Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-11-23

To our great relief, we found Yank
very much alive. He greeted us rath-
er feebly, but with satisfaction. We
found that he had been kindly cared
for and that the surface wounds and
bruises from the horses hoofs had been
treated with some skill
"But reckon I'm hurt some inside, .
he whispered with difficulty, ''for L
can't breathe easy, and I can't eat
nothin' but soup"
The broken leg too had been bound
up after fashion, but it was badly
swollen above and below the bandages.
HE ought to have a DOCTOR said l
positively. "There's no doubt of that.
There must be some among the min
ers. There generally is. I'm going tc
see if / can find one"
/ returned to town and hunted w
the beefy, red faced hotel keeper, who
had impressed me as being an honest
man.
eyes, there's a DOCTOR" said he, "a
mighty good one. He went by here a
little while ago. Names DR.. Rankin.
I'll rustic him out for you. Oh, you
Pete-' he shouted into the interior of
the building.
moments shutting about preceded
the appearance Of a negro boy of
twelve or fourteen.
yes, sab
! go find DR.. Rankin and bring him
here right away. Tell him a gentle
man wants him.
Shortly tho negro boy reappearcd.
closely followed by man with blue
coat and white beaver hat. whom /
had taken for an eccentric gambler
This man walked slowly up to face me-
"Well, sir?' he demanded. Il ara
told | can be Of service. In what
way?"
His piercing black eye held mine
with a certain high arrogance.
professionally, DOCTOR | replied.
"a friend of mine is lying badly hurt
in a nearby hut"
For barely appreciate instant his
eye held mine after had ceased speak
ing, as though be was appraising me.
Then he bowed with old fashioned
courtesy.
cat 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 reappearing with a regulation
professional satchel.
AT your service. SIR repeated DR..
Rankin.
for that it seemed was the. name Of
our host and hostess, DR.. Rankin laid
aside his furry beaver hat, walked di-
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; 1.-TWO
broken ribs, severe surface bruises and
region Of the spleen. Neglected too
long. Why wasn't | sent for before?"
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 long, gasped Yank. opening
his eyes.
"Three months; not day less il you
want that leg to be as good as ever"
stated DR.. Rankin uncOmprOmisingly
Yanl closed his eyes and groaned.
The doctor resumed his coat and
picked up his beaver hat
What treatments" | ventured TO
ask
Il 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.
"One ounce" stated DR.. 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
a guess, bowed formally to each of us
in turn, picked up his bag and depart
ed rigidly erect the fine red dust
crawling and cddying 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.
Il 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.
Il kind Of want to git up another
bar fight" said he. "If | thought
there was a ghost of Il show to sit
them robbers for you boys I'd stay and
help you scout for them. but there