The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-01-25

a five-year-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 i'll
ness was fraudulent.
His arm" said Chad, lis harder'n
diamond He interduced me to what
he called a 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 | ana
One day about noon two men dro~a
up to the ranch, alighted, 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 serv-
ices bao 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 q twenty dollar
bill against his hand and said:
doc, there's young chap in that
room l guess has got 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 | just
ate, Mr. Raidler?' said the doctor
biuffly, 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 lctOr came risk
ly out. your man. he said promptly.
SIS as sound as new dollar. His
lungs are better than mine. Res:fira
ton, temperature and pulse normal
Chest expansion four inches. Not
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 Harels,
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 cowpunchers were swinging them
selves upon their mounts, when RAID
Ter babe them wait He walked to Nc
Cures room and threw open the door
Mcclure was smoking.
"Get up said the catteman, ana NJ
voice was clear and brassy,
"How's that?" asked Mcclure. a ~
} tie startled.
Get up and dress. I can stand !
rattlesnake, but | hate liar IL
caught Mcclure by the neck and stoo'
him on the floor.
Say, friend,'' cried Mcclure wildly
. ..are you bughouse? Pm sick-s e
I'll croak If l got to hustle. Wbatv
: | done to yer?"-he began his chroni
whine Il never asked yer to
Put on your clothes.' called Raidle'
. Mcclure tumbled into his clothes
! stake this man, said Raider t
Ross Hargis, land put him to wort
: | Make him work hard, sleep hard an
/ eat hard You boys know done wha
S | conld for him, and he was welcom
Il Yesterday the best doctor In San Al
e tone examined him and says he's e
: the lungs of burro and the constit'
+ ton of a steer
4 "Aw," said Mcclure, looking intent
at Raider with a peculiar expresslo
1.-The croaker said was all right. d
n he? Said I was fakin'. did he? Ie
put him on to me. You fought
wasn't sick. You said | was lia
Say, friend, ! talked rough, ] knoN
r but / didn't mean most Of it. If "
. felt like l did--aw! forgot ain
e sick, the croaker says. Well, friers
J. now I'll go work for yer, Here
e. where you play even"
o He sprang into the saddle easily
a bird, got the quirt from the ho
s and gave his pony slash with
e. Cricket" who once brought in CO.
Boy by a neck at Hawthorne-and
u 10 to l shot-had his foot in the st
" rups again. Mcclure led the cavalca
~ as they dashed away for San Carlo
d and the cowpunchers gave yell
&c applause as they closed in behind Ill
s. But in less than mile he had Ia
&c ged to the rear and was last In
III when they struck the patch OF hi
III chaparral below the horse pens
lie hind a clump of this he drew rein a
ne held handkerchief to his mouth,
y took it away drenched with brig
~ arterial blood and threw it careful
10 into u clump of prickly pear. Ih
u he sIashed with his quirt again, ga
ed "G'wan'' to his astonished pony a
al galloped after the gang.
Ell That night Raider received a m
ne sage from his old home in Aiabar
'io There had been death IN the ia
lis ily. An estate was to divide. and tt
on called for him to come 1t was t
ter months before he returned. When
nd arrived at the ranch house he fou
ne 1t we'll nigh deserted save for Ylar!t
ltn "By the way" said Raider, sudd
re- II remembering, that fellow
MS along with them-McGuire-is
leu working yet?"
no II do not know" said Ylario, -
ai | theenk that fellow Mcclure he d
much time ago."
alu "Deadr' said Raider. What
talking about?"
az "Verree sick fellow. Mcclure"
80, piled Ylario, with a shrug of his sh'
der. 81 theenk ne no live one.
10 month when he go away
ing ehuchs! saw ,. ~
bngged you, too, did ha2 The do