re losing your grip."

"Who says?"

"Oh, I hear it everywhere."

"Guess it must be right, then," replied "Mexico," grimly.

"And they say he's got a line on you, 'Mexico,' getting you right up to
the mourners' bench."

"Do, eh?"

"Look here, 'Mexico,'" said McKenty, dropping his bantering tone,
"you're not going to let the blank preacher-doctor combination work you,
are you?"

"Don't know about that."

"You don't?"

"No. But I do know that there ain't any other combination kin. I'm
working for myself in this game. If any combination wants to shove my
way, they can jump in. They'll quit when it don't pay to shove, I guess.
Me the same. You fellers ain't any interest in me, I reckon."

"Well, do you imagine the doctor has?"

"Mexico" paused, then said thoughtfully, "Blanked if I can git on to his
game!"

"Oh, come, 'Mexico,' you can't get on to him? He's working you. You
don't really think he has your interest at heart?"

"Can't quite tell." "Mexico" wore a vexed and thoughtful air. "Wish I
could. If I thought so I'd--"

"What?"

"Tie up to him tight, you bet your eternal life!" There was a sudden
gleam from under "Mexico's" heavy brows and a ring in his usually
drawling voice, that sufficiently attested his earnestness. "There ain't
too many of that kind raound."

"What do you think of that?" inquired the editor, as "Mexico" sauntered
out of the door.

"Think? I think there's a law against gamblers in this province and it
ought to be enforced."

"That means war," said the editor.

"Well, let it come. That doctor is the whole trouble, I can see. I'd
give a thousand dollars down to see him out of the country."

But there was no sign that the doctor had any desire to leave the
country, and all who knew him were quite certain that until he should
so desire, leave he would not. All through the winter he went about his
work with a devotion that taxed even his superb physical strength to
the uttermost. In addition to his work as Medical Superintendent of
the railroad he had been asked to take oversight of the new coal mines
opening up here and there in the Pass, which brought him no end of both
labour and trouble. The managers of the mines held the most primitive
ideas in regard to both safety in operating a mine and sanitation of
miners' quarters. Consequently, the doctor had to enter upon a long
campaign of education. It was an almost hopeless task. The directors
were remote from the ground and we