Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-07-27

q 6ye-yeur-old kid. That's what your
ranch has done for me"
1t was Chad Murchison, cow
puncher from the Circle Bar outfit,
who first suggested that McGuire's ILL
ness was fraudulent.
His arm." said Chad, "is harder'n
q diamond He interduced me to what
he called u shore perplexus punch, and
twas like bein' kicked twice by a
mustang. He's playin' it low down on
you. Curt. He amt no sickern am"
One day about noon two men drove
up to the ranch. nlighted, hitched and
came in to dinner. standing and gen
eral invitations being the custom of
the country. One of them was q great
San Antonio doctor. whose costly serv-
ices had been engaged by wealthy
cowman 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 a twenty dollar
bill against his hand and said:
"Doc, there's a young chap in that
room | guess has got bad case of
consumption. Id like for you to look
him over and see just how bad he is"
"IIow much was that dinner l just
ate, Mr.. Raidler?' said the doctor
bluf!y. looking over his spectacles.
Raider returned the money to his
rocket. The doctor entered McGuire's
Il room. and the cattleman waited. ready
to reproach himself in the event the
verdict should he Nnfavorable.
- In ten minutes the d ctor came risk
~ out "Your man." he said promptly.
''is as sound as new dollar. His
lungs are better than mine. Respira-
ton. temperature and pulse normal.
Chest expansion four inches. Not a
sign Of weakness anywh re. OF coarse
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. BY @ o'clock the horses were
all saddled, the grub wagon ready and
the cowpunch hers We're swinging them
selves upOn their mounts, when Raid
Ter bade them wait. He walked to Nc
nj tho door
Mcclure was smoking.
"Get up" said the cattleman, and his
voice was clear and brassy.
"How's that? asked Mcclure, a lit,
tie startled.
Get up and dress. ! can stand
rattlesnake, but hate liar" He
caught Mcclure by the neck and stood
him on the foor
Say, friend" cried Mcclure wildly,
.are you playhouse? I'm sick-see?
I'll croak If got to hustle. What've
l done to yerT'-he began his chronic
whine. II never asked yer to-
Put on your Clothes" called Raider.
Mcclure tumbled into his clothes.
"Take this man," said Raider to
Ross Hargis, land put him to work.
Make him work hard, sleep hard and
eat hard. You boys know done what
I could for him, and he was welcome.
Yesterday the best doctor in San An
tone examined him and says he's got
the lungs Of burro and the constitu'
ton Of steer"
"Aw," said Mcclure, looking intently
at Raider with a peculiar expression,
"the croaker said was all right. did
he? Said l was fakin', did he2 You
nut him on to- me. You fought l
wasn't sick. You said l was liar.
Say. friend, talked rough, l know,
but | didn't mean most Of 1t. II you
felt like | did-aw! forgot-l amt
sick, the croaker says. Well, friend,
now I'll go work for yer Here's
where you play even."
He sprang into the saddle easily as
bird. got the quirt from the horn
and gave his pony slash with II.
Cricket" who once brought In Good
Boy by a neck at Hawthorne-and a
10 to shOt-had his foot In the sur
rups again. Mcclure led the cavalcade
as they dashed away for San Carlos,
and the cowpunchers gave yell OF
applause as they closed In behind him.
But In less than mile he had lag
ged to the rear and was last man
when they struck the patch Of high
ehaparral below the horse pens. Be-
hind a clump Of this he drew rein and
held handkerchief to his mouth. He
took 1t away drenched with bright
arterial blood and threw 1t carefully
into clump Of prickly pear. Then
he slashed with his quirt, again, gasp
ed "G'wan" to his astonished pony and
galloped after the gang.
That night Raider received a mes
sage from his old home in Alabama.
There had been death In the fam
lily. An estate was to divide, and they
called for him to come. 1t was two
months before he returned. When he
arrived at the ranch house he found
1t well nigh deserted save for Ylario.
"By the way" said Raider, sudden
ly remembering, that fellow l sent
along with then-McGuire-is he
working yeti"
II do not know" said Ylario, 'but
l theenk that fellow MCGUIRE he dead
much time ago"
"Deadv' said Raider What you
talking about?"
"Verree sick fellow, MCGUIRE" re-
piled Ylario, with shrug Of his shoul-
der II theenk he no live one, two
month when he go away"
''Shucksv said Raider HE hum
bugged you. too. did he? The doctor
examined him and said he was sound