The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1914-09-14
HIS
WEAPON
Bv OSCAR cox


II west to practice. Since he was
professional man he was not expected
to wear a wooden shirt and bucksk1n
trousers. Nevertheless his very gen
tlemanlike suit Of eastern made clothes
and derby hat were sufficient to mark
him as q tenderfoot The doctor, be
Ing well up in the advance discover
les Of his time, performed what seem
Cd to the inhabitants Of a rough region
some remarkable cures. For instance.
being called in to see sick child, he
told its parents 1t had diphtheria. The
couple had lost one child from that
disease and at once gave up hope. But
the doctor injected an antitoxin under
the child's skin, and a membrane that
was forming in its throat could be
seen to break away and disappear. The
child recovered, and from that time
Armsby's medical reputation spread
Ike wildf1re over the whole territory
and his practice grew to correspond
ingiy large size.
There Is generally some one In
community meaner than all the rest,
and In this one Jim Sykes held the
championship. The lives Armsby saved
were nothing to him, for his princi-
pal business was destroying lives. He
would shoot on the slightest provoca-
tion and was dead shot. Armsby came
out Of q house one day where he was
treating q woman with nervous prostra-
ton. Sykes at the same time came out
OF the Ell Dorado saloon drunk and
bowling like lunatic. The doctor told
him that the noise was a great detr1-
ment to the sick woman. Jim whipped
out 4 revolver with which to make
reply and would probably have ended
the Doctors career then and there had
not q man who was passing grabbed
his arm and disarmed him.
But any one who knew Jim Sykes
felt assured that when his mind once
rot turned upon killing a man there
was q fair prospect for funeral.
Those who appreciated the doctor for
the good he was doing begged him to
Disappear for awhile, and when he re-
fused to do so they conjured him to
make a walking arsenal of himself
and be on the tiptoe Of watchfulness
1be Jim Sykes. The doctor said that
he would keep an eye out for the man.
but would not attempt to fight him
with his own weapon. "If I'm obliged
to fight for my life," he said, I'll give
him 4 dose that will be better than
lad and worse than death. proba
bly, won't see him before he comes for
-. ana would be obliged to any of
- 81 yea Will tell him would like
kn6w wnatB IN store for him In
- that IL may be forewarned and
koop Oh. I'd much rather Hu him than
naim him, as l propose to do, since /
would have no chance against him with
powder and ball"
The message went to Sykes, and, in
stead Of inducing him to let the doctor
alone. It raised his blood to the boiling
point He went hunting for Armsby
at once, but the doctor had been called
70 whit q patient some distance away
and was not to be found. Sykes went
10 his Office half a>dozen times to find
him, but he had not returned from his
call Of duty.
Bill Thompson. whose child Armsby
lad saved from death by diphtheria,
hearing that Sykes was on the war
path, having learned where the doc
tor had gone, mounted horse and
rode out to warn him. He met the
doctor coming back.
II tell You what you do, Thompson"
said Armsby. "You ride to my Office.
IN stop on the rising ground at the
end Of the street If Sykes is in the
once wave your bsndanna; If not.
wave this" He gave Thompson his
own white handkerchief
Thompson rode on into the little
town and dismounted at DR.. Armsby's
once. He was Informed that Sykes
had just been there and gone away
Thompson went outside and tagged
with q white handkerchief. In few
minutes the doctor rode up. hitched his
horse to a post, took Off his saddlebags
and went inside. Sykes. who at the
moment came out Of saloon short
distance away. at once stalked over to
the Office. drawing a revolver as he
went
Thompson. who was outside watch
ing for him. gave Arlnsby the warn
lu9. Sykes mounted the office steps.
entered the hall and passed into the
Doctors waiting room. The door be
tween that and the consulting room
was ajar The front room was well
lighted. there being two windows. In
the rear room was but one window.
and the blinds to that were closed
The advantage so far as sight was con
cerned was entirely with the man in
the dark.
Keep OF or you'll wish you'd never
been born. came voice from the
other side Of the door. Il know how
10 protect myself"
Sykes began to fire and advance at
the same time. But suddenly he gave
4 yen. dropped his pistol and covered
his face with his hands.
DR.. Armsby from the crack Of the
door between the hinges had emptied
q syringe full Of ammonia into the
mans face
Bill Sykes never troubled the doctor
Or any one elseafte1that He couldn't
rec how to shoot
The doctor tried to repay good for
evil by treating the eyes he bad ruined,
but On the resources of the medical art
failed Sykes never regained his sight.
A Troublesome Mirror.
Mamma said FlOsSie. this old
Joking gASs isn't any good
the matter with It,
look i'm it." ex-
lace gets in the