The national leader., 1889-03-23
girl what's mighty nigh dead frum
helm, throwad frnm q caunSp2O

| got tne better OF pOrtlOn or MS IearS.
II think L can safely say I can. sir,
If cure is possible" he said.
POsy led the way to Chips bedside.
"Chip. this yere is Doc Bristow.
Doc, this we're is Ole Man Ashburn,
Chips dad. Come, ole manl''
Ashburn followed him out of doors,
and DR.. Bristow was alone with his
patient.
The cowboys were very grave when
the physician reappeared.
'Gentlemen''-he began.
"Means you an SAINT, reckon,
Posy," said Reddy Rose.
"What'n it be with little Chip, doc?
asked Pesy.
although her case is extremely
precarious," replied the physician, de-
liberately. "with proper nursing and
the care of a skilled physician, she can
be restored to health. A delicate and
dangerous operation is necessary. If
she survives that and is attended
by''-
'She will be! The big doctor'l be
thar" said Posy.
"Who might he be, if 1 may ask?"
questioned the physician.
doc Bristow," answered Posy.
''But cannot remain. My engage
ment"-
''Blank your engagement! In that
thar room lies Chip - little Chip
that"-
THAT we all love, every last one Nv
u.s." broke in Santa Fe.
''You betl'' cried Reddy Rose.
s'But''-
''An'," interrupted Posy, "the cuss
that got her hurt was run off the
Range, but the cuss that kin cure her,
but won't, will never leave the Range
| a-runnin' nur no way"
s'That's what he won't!" agreed
Reddy Rose.
DR.. Bristow seemed to fully realize
what Posy's words implied.
Next day, long before the hour for
performing the operation that was to
end or save Chips life, the cowboys
had congregated in the shade of Ash
burns postoffice. Posy was not with
them.
''Posy," little Chip was saying, as
she feebly stroked the rough head bent
above her, eff If I don't get out
again, give each of the boys one of
these"
Then she weakly drew from beneath
her pillow as many locks of hair, tied
with little pieces of ribbon, as there
were cowboys in the group outside.
There was one for Pcsy, also, he no.
ticed through the mist of tears that
dimmed his eyes.
Little Chip softly stroked Posy's
rough head. as he bent still lower till
his lips touched hers, and a hot tear
fell on each cheek. Then, far Drawer
than he, she turned her face away.
''GoOd-by, Posy," she said.
"Good-by, Chip"
He staggered out of the room, and
dashing the tears from his eyes, he
grasped the DOCTORS arm with force
that made him vince, and whispered
hOarSely.
"Go in, now, an'-an' if her good
by was the last one, God forgive ye!
This yere lron'-half drawing his re
volver-''never misses fire, an'-Wal,
you'll never go off the Rangel"
DR.. Bristow had made no idle boast
when he spoke Of his professional skill,
and all of that skill was called into
action to preserve unsnapped the chord
that bound poor little suffering Chip to
life. When the operation was over
and the crisis past, the great physician
trotted through the door and fell faint
ing into PoSy's arms.
''She is safel'' he grasped, as he
opened his eyes.
AS if moved by common impulse,
the cowboys mounted their cayuses
and galloped off across the prairie at
whirlwind speed. Two miles away
they halted, and gave vent to their re.
joicing In yells both long and loud.
A month later, when little Chip was
able to hop about quite smartly OH her
crutches, DR.. Bristow asked of Posy, of
whom he seemed to stand in dreadful
fear, if he might leave for his eastern
home on the following day.
''But, doc. I thought you was keen
to 60 out on the Cimarron?"
Nothing was further from DIR. Bris-
] tow's desire. He told himself that if
he could but return home. it would
take a most powerful attraction indeed
to draw him away from it.
Santa Fe and Old Man Ashburn held
several mysterious conferences, in
which Posy was not invited to take
part. The result was apparent next
day. Instead of the faded blackboard.
Hank Bitters arrived in a long spring
wagon, which, as Reddy Rose said.
was simply 'gorgis" with red paint Of
the reddest red; and Hank himself was
gotten up for the great occasion ''re-
| gardless," in an uncomfortable suit of
new store clothes, topped off by collar
that persisted in riding his red neck
most outrageously. A clerical looking
parsonage who accompanied him was
saluted by the cowboys with shouts of
preacher Bluel'
The cowboys were all in holiday at
tire, and even Old Man Ashburn was
quite ''smartly" arrayed. Posy stared