Ellsworth American., 1914-08-12
HIS
WEAPON
By OSCAR cox

DR.. Leonard Armsby, having taken
his medical diploma at the College Of
Physicians and Surgeons, concluded
that he would go to the wild and WOOL
ly west to practica Since he was a
professional man he was not expected
to wear a wooden shirt and buckskin
trousers. Nevertheless his very gen
0emanliks 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
ies OF his time, performed what seem
ed to the inha bitants of a rough region
some remarkable cures. For instance,
being called In to see a sick child, he
told its parents it had diphtheria. The
couple bad lost one child from that
disease and at once gave up hope. But
the doctor injected an ant1toxin under
the child's skin. and 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
like w1Idf1re over the whole territory
and his practice grew 10 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-
ton and was dead shot. Armsby came
out OF house one day where he was
treating woman with nervous prostra-
ton. Sykes at the, same time came out
Of the El Dorado saloon drunk and
bowling like lunatic. The doctor told
him that the noise was great detr1-
ment to the sick woman. Jim whipped
out a revolver with which to make q
reply and would probably have ended
the Doctors career then 8nd 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
got turned upon killing man there
was a 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 90 they conJured him 70
make O walking arsenal Of himself
and be on the tptoe OF watchfulness
for 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'1l give
him a dose that will be better than
lead and worse than death. I proba
bly, won't see him before he comes for
me, and I would be obliged to any Of
you II you will tell him. would like
him to know what's in store for him In
order that he may be forewarned and
keep off I'd much rather kill him than
MAIN him. as 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
to visit patient some distance away
and was not to be found. Sykes went
TO his office half dozen times to find
him, but he had not returned from his
call Of duty.
Bill Thompson, whose child Armsby
hoA aox,,d (rsox,, daoth hu Hfphfhoe{o
hearing that Sykes was on the war.
path. having learned where the doc
tor had gone. mounted horse and
rode out to warn him Ee met the
doctor coming back.
II tell you what you DO. Thompson"
said Armsby. "You ride to my Office
I'll stop on the rising ground at the
end OF the street. II Sykes Is In the
office wave your bandanna; If not,
wave this" He gave Thompson his
own white handkerchief
Thompson rode on into the little
town and dismounted at DR.. Armsby's
Office He was informed that Sykes
had Just been there and gone away.
Thompson went outside and tagged
with q white handkerchief. In a few
minutes the doctor rode up, hitched his
horse to post. took of 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 Armsby the warn
ing. 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 Off or you'll wish you'd never
been born" came a voice from the
other side of the door. "I know how