nst your bets, there's three thousand if there's a
dollar, and quit. Come on."

The greatness of the opportunity staggered them.

Then they flung themselves upon it. "It's a go!" "Come on!" "Give us
your cards!" Quickly the cards were dealt. One by one the men made
up their hands. The crowd about crushed in upon them in breathless
excitement. Never had there been seen in that camp so reckless a stake.

"Now, then, show down," growled "Mexico."

The doctor laid down his cards face up. One by one they compared their
hands. He had won. With an oath "Mexico" made a grab for the pile,
reaching for his hip at the same time with the other hand, but the
doctor was first, and before anyone could move or speak "Mexico" was
lying in the corner, his toes quivering above his upturned chair.

"Look after the brute, someone. He doesn't understand the game," said
the doctor with cool contempt, crumpling up the bills and pushing them
down into his pocket. "Where's your sick man?"

"This way, doctor," said Shorty, hurrying out toward the sleigh. The
doctor passed him on a run.

"What does this mean?" he cried. "Why haven't you got him inside
somewhere?"

"That's what I say, docthor," answered Tommy, "but the bloody haythen
wudn't let him in."

"How's this, Swipey?" said the doctor sternly, turning to the
saloon-keeper, who still stood in the door.

"He's not comin' in here. How do I know what he's got?"

"I'll take that responsibility," replied the doctor. "In he goes. Here,
take him up on the robe, men. Steady, now."

Swipey hesitated a moment, but before he could make up his mind what to
do, the doctor was leading his men with their burden past the bar door.

"Show us a room at the back, Swipey, upstairs. It must be warm. Be quick
about it."

Swearing deep oaths, Swipey led the way. "It must be warm, eh? Want a
bath in it next, I suppose."

"This will do," said the doctor when they reached the room. "Now, clear
out, men. I want one of you. You'll do, Shorty." Without hurry, but
with incredible speed and dexterity, he had the man undressed and in bed
between heated blankets. "Now, hold the light. We'll take a look at his
throat. Heavens above! Stay here, Shorty, till I come back."

He ran downstairs, and, bareheaded as he was, plunged through the storm
to his office, returning in a few minutes with his medical bag and two
hot-water bottles.

"We're too late, Shorty, I fear, but we'll do our best. Get these full
of