"It is the truth, Uncle William; but Bee did go in."
"What?" cried Doctor Raymond, springing to his feet. "Do you mean to tell me that, seeing that sign there, you still went in?"
"I didn't, uncle. Bee did. She said that you didn't want to see us again until we could tell you truthfully that we had been to Rachel's; so she said that she must go."
"The foolish girl!" ejaculated her father. "Why could not she use judgment? Call her, Adele, while I send Uncle Billy right off for the doctor. We must all be vaccinated, and the house fumigated thoroughly. It will be a miracle if every darkey on the place doesn't come down with the disease."
"She isn't here, Uncle William." Adele laid a detaining hand on his arm.
"She isn't? Then where is she? She surely did not remain at Rachel's?"
"No; she would not come back here because she was afraid that she might give you and me the small pox. She said that she would go to the old fisherman's hut down by the river, and stay there."
"Beatrice was afraid that she would give it to us, and so would not return here?" repeated the scientist as though he had not heard aright. "She said that, Adele?"
"Why, yes," answered Adele. Rapidly she related the incident in its entirety, concluding with: "She said that she could have it in the hut, and then we would be safe."
"I'll go right after her," cried he, an unusual warmth in his tone. He started for the door, and again his niece detained him.