The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-19
PRICE OF AN .0PERATIoNs s
BL L. V. BoYcE.
oDyr,sht. 1901, by Daily Story Pub. Col

fcopyright, 1901, by Daily Story Pub Col S < sxg ;s ! Certainly; glad to have you," repleH the physiclan .,,-,,-,s. the excoeolng delicacy of the slender nn- gers so out Of keeping WiIh me rough appearance and sarp CT the man. .tIreat heavens, Doctor! excialmeu Jones a moment later. Then he leaned over and whispered the balance of the sentence in Boggs ear. The latter iook- ed somewhat surprised and replied:
 ',Yes,, that, Is sit and that IS the ohly operation that will save her. we nave sent to heilys ranch on the chance that pr. Brown is there.
 But that is d matter of six or seven hours, oven if he is there, and It VIII ne too late" replied the cowboy. T.
 T know it. but l dare not attempt IL. I never saw an operation similar to 1t performed, and the risk Is too great re- piled the phy sician. It Is not an oper- ation for a green hand. The slightest oevlation means death
 "Gentlemen. l will perform the opera tion." answered Jones. 'l can do It sue cessfully, 1 think. l have seen 1t done many finies-in the Eastern hospitals and fheee are reasons why | am confident that | can do 1t. with as 4httie FISK as any oth-as any surgeon
 The two men looked at each other Tn surprise and perplexity. The Keen plue gray eyes of the coWDoy had been Watcn- ing them closely and became cold gray, anu mo his face came an expression of resolution and command as ne contih ued -
 "In two hours. not seven, the case will be hopeless. You know 1t, Doc.er' Ihe only chance is an immediate operation
 So imperative was the tone that Boggs involuntarily handed him his surgical case In an instant he had laid out the various instruments and other thiiies mt hands, examined the instruments with the manner of a professional rolied up his sleeves and stood ready for the "ork.
 Jones gave the Doctor directions as to the part he wished him to perform, ana then with a delft stroke cut deep into the white body. The Senator made quien move as if to stop him and grasped ms arm as he was making another move to cut again. Jones dropped the KnlIe nks grip like a wise, rushed him to the door and locked it. Returning on run ne said to the shaking Doctor:
 Its too late to stop now.
 Then seizing the knife he went ahead, cutting about and around vital organs with a decision and dexterity that com manded the admiration of Dr. Boggs even while he trembled in terror. It was soon over and as neatly finished as 1t was begun
 As Jones coolly washed the instruments and replaced them in the case. pr. Boggs grasped him roughly. by the shoulder. :,
 Who are you?' he demanded, and what college did you attend? You are no cowboy. You are a trained surgeon"
 You are mistaken" replied the other: quietly. II am Tom Jones. cow-puncher. Then he walked out of the house. saying to the Senator, who was pacing the floor in the room outside. as he passed through it:
 Miss Beatrice will recover. The oper- ation was successful and Boggss knows Anr some time, but she will pull through Then he was gone.
 Several weeks later when the young woman had recovered sufficiently that 8 day for departure East had been fixed she insisted upon seeing the man to whom she owed her life. He came into the room where she sat in an invalid's chair: As her father presented him she glanced forth her hand with a grateful smile. As her eyes met his the smile faded from her face and her hand dropped.
 John" she screamed. John! How did you come here"
 T think Providence directed my steps, he replied reverently.
 Papa" she went on. still in voice approaching hysteria. This is John WiI- mont-Doctor John Wilmont. Dcl't you
 It was the Senator's turn to pale.
 "Impossible" he said. "He is dead-a suicide.
 Not true. said the coWDoy, steadily. When you refused to permit your daugh- ter to marry me because l was only a young surgeon with some reputation and no money. and went so much further in Vour precautions against my gaining hel as to ruin with your power and money what prospects I had, I came out here to see if life closer to nature was not more honest. I let the world believe had committed suicide. It did not mat ter"
 However. sir" he continued, sternly. ''I have always heard that you made 1t your boast that your word was sacred. You said that the man who saved your daughters life could demand his own price. l now demand it.
 You shall have it even to the last shilling of my fortune" replied the Sen ator promptly. And l recognize that you are justified in being merciless'' Very well. I do not want a cent of your money. I demand your consent to | marry your daughter"
 The Senator walked to the window and | looked over the sweeping prairie for some | minutes. Then turning he said huskily My word has passed. I cannot refusf to make 1t good"
 With a cry the girl rose from the chair ] tottered and ftl into the arms of the man with the tangled beard.
 soAF." by F. II. Lancaster.