
ardess. Il shall have time. but no
more than / need" She took her
1t under her own arm. The mercury
marked a hundred -and-one.
Next morning she tied the rope to
Mrs. Arthurs' feet, and the men came
and drew her away. and slung her
into the tide-race. and the current Of
the reef passage snatched her out to
sea. The stewardss. stood on the
bare rocks close to the channel. and
looked curtously at the depth and
force OF the sea-river that rushed
through II. When they called to ask
her II she was ready to return to the
women's house. she shook her head,
and went back to the brushwood- -shed.
Not till tomorrow" she said.
The day and the evening passed.
Night came. with q rushing sea and q
fierce. hfgh-tide rip In the channel.
The men in the mems house. sitting
dull and depressed over their pipes.
heard It in the pauses Of the languid
house alone. heard 1t as she stood at
the door, and watched the men for
company. Once she thought she saw
something shadow. a spirit. she
could not tell what-slip past in the
far dusk. and vanish through the
roaring channel edge. Her hair crept
upon her head-she knew there was
no one living upon the island but her
self. the men. and the stewardess busy
with disinfectants in the brushwood
house: This thing was not of earth.
therefore. She could not brave the
silence of the house; she picked up
her skirts and ran to the other. beg
ging them to take her in. They did.
for. though they despised her out
was yet. woman. and. as such. re-
tanned her sex's inalienable claim to
care. They made her a bed with the
best they had. near the door where
there was cool air. and she slept till
morning.
With the early light. the men got
up to go down and bathe. and Mrs.
Waite returned to her house. On the
way. she saw something white upon
the track-a piece of paper, written
on with a charred stick. The writing
had been well and carefully done, and
was legible some way Off.
"Do not touch this" II began. Read
and throw a match on it."
Half curious. half terrified, she read:
read:
Some one has got to break the
chain. We are taking it from each
other now; the period of Infection
fl ON the case on the ship is LONG
over. 1 nave decided that it is best
wss high last night. and is very high
that I am taking it. When il is dark
nd the tide is high, I will get into
the tide race. Mrs. Waite need no:
have been afraid: she is safe. Good
bye ALL"
oh" said Mrs. Waite. ON"
Her breath seemed to fail her, and
she sat right down on the track-not
near the paper. however-she flung
away from that
Presently. she pulled herself to-
Eether. rose and locked rounI to see
IL any of the men were in sight
There was not one She ran for a
match. lit it. flung 1t on the paper. and
watched till every bit was burned up
THERE was wondering and talking
that morning; afterward dismay
shouts and calls. a wild hunt all over
the tiny island. 1t ended soon. The
stewardess was not to be found.