The Washington times., 1937-02-16
NOW READ ON
By LLOYD G. DOUGLAS
Production Coming to Warner Bros. Earle Theater
February 19)

The reason for this secrecy
will be apparent to you. II it
we're generally known that we are
up here handling the makings OF
spotted fever-they are scared to
death of it, and very properly
we would be Stunned when obliged
to 60 down for supplies and on
other necessary business. The fact
is that the only way you can get
this fever is from the virus car
ried by a tick which feeds on
we're here to find out what. So
we are not carriers and are
harmless to other people. But it
would be difficult to make the
public believe that.
In the opinion of Wembelton--
if Wembelton may be said to have
any interest in us at alive are
hunters and loafers living worth
less existence as hermits. A couple
of years ago, the Government
strung a telephone line up here
to the shack, but few people knew
about it and our number is not
in the book. When we go down,
we dress in rough woodsmen's togS.
We are shabby, shaggy, untalKa-
tive, and, of course, inhospitable.
Occasional mixers and hunters
are turned from the peep-hole OF
our door with savage curse. This,
I think, is the meanest part OF
our iob-damning strangers off
the premises. But, you see, we
positively cannot let them come IN
and take the risk of exposure TO
the stuff we're playing with, and
we cannot explain, for they might
90 away and tell about it.
The only man in town who
knows the most about our affairs
is the mayor and superintendent
of the most important gold mine
in this region. His name is Frank
Gibson. If it wasn't for the Glib
sons. our life would be pretty
bleak. He's not only in full sym
pathy with what the Government
has been trying to do here-hls
mine operatives have died like 1lles
in some of these midsummer cpl
demics-but he makes an effort
to be cordial to us who are here
on this unpleasant errand.
Gibson is very well-to-do and has
a beautiful home. I have spent
many delightful hours in it these
past two years. Paige is fond OF
the Gibsons, too. Goes there quite
often to see his dog. These bugs we
are studying are just as poisonous
to animals as humans. Gibson Of
fered to look after the dog, but
she misses Paige. He has bad
time trying to detach himself from
her whenever he goes there. It's
quite pathetic-the way sylvia
cries when he leaves.
This letter is far too long, and
vet I haven't come to the real
reason for my writing it. OF
course I wanted you to know about
Paige. He's risking his life in an
undertaking that may or may not
dispose of spotted fever.
Now for the real purpose OF
this letter. Frank Gibson told me
a couple of days ago when was
in his office. that about a dozen
families of the more prosperous
sort who have girls approaching
college age are thinking seriously
of organizing private school Tor
them and want to find some we'll
educated, socially experienced
young woman, recently graduated
from a high-grade univerSity-pret-
erably Eastern, Gibson thinks, for
the sake of importing little OF
that atmoSphere-Who will come
out here and supplement what
these girls are getting in the local
high school. winch seems 10 De a
very frail institution.
Gibson asked me if I knew Of
anyone who might be likely 70 fill
the bill, and of course 1 didn't,
for I have lost all contact with
such matters. l told him l would
write to you and inquire, feeling
quite sure-from what Paige has
told me of your wide acquaintance
that you might make a sugges-
ton.
It fear, sir, that it has taken me
long time to arrive at the
primary errand Of this letter. I
apologize for its length. When
you reply, please address me in a
plain envelope"
Dean Harcourt put down the
letter and sat for some time alb,
sently toying with his paper knife.
A happy twinkle began playing
about the lnnumerable pain-chls'