The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-11-15
CHAPTER xIII-Continued


CHAPTER XIIT-Continued
H.
elbow are things going out there?"
achoed the doctor. ''Not very well.
But for that matter, where are they
going well in California? Everything
Is upset. Politics boiling, lawless-
ness growing, gringos and these
damned Mexicans squabbling; and
then, to cap everything else for me,
smallpox all over the coast. Bowie,
need an assistant. You'd better
join up with me-"
But Bowie was serious. What's
wrong at Guadalupe?" he asked as
casually as possible.
s'Don Ramon is down with small
pox, they say. An Indian brought
word from Dona Maria asking me to
come right away and vaccinate ev-
erybody; and virus here is scarce.
They're in a panic"
Naturally" said Bowie.
THAT'S only part of it," growled
the surgeon. Fremont steals their
horses; bushwackers steal their cat
tie; the damned gringo squatters
are stealing their land; and that's
the way things are going at all the
ranches. Bowie, I'm riding out to
Guadalupe right after dinner; take
dinner with me and ride out, too. !"
Sorry. I've made an appoint
ment with Nathan Spear-he was
here yesterday-to meet him in San
Francisco tomorrow morning"
'That will keep"
Bowie shook his head. "He's 60
ing down to Santa Barbara tomor-
row."
DR.. Doane did not give up the
fight to make Bowie ride out with
him, but he failed in it. The Texan
was stubborn.
81 shall tell them you were mean
about il"
Bowie raised his hand in quick pro-
test. "Tell them nothing about me
mot even that / am in California, T"
said Bowie. ''I'm not joking, Doc
tor" he added bluntly.
Have it your own way" sput-
tered the surgeon.
But on reaching the rancho DR..
Doane was sorry he had assented
to the Texans Injunction. The whole
atmosphere of the rancho was
nournful. Two almost helpless
women-Carmen was the only one
with any courage left, and she had
more courage than the experience
needed in managing and directing
vaqueros. q, sra
But the doctor brought one great
ray of sunshine to the gloom. Don
Ramon, he announced definitely, did
not have the smallpox: he pro-
nounced his illness chicken pox.
Dona Maria and Carmen drew deep
breaths Of relief.
That evening at supper the two
women asked SO many questions Of
the doctor, and these were SO pa
thetic in tenor, that he was hard
put to it to give them consolation.
Dona Maria sighed deeply when
the doctor tried to offer cheer.
eff only Senior Bowie were with
usi" she said. Nothing has seemed
to, 60 right since he left"
''Why did he leave?" asked the
doctor casually, though he knew the
answer.
''TIe thought he could better HIM
self up the river y
''Why, Mother" exclaimed Car
,,on,, cr;,,o coripo ss1o,, knnuy III af'Q
not the reason. Mother doesn't
want to blame me, Doctor-that's
ALL" ~ '-' s.
"Ahi" smiled Doane. ga heart
affair" u 3
"But surely that would not send
him away back to Texas" coun-
tered Dona Maria gently. Sanchez
tells us he went"
The surgeon had his ears open.
"You can never tell, Dona Maria"
said he, as to how far these heart
affairs will carry a man. Some men
would think halfway around the
world not far enough. Much would
depend, should think, on how deep
the wound"
II think all this is very silly talk,
exclaimed Carmen almost explo-
sively. Up to this point she had
maintained q reserve so even that
her medical busybody could hardly
formulate much Of an inference as
to her feelings. But he had now
worked his probe deep enough to
excite resentment. She rose inpa-
tiently to her feet. "Senor Bowie"
she went on, sis a gentleman Of
sense and intelligence.
81 thought him cowboy" purred
the doctor.
"a cowboy who has attended
Georgetown University" She spoke
with heat. sSenor Bowie is a cabal-
lero, not vaquero! If you had ever
talked with him you'd know he is a
gentleman of sense, not likely to be
seriously upset because an insignifi-
cant girl declined his hand" With
the words she walked Indignantly
from the room.
''Senorita!" called the doctor aft
er her, but she did not hear.
ssP1ease iona Maria {" he contin-