Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-10-30
TOLD OF AN ARMY SURGEON.
Zoo Smart for a Proprietor, but Cow.
boy Got the DrOp.


while the troops were camped in Jack
sons Hole after the Indian scare of not
long ago-a number Of the officers Of
the Ninth Cavalry and the writer-and
one Of the officers was telling about his
experiences in the Apache country,
though this story has nothing to do with
the Apaches.
did you ever know Dr. Cockey, Of
cockeyville?" he asked Of the others,
and at that half a dozen Of the group
laughed heartily. They had known the
Doctor, who had served as a contract
surgeon with several present
"Well. did you ever see as good n
aorse trader as he was? No? Neither
did l. One day an officer we all know
very well came into camp on a fine ami
NAL that he wanted to sell. 1t was
worth easily 500 cash, but it had to go
at what it would bring, because the
owner had been ordered to Washing
ton. The Doctor heard of it and looked
| the animal over. He said he didn't
/ want 1t, but he liked to look at horses
Of all kinds. 1t semed like pretty fair
horse, he said, the main fault being an
lncipient SPAWN, which ordinary OBJ
servers wonld not easily detect If it
wasn't for that, etc, etc-you know
how candidly he would talk when SIAN
dering the other mans horse. The up
shot Of 1t was that he said If no better
| offer was made he would give $50 for
the animal, out he would like to take it
out for a ride first, to see if there was
anything else allied it.
''The sale Of horses was pretty slow
about then, and the owner let the Doc
| tor take it for a ride. Then the Doctor
rode away on the trail. where his usual
luck followed him. He met a rrospec-
tor with two burros and the usual outfit
bound for the mountains, and stopped
to talk. The Doctor was a most affable
fellow, you will remember, and as he
talked he kept the horse showing itself
to the best advantage. Pretty soon
he saw the prospector eying the horse,
and that was just what was wanted. A
minute later the prospector said:
"That's q fine horse you're riding,
sir
"Cockey agreed that it was In a very
nnconcerned manner, and went on talk
Ing about prospecting until the man
once more complimented the horse and
said 1t was just the animal for the
Apache country. Still the Doctor was
unconcerned and talked of other mat
ters, but kept the horse on parade all
the same. Finally the man could stand
1t no longer. He wanted the horse and
he said:
"' OF course horse like yours Is en-.
trely out of reach Of a man like ME.
I'd give everything I've got for him,
but 1 know very well that wouldn't
touch him. Still, I'd like to know Just
what he is worth in this country
1.-THE Doctor was calmer and more
lnconcerned than ever. 1t was the
pest horse in New Mexico, of course,
but 1t wasn't an expensive horse by
any means
"'How much money have you gotT
be asked.
"'Only 500 and this outfit was the
:eply.
"'Just unpack that gray burro,' said
the Doctor. There's a friend Of mine
has been after a burro.'
1.-THE burro was a first-class beast,
out he was not exactly what the Doc
tor wanted, of course, and he asked the
man for n look at the big six-shooter
in his belt That was beyond criticism,
md the Doctor said:
"Tll tell you what I'll do with you.
like your looks, and you are likely
to need a first-class horse before you
are done with your work. I'll let you
have the horse for the burro and 500 il
you'l throw in that revolver, but you
must let me ride the horse back to camp
6rst'
1.-The poor devil was overwhelmed
With gratitude, and the trade was COM
pleted. Then the Doctor walked around
to the offices, said he guessed he could
ket rid of the beast-any way, he'd take
It to be accommoda ting-and paid over
the $50. don't know just what he did
with the burro, but he probably got
herd Of cattle for it in time"
That was just like Cockey," said
mother. HE has told me of lot Of
Iuch deals. He was really proud Of
every trade Of that kind. Why, he had
ais shingle up for practice every place
We camped, and he always made the
,atients pay cash in advance, too"
That's what he did," said another
"every time but once. One day a cow
boy came riding into camp with his
horse in foam. One of the boys at the
headquarters ranch had accidentally
shot himself in such a way that prompt
surgery would probably save his life.
"'Win you come nowT asked the
cowboy.
Certainly said Cockey; but I must
aave $25 in advance for such job
"'Oh, that's all right said the cow
ooy, and he was away again without
waiting an instant.
$50 Cockey, although he was cha
Erined because he had not got the cash
first, called out an ambulance and
drove over to the ranch. He was still
thinking about his failure to get the
:ash first, it appears, for that was what
be spoke of first on reaching the ranch.
The cowboy messenger was in front Of
;he house as the ambulance horses
topped, and he said:
"'Glad you're here, Doctor. You're
n good time and you'll pull hln
through all right Come In
"'Yes, know said Cockey, but I
must have that S25 in hand now or 1
don't get out of this ambulance
''The cowboy bowed, and then reach
Ing to holster at his belt pulled a big
shooter and levelled it at Cockey.
"'Come in, Doctor, come in. We're
glad to see you,' he said, and Cockey,
after . look into the eye that was
squirting over the pistol barrel, got
out and without any fee in advance per,
formed the operation successfully"
Patience and Kindliness.
IA IL