Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1902-12-18
CHAPTER w.

steps, ne SIood race to face with Mar
lowe, cycling him inquiringly.
Ralph felt his heart quicken its pull
sations as he looked upon the man be-
fore him; and he longed to hear him
speak
DR.. Ephriam W. Barwood was of
medilim height and weight, and slightly
stopped. His snsppy black eyes, set
far apart, were oVerarched by beetIing
brows and bullying forehead. His nose
was short and slightly Dubious at the
end. Through his sparse and stray
Cling beard was revealed a glimpse of
heavy jaws and firm thla lips. His
iron-gray hair was cropped close to his
bullet head. Apparently he was about
fifty years old.
His clothing comprised a pair of
baggy gray trousers, a shiny black coat
and vest-the outer garment a full
skirted frock, dropping at the corners
and soft muslin shirt with a puffed
bosom. A soft broad brimmed black
hat, with pair Of kip boots-red from
lack of blacking-complete his attire.
A long watch guard of black tape en-
circled his neck. His forceful, arrogant
disposition was stamped upon his
cOuntenance.
"a born fighter, who has had his way
in most matters and desires to have it
in ALL" was Marlowe's mental COM
ment.
But he kept sient, waiting for Tuck
er's promised presentation.
Good morning" DR.. Barwood said
CURLY. els there something 1 can do
for you?"
Jep interposed:
doc, this is the young Teller you
sent fer, to come an work fer you. 1
s'pose you both know each others
names seem you've been correspon-
din, as 1 understand. Nevertheless
I'll intr'duce you. Mr.. Ralph Marlowe,
this is Doc Barwood-Doctor Ephr'am
Barwood, l should say; an Doctor Eph-
ram Barwood, this is Mr.. Ralph Mar
lowe"
"Huh!" the physician grunted ungra-
ciously, knitting his heavy brows and
surveying Ralph from head to foot.
For several seconds the young drug
gist smilingly submitted to the trying
ordeal. Then putting forth his hand,
he observed pleasantly:
81 am glad to meet you, DR.. Bar
wood"
'Yes--certainly," returned the doc
tor, grasping the outstretched hand
and pressing it so hard the tendons
showed white and tense upon his own
knuckles.
But he did not remove his eyes from
Ralph's face; and his rugged features
= were puckered into a scowl, as he went
on:
with you. I'm glad you've got here, at
any rate"
Then suddenly dropping Marlowe's
hand and turning upon Tucker, who
had descended the steps and was NOV
ing away:
Here where are you going?"
Coin to take the gray round to the
blacksmith's, to have a shoe drove,''
Jep replied, pausing and squirting over
his shoulder.
mol" the doctor cried sharply. ''Put
her to the cart and drive around to the
hitching rack. l am going to the coun-
try"
But" Tucker objected. "She amt
in no c'ndition to travel, doc She
needs "
you heard what said, Jep?"
Eyes, doc, 1 did. But -'
Then you know what to do. And
when you have followed out my orders,
return to the drugstore. I want to have
a private talk with this young man.
Come, Mr.. Marlowe."
Jep hobbled around the corner of the
building, grumbling to himself:
Their never was such a man to have
his own way as OF Doc Barwood. But
If 1 amt bad mistaken-he's met his
match this time. That young feller's
harder to move'n meetin' house, when
he sets his head. You can't fool me-
It'll be-kill Dick, kill devil-betwixt
'em. Lordy! won't the fur fly one O.
these days? Well, 1 reckon"
Ralph silently followed DR.. Barwood
into the back room of the building, the
latter closing and locking the door be-
hind them.
Take a chair" the doctor jerked
out, with his foot pushing one toward
the young man.
Raph seated himself: Dr. Barwood
went to the flat-top desk standing in
the center Of the room, and carefully
sorted and piled a number of medical
journals lying upon it. When he had
arranged them to his satisfaction, he
stopped and replaced the upturned cor
ner Of large fur rug in front of the
empty CRATE. Then, swinging back the
corners of his long frock coat and
thrusting his hands into his trousers
pockets, he strobe restlessly I'D and
down the bare floor, his boot heels
clicking loudly. Occasionally he paused
before the rear window and looked to-
ward the stables whittier Tucker had
gone.
Marlowe was interested. He cody
leaned back in his chair-noting every
movement of his companion, every
fieeting expression of his countenance
and calmly awaited his pleasure. OF
a sudden DR.. Barwood dropped into a.
chair, hitched it close to Ralph's, and
the arms OF the chair, his alert eyes
The railroads east and west and north