Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-09-06

,ne ueery, req raced notei keeper, VINO
had impressed me as being an honest
man.
"Yes, there's q DOCTOR" said he, "a
mighty good one He went by here a
little while ago. Names DR.. Rankin.
III rustic him out for you. Oh. you
Pete" he shouted into the interior Of
the building.
A moments shutting about preceded
the appearance of negro boy Of
twelve or fourteen.
Eyes, sab"
$50 find DR.. Rankin and bring him
here right away. Tell him q gentle
man wants him."
Shortly the negro boy reappeared.
closely followed by man with blue
coat and white beaver hat, whom I
had taken for an eccentric gambler.
This man walked slowly up to face me.
"Well, sir?' he demanded. II am
told l can be Of service. In what
way"
His piercing black eye held mine
"AIA q SC2 tnil diIotsduCc.
professionally, DOCTOR" I replied
"A friend Of mine is lying badly hurt
in a nearby hut
For barely appreciable instant his
eye held mine after had ceased speak.
ing, as though he was appraising me-
Then he bowed with old fashioned
courtesy.
"At your service, sir" said he. pete,
you black rascal, get my bag, and get
it quick"
The little negro, who had stood by
obviously worshiping, broke into grin
and darted into the hotel, almost in
stantly reappearipg with regulation
professional satcheL
Eat your service. SIR" repeated DR..
Rankin.
Arrived at the hut Of the Morenas,
for that it seemed was the name of
our host and hostess, DR.. Rankin laid
aside his furry beaver hat, walked d.
rectly to the side Of the bunk on which
Yank lay and began his examination
without vouchsafing anything or any
body else the slightest glance. At the
end Of ten minutes he threw the blan-
ket over our friends form and stood
erect carefully busting the ends Of his
fingers against one another.
Broken leg, badly set" said he; two
broken ribs. severe surface bruises and
possibility of internal bruises in the
region Of the spleen. Neglected too
long. Why wasn't sent for beforeT'
We assisted at the rather dreadful
process Of resetting broken leg three
days old. At the end of the operation
we We're all pretty limp.
"How long" gasped Yank, opening
his eyes.
"Three months; not q day less If you
want that leg to be as good as ever"
stated DR.. Rankin uncompromisingly.
Yank closed his eyes and groaned.
The doctor resumed his coat and
picked up his beaver hat.
What treatmentw ventured to
ask.
II will inform the woman" replied
the doctor. these Californians are
the best nurses in the world, once
things are on proper footing"
"Your fee. sir?" asked Johnny very
formally, for the Doctors brusque man.
ner had rubbed.
Zone ounce" stated DR.. Rankin. II
shall direct the woman, and shall re-
turn one week from today unless con-
ditions change. In that case sum-
mon me. ~ AaEei,-st,s Il, = -, ~
He pouched the gold dnst that John
ny shook into the palm Of his hand at
a. guess, bowed formally to each of rs
in turn, picked up his bag and depart
ed rigidly erect, the fine red dust
crawling and eddying at his feet.
Then we held council OF war, all
Of US. Don Gaspar announced his in
tention of returning to his rancho In
the south. .....
II have found the gold, and have
made fren's, and have now enough"
said he.
Bagsby, too, said he thought he would
just ride down as far as Suffers Fort,
there to lay in supply Of powder and
ball for a trip In the mountains.
II kind Of want to git up another
bar fight" said he. "If l thought
there was ghost Of show to sss
them robbers for you boys I'd stay and
help you scout for them, but there
amt show in the world. They've
had a good three days start"
After shaking hands with US again
and again and obtaining promises that
We should all surely meet in San Fran.
cisco or Monterey they mounted and
took their departure in order to get
well clear Of the settlement before
nightfall.
When they had gone Yank opened
his eyes from the apparent sleep into
which he had fallen.
you fellows don't hang around here
with me. can tell you that" he
started. "I'm fixed all right. want
you to make arrangements with these
people we're to keep me. Tuck my gold
under my piller, stack old Betsey ur
yere in the corner by me and 60 abou,
your business. You come out yere t.
dig gold, not to take keer Of cripples."
"All right, iank. Wen fix it some
haw." I agreed Now, If you're all
right, Johnny and will just so and
straighten out our camp things lt-
tie"
(To be Continued.)
EDGEWOOD..