The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-02-06
EVENING STORY
Doctor Bill.
BY r. RAY BAKER.
Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)

Will care whole lot IOr man VINO
doesn't amount to much.
Such girl was Grace Winton. Such
a young man was Bill Blake. Not
much romantic about those names.
you will say, but-well, they had their
little romance.
1t started when they were in high
school, and it continued after Grace
was graduated and Bill was notified
his presence was no longer required
just because he stole the clapper from
the bell, stacked all the students
books in one corner of the assembly
ROOM. beat the physical geography
teacher so that he was obliged to
spend three days in bed and per-
formed sundry other pranks not in
Guided in the school curriculum.
Upon graduation Grace took up
teaching music and upon quituation
Bill took up playing pool. While he
was able, because of his skill, to keep
himself clothed and fed, his business
was not such as to warrant venture
| in matrimony; and. moreover. Grace's
parents objected strenuously to having
their daughter marry a man who
didn't even pretend to work and was
a 'shiftless, good-for- nothing"
However, Grace managed to see Bill
occasionally and they continued to
plan what would happen when he
s.made good This couldn't last long,
| because Ellsworth was a small town
and soon Grace's friends began to
sneer at her for encouraging man
who didn't have job and didn't
want one"
Now Bill, despite his shortcomings,
had a good deal of affection for Grace,
and when he heard some of this talk
he took an inventory of himself,
looked the future squarely in the face,
and decided Grace was too good for
him. Shortly thereafter he boarded
I'll. arnfo
the postoff1ce for Grace. The note
said:
Goodbye, Grace. I'm leaving for
parts unknown. If I ever make good
I'll come back, but don't wait, because
probably won't do either
1t struck Grace like a thunderbolt
out of clear sky. Bill was the only
man she had ever cared for-the only
one she ever could care for, she told
herself; and she no doubt was right,
for she was not the tickle minded
kind.
Two weeks later, after waiting in
vain for letter, she went to bed, on
the verge of serious illness. The ply
stefan said it was nervousness, mel
ancholy or dyspepsia. She would be
all right in short time, he gave as
surance. AS matter of fact, a brok-
en- heart was all that allied her, and
for that there is only one cure-mend-
ing by the breaker.
When Grace grew thinner and lost
her appetite altogether. the physician
admitted he was puzzled and advised
mountain afr. Her parents were not
puzzled. They knew just what was
wrong, but agreed that change of
climate might be for the best. They
had been overjoyed when Bill left
town, conffden that Grace soon would
forget him and become interested in
some nice young man. but now that
affairs had taken a critical turn they
would have consented to send Bill the
money to come back, only there was
no clew to his whereabouts.
Mr.. Winton could not afford to leave
his grocery, SO his wife packed two
trunks and four suitcases and left
with Grace for Sandy Greek, min
ing town high in the Colorado
Rockies. Sandy Creek was selected
becau.:e Mrs. Winton had a brother
who had struck mine out there and
also because the physician had adj
vised ''roughing it,.
One evening, a month later, there
was unusual excitement in Sandy
Creeks Poison Bill Saloon. Doctor
Borden, more noted for adeptnesS at
poker than at medicine, was playing a
''champeen match" with King Spakes,
the young gambler who had blew
i'm recently and became famous over
night by trimming Hank Hummer,
II,
cred the most expert card player in
Sandy Creek.
The ''champeen match was the !
first meeting of Doctor Borden and
King Spades"and the latter was win
ming just enough to prompt the doctor
to indulge in frequent drinks from a
black flask In fact, an hour after
the game started, with Kings stack
of 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 a. hurry at the Peerless hotel.
Jack Jarvis has just driven in with |
his niece from his claim, and she's |
some SICK the barkeeper asserted.
No one present expected Borden to
leave a .ehampeen match" for mere |
professional call, but he had imbibed
inst enough to make him erratic. and !
he said he would 60
Surely not in your present condl-
t;on,' exclaimed king. You're not
capable of doctorlnS even d cat Ju'@
now"
The doctor glared at him.
"Looka here, young Teller, ne de-
cIared I'm a better doctor drunk !
than sober. I've heerd bout JACK |
Jarvis 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 |
opponent
aGoing 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 flivver.
a moment later the flivver was |
staggering along the street headed for |
the hotel at the other end of 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