Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-05-10

Just enough to prompt the doctor to
Indulge In frequent drinks from a
back flask. In fact, an hour after the
game started. with Kings stack or
chips steadily growing, Borden was
well across the boundary between So
Der and drunk.
About that time the barkeeper In
formed the doctor that he was wanted
In q hurry OF the Peerless hotel.
Jack Jarvis has just driven In with
his niece from his claim, n snes
took SICK" the barkeeper asserted.
No one present expected Borden to
leave a "champeen match" for a mere
professional call, but he had imbibed
Just enough to make him %erratic, and
he said he would go.
"Surely not In your present condi-
tion," exclaimed King. you're moi
capable of doctoring- even a cat just
now"
The doctor glared at him..
Look here, young feller," he de-
clared. I'm a better doctor drunk
than sober. I've heerd bout Jack Jar
Wis and he's got loads Of coin so It's
to my ~'dvantage to make this call.
We can play LATER"
The cards and chips were taken care
of, and the doctor staggered out of the
Poison Pill, dragging his young OPP
ponent.
"Goin' to take you with me SO you
can't get away and 'scape finishin' the
match" he explained, as he led the
way to his fivver.
A moment later the flivver was stag
gering along the street headed for the
hotel at the other end of the town. The
machine wobbled up in front Of the
rickety structure and King leaped out.
Borden, however, refused to bulge.
Feel like goin' to sleep" he num-
bled, and gave vent to a snore.
King shook him, but without avail.
The only result was another snore,
and the doctor settled himself as COM
fortably as possible in his cramped
position for q snooze.
N use," the young man told him
self. II might as well go in and ex-
plain that the doctor can't come. It's
just as well, cause I'd hate to take a
chance with him doctoring anyone
with that load"
A burly man wearing a red shirt and
corduroy trousers met him at the door.
His weather-beaten face was creased
In an expression of worry.
you're the doc, l suppose" he said,
c%runching Kings right hand in a WISE
like grip. 81 jest saw you drive up.
Come right up to the room. I'm wor-
ried most to death bout my niece.
She came out here for her health, but
she's jest naturally fadin' away, and
there don't seem to be no real reason
at all"
He dragged King up a stairway and
along a hall. The latter, taken almost
off his feet by surprise at being mis-
taken for the doctor, could only slut
ter:
you're mis-the doctor-that is"
The burly man paused and threw
open a door, pushing him in. A pale
faced girl lay on the bed, tossing rest
lessly. She looked up and her eyes
opened wide.
"Bill!" she cried, holding out her
arms. $50 you did make good. I'm bet
ter already, Uncle Jack"
Uncle Jack stood a moment In
silence, unable to comprehend Just
what had happened. Then he lodged
back into the hall and closed the door
behind him. A puzzled frown on his
forehead, he walked to the end Of the
hall and looked through a window
J1,x, - @In div 1t,hkc 20 c.-l.
Creek.
"That's queer" he growled, as he
filled a blackened, evil-smelling corn
cob pipe and struck a match. "She
seemed to know the doc. Wonder what
he expects to do without a medicine
case?"
At that moment a peal of girlish
laughter came from his niece's room.
Uncle Jack smiled and watched a
dense cloud of smoke spread itself
against She window-pane.
"He seems to be startin' In good,
though" the miner told himself. "That
is the first time I ever heard her
laugh"
Half an hour later Bill emerged
from the hotel and gave the doctor
several vigorous jabs In the ribs.
"Hello, hello, what's up?" groaned
Borden, blinking his eyes. "Don't you
know no better'n wake a gentleman
from sound sleep?"
Bill held out q istful of g%reenbacks.
Here's what I won from you," he
said. 'Tm through playing. I've got q
Job on Jack Jasper's claim-an hon.
est job"