The Caucasian., 1911-07-16


a fiye-year-old kid. That's what your
ranch has done for me-
1t was Chad Murchison, a cow
puncher from the Circle Bar outfit,
who first suggested that McGuire's i'll
ness was fraudulent.
''His arm" said Chad, sis harder n
diamond. He interduced me to what
he called shore perplexus punch, and
twas like bein' kicked twice by a
mustang. He's playin' it low down on
you, Curt. He amt no sicker'n | ann
One day about noon two men drove
up to the ranch, aighted, hitched and
came in to dinner, standing and gen
eral invitations being the custom of
the country. One of them was great
San Antonio doctor, whose costly sery-
ices baC been engaged by a wealthy
cowInan who had been laid low by an
accidental bullet. He was now being
driven to the station to take the train
back to town After dinner Raider
took him aside, pushed twenty dollar
bill against his hand and said:
Doc, there's young chap in that
room / guess has got a bad case of
consumption. I'd like for you to look
him over and see just how bad he is"
"How much was that dinner I just
ate, Mr.. Raider" said the doctor
blufiy, looking over his spectacles.
Raider returned the money to his
pocket. The doctor entered McGuire's
room, and the cattleman waited, ready
to reproach himself in the event the
verdict should be unfavorable
In ten minutes the doctor came brisk
ly out. your man." he said promptly,
'is as sound as a new dollar. His
lungs are better than mine. Respira-
ton, temperature and pulse normal
Chest expansion four inches. Not a
sign of weakness anywhere. Of course
l didn't examine for the bacillus, but
it isn't there. You can put my name
to the diagnosis"
The branding season was at hand,
and the next morning Ross Hargis,
foreman of the outfit, was mastering
his force of some twenty-five men at
the ranch ready to start for the San
Carlos range, where the work was to
begin.s By 6 o'clock the horses were
all saddled, the grub wagon ready and
the cowpunchers were swinging them
selves upon their mounts, when Raid
ler bade them wait He walked to Nc
Cures room and threw open the door.
Mcclure was smoking.
"Get up" said the cattleman, and his
voice was clear and brassy.
"How's that?" asked Mcclure, lit
tie startled.
"Get up and dress. I can stand a
rattlesnake, but I hate a liar" He
caught Mcguire by the neck and stood
him on the floor.
"Say, friend" cried Mcclure wildly,
"are you bughouse? I'm sick-see?
I'll croak If l got to hustle. What've
I done to yer?"-he began his chronic
whine. 81 never asked yer to-
"Put on your Clothes" called Raider.
Mcclure tumbled into his clothes.
"Take this man." said Raider to
Ross Hargts. "and put him to work.
Make him work hard. sleep hard and
eat hard. You boys know done what
I eould for him. and he was welcome.
Yesterday the best doctor In San An
fone examined him and saws he's got
the Iunea of a burro and the constitu-
tion of a steers
saw. said Mcclure, booking inteutly
nj Raidler with a peculiar expression,
athe croaker said was all right. did
ha9 Said I was fakin'. did hef You
nut him on TO me. You fought I
wasn't sick. You said I was 4 Har.
sax. friend. I talked rough. I know,
but I didn't mean most OF It. II you
felt nka I did-ewl fcrsot--I ain't
sick. the croaker says. Well, frtand,
now ru 70 work for yer. Here's
yhera you play eyen.s
He snrane into tia saddle easily a.
q bird GOT tha ouirt from the horn
and uaye his nonv a aIash with IL
ac,r,cket" who once brought In Good
Rov nv A neck at Hawthorne--and a
10 To i shot-had his foot in the stir
runa again. McGuira lad the cayalcade
as tbey dashed away for San Carlos.