Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-09-19
DOCTOR WOODS PATIENT.

People wondered that Alfred Wood. who
had just bcgun to write NJ. u. after his
name, should desert the village. Of his naiy-
ity. and settle down in the very shadow of
the Ozark mountains. in "blceding Kansas.
But no doubt the newly ncdgcd disciple
of Esculapiu> knew what he was doing. for
he laughed at the arguments Of his friends,
and jorularly told them that he was going
to Kansas to see if doctors scaipS were
worth more than others.
lie reached his destination safely and one
morning the wild Inhabitants of Dcad-man s
Gulch were ;,stonishcl to behold little tin
sign. which informed them thai" "Alf Wood.
PLY lSician and Surgton." was dependent
upon their ailments aud accidents for Il live
lllpod
'lle'~ run af"ul o tl:c wrong place" said
4 great gray-sIirtcl fellow. who did not
know what an ache was. 'Pcople don't
get the fever here; they all die with their
boots ON. and that a'orc Il doctor could reach
en-. He'd better pack his traps and 90
IEtck 10 tlNlIlAatlDH, nc Lao.
".\l;rr them de-, lis up in the mountains ge.
their claws on i'm. Hes just the incest
pigeon in the world for EN- to plurk.'
Il say. boys, lets take peep at this pill
seller and bone sawyer, chimrd in third
fellow, who might appropriately he called Il
border rutTian. g. ''lIcrc-hcllo, doc,or!' .
His coarse voice penetrated little room
in the uncouth hotel, and presently the
young physician stool among the dcspera-
does. lie met their gaze with a calm eye
and uubknched cheek, and invited them to
the bar in language which gained him many
friends.
\ number accepted the invitation, and
rushed pell-mell into the dinsy bar; but
few held back, and slarcd >pi,efully at the
doctor.
'Come in, gentlemen" said the youth,
advancing toward the dark featured fellows
who occupied the wooden stoop. "This is
my treat, and l would see you all tilt the
glasses"
awe don't drink with onc-horse DOCTORS
a great Hercules shot at him from beneath
a red mu>tache. "iou'vc got no business
in this kentry; we don't want you here"
The doctor colorcd at this onslaught, and
instantly all eyes were turned upon him.
Perhaps am not wanted here" he said,
with rising Indignation; "but I'm not 60
ing to leave until choose. Sir, will in
form men Of your stripe, right here. that l
will not submit to brow beating with lamb
like docility."
A murmur of applause ran through the
crowd ut this, and the giant stepped toward
the youth, who quietly drew revolver.
"Stand back, gentlemen addressing
those who had followed him to the bar, and
appeared his friends. 81 am aycrsc to the
shedding of blood, butt raising the form
idablc weapon, "thc first man who advances
another step toward me, gets the contents
of this pistol
Instantly the administered fellow paused,
and then broke into coarse laugh in which
all in the bar-room joined.
"Doc, you're grit he cried, approach
ing our hero, and extending his horny
hand. you'll get along bully with us
I'll stake my scalp on that. We wor trying
you, Doc, trying you, that's all. d"
The youth saw that the giant spoke the
truth, and the next moment his white hand
was almost crushed in great palm. Then
the clinking Of glasses followed, and among
the "wid men of Kansas" the physician
was the hero of the hour
In a short time the physician had erected
a neat cabin, over the door of which he dis
played his sign, and waited for patient.
lie had discovered that he had settled in an
extremely healthy country, but one ~ cx-
trcmcly lawlcss.
The acknowledged border ruffians of early
Kansas were experts with the revolver. and
when they shot it was to kill, and kill they
invariably did. Once or twice the doctor
was called to dress wounds received in an
affiay, which, however bloody. caused no
excitement in Dead-nran' Gulch, and he be-
gan to think of seeking another locality
where disease was frequent visitor, when
the adventure Of his life occurred,