The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-09-20
A DOCTORS RusK.
CHAPTER I.

he@sSo Ao soAnSt&hk W1N~1 okfS~~&sS~ a social sensation. For a long time this community has been resting in that mental inactivity resulting from nothing to talk about; and it is well known that the breaking up of such an unhealthful condition, even though it should ulfi- mately lead to something worse, is looked upon in the light of fortunate visitation Oh, yes, the good people depaore sen- sation. They say that it throws a de moralizing influence over the community, yet the continued expression of such opinions affords much relief. The neigh borhood takes its name from a great bewlder which rises in the woods to a height far above the tallest trees. Years ago, some one more fanciful than exact, declared that the rock resembled calfs head This suggestion found favor and since that time, the immediate country around the rock has been known as Calf Head.
 Let's see-the las, sensation previous se the one now under treatment occurred several years ago, when old Luke Lowery killed Sam Jaspers with pitchfork. The occurrence was hardly social affair, and to the women it did not afford that keen interest which it imparted to the men ; it was not nearly 90 fruitful as a perform anoe of previous occunence-when Betsy Morgan knocked her husband down with an enormous ga.e-latch and then ran away with Hungarian peddlez yet with such remarks as "Oh, how dreadful and "what is the country com ing to-" the fair and unfair creatures managed to get along pretty well with the pitchfork tragedy.
 Several months ago, while the women of Calf Head were in the log church and while the men sat around under the trees, whiting, "talkin' hoss" and occasion ally swappin'" saddles, stranger drove up and aighted from buggy. A simple stranger without buggy would have aroused interest, but distinguished look ing stranger-tall, with long white beard and with a baggy-creased profound sensation. The whittleis indulged in many speculations.
 Lige Moore-I never seed him afore, but I'll bet he's the governor.
 Ambrose Moiris-Now, whut the deuce does the guv'ner want here? Absalom Goostree-W'y. reckin he. out lookin' airter a murderer. heard luther day that the guv'ner had offered a reward fur feller. an reckin he mus be out airter him.
 Lias Fulgum-You don't know whal you're talkin' about. The guv'ner don' have to ride around lookin' fur mur. derers.
 Taylor Harris-Bus didn't he say that he would see the law enforced9 How car he see it enforced unless he gits down tc business himself
 Fulgum-That don't mean that he i. goin' to stand round an see it done It means that he will-that is, he will use his er-his CT inAuence-here hs comes.
 The distinguished looking man, st1ok. ing his long, white whiskers, approached bowed politely. and said:
 Good morning. gentlemen :"
 The greeting was acknowledged ir various ways. Lias Fulgum, who had seen good society-having once taken | load of turkeys to tovn-bowed, extended his hand, which the tall man shooi gently. Absalom Goostree arose stretched his legs, and brushed his home. spun britches," while the other mem bezs of the group nodded and chewed their tobacco in silence. The stranger took seat on a blanket, which some man had vacated, leaned back against a tree, lighted large pipe and proceeded l to make himself at home. The whittlers waited for him to make an explanation of his appearance, but as he showed nc disposition to satisfy the curiosity which had begun to manifest itself by dry coughs of impatience, Lias Fulgum turned to him. and said:
 "You are a stranger in these parts, reckon P
 "Yes, this is my first visit"
 Another long silence followed; mors dry coughs of impatience.
 Mir. Fulgum, though, vas not to b> baffied. Would it be too much" i" sait he, @to-ahem-ask what"
 Hack, hack, ahem," came from the circle.
 @Too much," continued Mir. Fulsum "to ask what your business mout D, heseT
 "Oh, no," pleasantly replied the old man. | am q phvyician. and hav;ns