Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1894-11-29
OUR DISCOVERY.

had just graduated as student,
from the Long Island Medical College,
in BrOoklyn, and as / needed some re-
creation after my long course of study
In that institution, determined to
take trip across the Western plains,
my ultimate destination being San
Francisco.
To my bosom friend Godfrey Den
min, a young lawyer, I described the
prospective pleasures of such a trip,
and he at length consented to become
my travelling companion.
About three weeks later, after var
ious unimportant experiences, DENIM
and / found ourselves in a small town
which / shall call Lathrop, about one
hundred and thirty miles west of Den
yer.
We had just registered at the cher
''hoteP of which the place boasted-a
rude two-story frame structure, and
were at once keenly eyed by the loung-
ers and guests. who evidently consid-
cred us very stupid specimens of the
''tenderfoot" variety.
The most important servant of the
house was a stalwart, full-bearded man
of thirty-tive, whose garb denoted him
to be miner, and whom everybody
addressed as Ike"
He assisted the cook, acted as bell
boy, officiated as chambermaid, and
sometimes showed his skill as barten-
der when Pete Burroughs, the landlord,
withdrew for a little respite from his
labors as q decoctor of delectable bev-
erages.
1t was Ike who first served us in
that hotel; and the whisky sour he
compounded for me seemed to run
down to the pit of my stomach like a
streak of lightning, leaving trail of
- fire in it's course.
coughed and spluttered, while Den
min vigorously whacked me on the
back, thinking was choking.
I glared with look of hatred at Ike
as the author of my discontinue; but
he merely smiled, and winked merrily
at me, and if he and I We're partners
In a good practical joke
His repeated winking annoyed me;
but it was not long until learned that
this habit was merely the manifesto
ton of a nervous complaint which he
could not control.
When he read my name ON the regis
tier, and saw that 1t had M. D." at
tached to it, he winlSed more vigorously
than ever and frequently glanced at
me with very meaning look.
1t was iast dark when we signified
our intention to visit the apartment as
signed to us, and Ike was deputed to
escort us thither.
Taking up a lighted tallow candle,
(which pato hoH n1aan6 on tho har THO
gave me q wink and started for Il side
door, with DENIM and myself at his
heels.
Ascending a dark fight of stairs, he
led us into a passage at the end Of
which was our room, a medium sized,
tarpetless apartment, containing two
small cots, a couple Of dilapitated
chairs, washstand and little round
table, upon which he placed the can
lie, saying to me, in low, mysterious
one, his impudent manner changed
suddenly to one of certain respect:
1--WE looked for you two days ago,
loctor-you and your friend here-and
bad begun to get pretty skeery when we
ound you didn't show up. Every
Kings all right so far; there's no suS-
icion. You've got what you need in
hem things there"-pointing to our va
ses- "and you'll not set to work till
he houses all quiet, for walls have
Ears. Petell close up tonight extra
arly on purpose to give you more
me to do the job. You'll find it in
here" he concluded, indicating with
jerk of his thumb a side door in the
pom, and at the same time backing
lddenly to the entrance with an eX-
ression of fear in his ugly face, while
S owlish eyes kept constantly wink
e.
Utterly amazed, I tried to speak,
lied to find voice to ask him what he
Fas driving at. Indeed, Dennin's tom
ne seemed tied, too, and the fellow
ad already backed out of the room,
nd shut the door quickly, and we
card him go bounding down the dark
airs as if a ghost was after him, be-
pre- either of us could open our mouths
articulate a sound.
well" said finally, turning to Den
n, who appeared to be coming out
stupor what do you make out
this experience"
II make out Of it," he replied, with
effort, Rat we are in for some