The Holly chieftain., 1898-12-09
THE SPARE BEDROOM AT THE DOC
TORS.

THE SPARE BEDROOM AT THE DOC.
TORS
The doctors house was one of the
earliest dwellings erected at the mine
1t had been occupied at different times
by various officials Of the Big Horn, in
Guiding the manager himself, before hiI
own $4,000 colonial residence was built;
as mining-camp tenements go, it was
considered snug little box for q sin
gle man.
In front were the doctors office and
dispensary, both opening upon gal
lery, the long posts Of which found
footing part way down the gulch
There was barely room at the bacl
of the house for O team to pass over
platform of heavy planking that
bridged the shallow chasm betweenths
kitchen door and the door Of a fire
proof cellar tunneled into the hill.
1t was to this rear entrance, facing
the cellar, that Wan conducted Darcie
on the evening of the 10th, the front
or office. door being locked, and the
rooms within empty and dark. The
hoase was shutterless, but Wan did not
omit the precaution of drawing down
the green linen shades before lighting
a lamp.
Darcie, listlessly accepting the doc
tors view of the situation, together
with any solution of it that might have
occurred to his friendly ingenuity
asked no questions Of his guide; he
cared as little what was to become OF
him as, at that moment, he cared for
his life; and after the customary nc.
acknowledgement Of his service, Wan said
good night, and left him alone in the
doctors kitchen.
The cat rose up from her bed, and
patted softly across the floor to inquire
concerning a strangers presence, hump.
ing her sleepy back and purring inter
negatively. Darcie stroked her with his
left hand, but declined her next con-
fiding proposition, to leap upon his
knees. She continued to lavish feline
Establishments upon him, undiscour-
aged by his indifference, passing and
repassing his chair to rub her sides
against his leg, clutching the floor with
one spread paw and then the other,
and breaking out into loud purring at
a casual look, or a touch of his hand.
After time she gave him up as an
instrument of creature comfort, and
went back to her carpet behind the
stove.
The wind, sweeping down the gulch,
brought with 1t the deep diapason of
the forest, mingled with the fitful blare
of a stove-pipe funnel, which dis
coursed dismally from the roof. Long,
taut iron wires braced the kitchen
stove-pipe, and these also had voice
the jar and tremor Of rude harpstrings,
when the pent gusts smote them.
Darcie had sunk into dream so
deep that he did not hear at first, and
then started on hearing, the cautious
step of q heavy man endeavoring to
tread lightly on the sounding platform
outside, and the touch Of groping
hand on the door.
"Is this" he queried with himself,
"the friend who is to show me to my
nights lodging? He does not come like
one who is sure Of his welcome" Then
his face broke into smile at the sound
of Mikes well-known whistle, trine
more guarded than usual, with rising
note Of inquiry, as il to ask: care you
there. Darcie dear"
Mike detected no change In the man
ner OF his partner. nor. at first. In his
countenance. more than his hurt and
subsequently confinement might have
accounted for, and they began to chnff
and berate each other In the language
in which men, surprised into strong
feeling, seek to conceal the same.
"Was ye expectin' mcT asked Mike.
sinking his voice into the depths Of bis