The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-10-03

His piercing black eye held mine
with a certain high arrogance.
professionally, doctor" | replied.
"A friend of mine is lying badly hurt
In nearby hut
For a barely apprecable 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. "Petc,
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 reappearing with regulation
professional satchel.
AT 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, DIR. 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 vOuchsaling 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 dustlng 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 were all pretty limp.
"How longT" gasped Yank. opening
his eyes.
"Three months; not day less II you
want that leg to be as good as ever"
stated DIR. Rankin uncompromisingly.
Yank closed his eyes and grOaned.
The doctor resumed his coat and
picked up his beaver hat.
"What treatmentT | ventured to
ask.
81 will inform the woman" replied
the doctor. "These Californians ara
the best nurses In the world, once
things are on proper footing"
'Your fee. sirP' asked Johnny very
formally, for the doctors brusque man
ner had rubbed.
"One ounce stated DIR. Rankin. IL
shall direct the woman, and | shall re-
turn one week from today unless con-
ditions change. In that case sum-
mon me-"
He pOuched the gold dust that John
ny shook into the palm Of his hand at
q guess, bowed formally to each of US
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 Guspar announced his in
tention of returning to his rancho In
the south.
~ have found the gold, and I 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 a supply of powder and
ball for u trip in the mountains.
81 kind OF want to git up another
bar fight" said he. "lf | thought
there was ghost of n show to git
them robbers for you boys I'd stay and
help, you scout for them. but there
amt show in the world. They've
had good three days start"
After shaking hands with us again
and again aud obtaining promises that
we should all surely meet In San Fran
cisco or Monterey they mounted ana
took their departure In order to get
well clear of the settlement before
nightfail.
When they had gone YRnk 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 yere to keep me. Tuck my gold
under my piler. stack old Betsey up
yere in the corner by me and go about
your business, You come out yere to
dig gold, not to take keer of cripples." !"
"Ail right. Yank. wen fix u some
haw," I agreed. Now, II you're all
right, Johnny and | will just SO and
straighten out our camp things a lit
tle."
Continued next tuesday,