Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1903-02-19


have taken those cases However. II is
done now Have your hardheaded
way-go on and treat them TO recovery.
But | exact one thing
What is ii. doctor@
THAT you place their accounts in n
separate book. and collect and keep ell
the money yourself. | will not have Il
penny OF it, THERE"
Il shall deposit it to your credit In
one of the Malconta banks. doctor"
Ralph laughed; ''as you have done my
half of the proceeds of the new oil
field
"Ill never draw II out" muttered the
igate man.
Then you will have money in bank,
always Be reasonable, doctor. You
have been accepting and using money
from those families--the McDevitts in
cluded-for two months or more. They
have been trading here ever since
came, almost"
DR.. Barwood stared at his partner in
helpless amazement. He mostened his
dry lips with his tongue and tried to
speak but could not articulate word.
He had been trapped-beaten; and he
was consuming with impotent rage. At
plosive Huh" Then turned upon his
heel strobe into the rear room. and
slammed the door.
After lapse of Is minutes. he
emerged from his den, his demeanor
completely altered His countenanee
was unruffled: the storm had spent
itself Seating himself, he said
cheerily:
Ralph, my rheumatism Is better this
morning than it has been in weeks
Il am pleased to hear it, Doctor
"And | see Jep-for wonder-has
built fire in my Office, and swept and
busted the room"
"Jep" laughed Marlowe. mot he
| did it myself have been here since
o'clock"
And did You fill the coal hod, too?'
Il did.
"Confound that lout." Dr. Barwood
grumbed. Hes becoming lazier and
more nearly worthless every day he
lives. He doesn't desire to do anything
but sit by the fire, toast his shins, and
tell silly stories. Yes-he does. He
wants to eat and sleep. shall have TO
haul him over the Goals"
why don't you discharge him, doe
tori" Ralph asked. STOPPING to recover
a cork he had dropped-and thus con-
| cealing the smile upon his face.
Discharge him ?"-Whirling around
| in his chair and lookin, at his COM
| panion in open-mouthed establishment.
yes"
Discharge Jep?"
Marlowe pursed his lips and nodded
his eyes fixed upon the bottle he was
wrapping.
| why, mani" DR.. Barwood ejaculat'
ed. DO you want the poor devil to
| starve? His wife and | have to keep
him-have kept him for 20 years, She
can't do it alone. He'd starve, sure as
the sun rises ana sets, should | dis
charge him For he's too shiftless &c
get another position; and too lazy &c
hold one. if he had it, No, can't dis
charge him 1t would be cruelty OF
which am not capable. But I'll warm
his jacket. nguratively speaking, for his
negligence But say, Ralph"
We'll, doctor?'
You'd better get out and make your
morning calls. I'll attend to things
here for few hours"
Il am just ready to start" was th'
reply.
and coat and hurried forth. leaving thu
older sitting by the fire and smiling in
scrutably to himself.
The oath of December dawned colt
and clear. sleighing snow was upor
the ground. All the forenoon the still
air was filled with sitting particles o
boar frost; but by l o'clock the tenn
perature had risen, the skies were
| olon5oJ and cnnw Was falling
There was a hurry burly in Babylon
that afternoon. Sleigh bells jingled in
cessantly. Sleds and sIelghs glided into
the village and glided out, laden with
packages and bundles. The stores. gro
ceries, and other places of business
were crowded with eager buyers, from
noon till dark Dozens of Kris Krin-
giles were abroad; hundreds OF little
hearts were throbbing expectantly. The
evening trains brought large numbers
of travelers--come to spend the holi-
day week with friends or relatives in
the village or adjoining country.
BY nightfall it was again still, and
clear and cold At the Methodist
church was a Christmas tree, resplen-
dent with wax tapers and laden with
strings of popcorn, bags of candy, anc
| presents innumerabe At the saloons
were light and warmth, free and easy
comradeship hot soup and free lunch
Many an aching heart left the house OF
worship that night-for some holiday
gifts are not as costly and fine as theirs
and not a few aching heads emerged
from the haunts of good fellowship In
the small hours of the morning.
(To be Continued)
!