orner, his regard somberly intent upon the
speaker.
"Alarm there has undoubtedly been, and is," pursued Dr. Surtaine. "To
find means to allay it is the purpose of the meeting. We must remove the
cause. Both our morbidity and our mortality rate, though now
retrograding, have been excessive for several weeks, especially in the
Rookeries district. There has been a prevalence of malaria of a severe
type, which, following last winter's epidemic of grip, has proven
unusually fatal. Dr. Merritt believes that he can wipe out the disease
quietly if a sufficient sum is put at his disposal."
This was not authoritative. Merritt had declined to commit himself, but
Dr. Surtaine was making facts of his hopes.
"In this gathering it is hardly necessary for me to refer to the
municipal importance of Old Home Week and to the damage to its prospects
which would be occasioned by any suspicion of epidemic," continued the
speaker. "Whatever may be the division of opinion as to methods, we are
surely unanimous in wishing to protect the interests of the centennial
celebration. And this can best be done through a committee of
representative men, backing the constituted health authorities, without
commotion or disturbance. Have I answered your doubts, Mr. Willard?" he
concluded, turning a brow of benign inquiry upon that gentleman.
"Not wholly," said Festus Willard. "I've heard it stated on medical
authority that there is some sort of plague in the Rookeries."
A murmur of inquiry rose. "Plague? What kind of plague?"--"Who says
so?"--"Does he mean bubonic?"--"No doctor that knows his
business--"--"They say doctors are shut out of the Rookeries."--"Order!
Order!"
Through the confusion cleaved the edged voice of E.M. Pierce, directed
to the chairman:
"Shut that off."
A score took the cue. "Question! Question!" they cried.
"Do I get an answer to my question?" persisted Willard.
"What is your question?" asked the harassed chairman.
"Is there a pestilence in the Rookeries? If so, what is its nature?"
"There is not," stated Dr. Surtaine from his seat. "Who ever says there
is, is an enemy to our fair and healthy city."
This noble sentiment, delivered with all the impressiveness of which the
old charlatan was master, roused a burst of applause. To its rhythm
there stalked down the side aisle and out upon the rostrum the gaunt
figure of the Reverend Norman Hale.
"Mr. Chairman," he said.
"How did that fellow get here?" Dr.
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