The citizen., 1897-02-19
"DOC'S" STORY.


an evening accumulation, and had al
ready become warmed into that friend
,ly mood which helps one to realize that
all men are brothers.
"Good evening, gentlemen" said the
"lush," and he said it as if it were the
preliminary to an Grafton.
"Good evening, sir; good evening"" re-
sponded 'Doc" Horne, with slight in
clination of the head.
"Sit down and make yourself miser-
able" said the lightning dentist, who
could be entertaining at times.
"Come join the feast of reason and
the flow of SOUL" added the book agent,
who could be original, if not enter
tanning.
"Sure, that's right" added the BIZ
cycle salesman.
The ''lush" seated himself and asked:
swell, gentlemen, what is the subject
under discussion?"
"We were just talking about the cold
weather, and saying that it must be
pretty tough on some people" said the
Lightning dentist.
There's nothing personal in this, is
there?" asked the "lush."
Certainly not" said the lightning
dentist, laughing. "Doc'' Horne
chuckled, and the large book agent
smiled in a conservative manner, as if
he feared to compromise his profes-
sional dignity.
The bicycle young man was puzzled.
He did not see why the laugh came in,
so he settled back in his chair and tried
to think it out. The task was long and
difficult, for he said but a few words
during the remainder of the evening.
II don't think there is so much suf-
fering, now that the weather has mod
Grated" said the "lush."
II hope not" said doc" Horne. "It's
a terrible thing to be cold and hungry
for days at time. can tell you that.
If any of you gentlemen ever go
through what ] did you'll appreciate
that fact, too"
"How's that, 'DocP'" asked the
"lush."
Il thought 1 had told you of my ex-
perience in the winter of '67 and '6s,
when I was moose hunting with Gen.
Foster up in Canada. No? Well, we
had party of gentlemen from New
York and Philadelphia with us. The
weather was bitterly cold, but we were
living in the generals hunting lodge
and we managed to keep comfortable.
One day was out with party, and we
were up on the SessilSoochee river"
"W'at's the name. 'Doc%" asked the
lightning dentist.
"The sikoochee-Indian name, you
know. 1t means lofty pines had
two New York gentlemen with me, and
we were tracking a moose--had been
on the trail for several hours. crossed
the river on the ice to take up what
seemed to be new trail, and got sep
GRATED from my two friends. / suppose
i was intent on following this trail,
and that's why paid so little attention
to the weather. The first thing knew
the snow began to fall, and discov.
cred that the sky was overcast, with
every indication of blizzard. started
back along the trail. but in ten min.
utes the air was filled with binding
snow and the wind was blowing per-
feet hurricane among the trees. OF
course it was impossible to see very
far in any direction, but kept on, and
thought was going toward the river
l knew if struck the river l could find
the house all right. Darkness came on
II had no idea it was so late-and the
wind came from the northwest and cut
me to the very bone. walked and
walked and walked, but didn't come
to the river, and then / realized that
probably l had been walking away from
1t all the time. Of course my inclina-
tion was to sit down and rest, but
knew l didn't dare to do that or I'd
freeze to DEATH"
ut must have been awful" said the
bicycle young man.
well, it wasn't any pleasure excur-
sion. Fortunately found hollow tlee
where l could coil myself. got in
there and wrapped my fur coat around
lme, and managed to keep fairly warm
until morning. By that time the wind
aoN BOuC OOWu dlIu tuc COlu NdS SOIuS-
thing intense. If hadn't been so hardy
and athletic I suppose I never would
have lived through it. got out, took
my bearings from the sun and started
out on run to find the river. had to
run to keep from freezing. Of course
still carried my rifle, and also had
hunting knife, but I didn't have any
matches to start fire with. About ten
o'clock that morning shot a rabbit,
but of course couldn't cook it, so had
to content myself with drinking a little
Of the blood"
The bicycle young man gasped and
shivered, which led doc" to say: "You
would have been glad to get it."
Il should think it would be hard
work to run in the snow," said the light
ming dentist.
Not If you had snowshoes," said
"Doc," with an amused smile.
"oh, I didn't know you had snow
Shoes"
Il didn't have any when | started.
but made rough pair out of some
long twigs knotted together with
kind of wiry grass that grows up there.
With this pair Of shoes could make