nconscious of the momentous question awaiting its decision, slept on
peacefully.

"I brought the keg of whiskey and brandy from Red Gulch to-day that
Doctor Duchesne spoke of," he resumed presently. "You know he said we
ought to have some in common stock that he could always rely upon in
emergencies, and for use after the tule fever. I didn't agree with him,
and told him how I had brought Sam Denver through an attack with quinine
and arrowroot, but he laughed and wanted to know if we'd 'resolved'
that everybody should hereafter have the Denver constitution. That's
the trouble with those old army surgeons,--they never can get over the
'heroics' of their past. Why he told Parson Jennings that he'd rather
treat a man for jim-jams than one that was dying for want of stimulants.
However, the liquor is here, and one of the things we must settle
tomorrow is the question if it ought not to be issued only on Duchesne's
prescription. When I made that point to him squarely, he grinned again,
and wanted to know if I calculated to put the same restriction on the
sale of patent medicines and drugs generally."

"'N powder 'n shot," contributed the indifferent man.

"Perhaps you'd better take a look at the liquor, Saunders," said Parks,
dismissing the ethical question. "YOU know more about it than we do. It
ought to be the best."

Saunders went behind the counter, drew out two demijohns, and, possibly
from the force of habit, selected THREE mugs from the crockery and
poured some whiskey into each, before he could check himself.

"Perhaps we had better compare tastes," said Brace blandly. They all
sipped their liquor slowly and in silence. The decision was favorable.
"Better try some with water to see how it mixes," said Saunders,
lazily filling the glasses with a practiced hand. This required more
deliberation, and they drew their chairs to the table and sat down. A
slight relaxation stole over the thoughtful faces of Brace and Parks,
a gentle perspiration came over the latter's brow, but the features and
expression of Saunders never changed. The conversation took a broader
range; politics and philosophy entered into it; literature and poetry
were discussed by Parks and Brace, Saunders still retaining the air of
a dispassionate observer, ready to be convinced, but abstaining from
argument--and occasionally replenishing the glasses. There was felt to
be no inconsistency between their present attitude and their previous
conversation