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

mans Gulch may have dead doctor; dye
scc?"
Tne voice possessed n familiar sound, and
while rough hands bindfolded him, the
young doctor tried 70 recall it. But at last
he g.,,e up in despair, and then his thoughts
REQUIRED to Black Rot's victim and then the
letter.
lie could think Of nothing else as ths
band bore him over the rough road which
he knew led to the Ozark mountains. That
he was in the hands of the mountain brig.
ands who for year or so had been terror
to the settler. he also felt assured, and
thought that it was their chief who needed
medical aid But he rested easy on this
score. lie knew that the bandits intention
was not to harm him; that If he did his
duty, they would return him to his Little
Office again.
After long ride which had sorely tsisd
their horses, the masks drew rein, and shs
animals clambered down path strewn with
rocks, and at last halted altogether.
The doctor heard the challenge of sentry,
and a minute later the bandage was removed
from his eyes.
As he had anticipated. he found himself
in cave, which was well lighted, and con-
tanned five mcn-naskcd like those who had
brought him thither
"Doctor Wood" said one Of the masks,
~ sent for you to perform Il surgical opera
tion'
The young physician swept the apart
ment with his eye; but could see no one
who looked like pntent.
There's an arm to be a,nput,tsd,' con-
tlnneI the mask, quickly. $50 let's to
work at once. This way. if you please,
doctnr''
The man stepped toward curtain
stretched across the cave, and raised the
ample folds. All. Wood found himself in a
smaller compartment. which was, in fact,
but continuation Of the main caYc, and
his eyes fell upon couch,
'llrrc lies your patient. DOCTOR" said
the man. $40 work ut once.
AS the young doctor approached the
couch. he discovered that his patient wa. q
woman, whose face was tightly vailed.
She slept, and Wood glanced ut his man
as he drew the covcrlcl aside.
The masked face stood near him with a re-
vol,cr
"Thc face is not for you to Sec" said the
stern voice. 'I.ook to the arm :"
Gently he lifted the ban'laged arm and
examined it. \ piSto-bail had made havoc
with the fish, aud, to no little extent, the
bone was injured
But suddenly he leapcd to his feet, and
stared agla>t at Il ring that glittcrcd on ono
ol the swollen fingers.
ITO your work. sir, said the man. "Cus
that arm off.
THAT arm can be saved"
'lakc it OFF,
"Twould be the hight Of cruelty. Sir
placed that ring on her finger four years
ago. Let me spare the arm
The revolver was lifted to his breast.
"Ify You don't proceed Immediately to tho
ampulation of that arm, III put bullc.
into your heart"
The doctor moved slowly to open his case
of instruments.
''Bc more expeditions, DOCTOR" said the
man, impatiently.
He moved to the couch but drew back
when he took up the arm.
II won't mutiatc thi, beautcous body
fharn ~ bo rr,,l orl Ia. I.
hurled the case of surgical instruments at
the brigand's head.
The box struck the masks revolver, and
dashed it from his hand. But he drew
another quickly; but never got to use it.
For, as the novel weapon left the Doctors
hand, he displayed his own pistol, and the
brigand staggered forward, shot to the
death.
\ minute Of wild excitement followed.
The curtain parted, and three men leaped
into the chamber; but two went back with
bullets in their bodies, and the third fell
forward, shot by volley which, at that
juncture, was poured into the cave from
the exterior.
The Regulators were upon the Ozark BAN
dts, and in less time than l can record .
sentence, the battle was over!
Alfred Wood tore the vail from his pa.
tents face, and Ethel Grey, under the in
nuencc Of some Soporific, lay before him.
lie saved her arm after he had listened 70
her story.
Four years prior to the opening of our
story, Alf. Wood, then young medical
student, fell in love with Ethel Grey. But
malicious lies eStrangcd them, and she fol-
lowed her father to the wilds of Kansas.
There she had fallen into the clutches Of the
chief of the Ozark brigands, and, in attempt
ing to escape, had received the sentry's bull
let in her arm.
Her latest adorer, Ned Oliver, lay cold
and stiff in the hotel at Dead-man's Gulch.
while the chief Of the brigands, Black Rob,
his murderer, slept the long sleep, with the
young doctors bullet in his brain.
The man who had guided the doctor to
the mountains was the red-whiskcred fel-
low who tried his nerve at the hotel, as the
reader has seen but he had tested that
nerve too far, for he proved to be one of the
two who followed Black Rob to the other
,rorIJ