et home! No use
us shtandin here longer--gassin' like a bunch av ould washer-wimmin full
av gin an' throuble."

In silence they trudged on to the detachment. "'Ome, sweet 'ome! be it
never so 'umble!" quoth Yorke, as they reached their destination, "Hullo!
who's this coming along?" Shading his eyes with his hand he gazed down
the trail. "Looks like Doctor Cox and Lanky."

The trio stared at the approaching buckboard which contained two
occupants. "Sure is," said Redmond, "out to some case west of here, I
suppose."

They hailed the physician cheerily, as presently he drew up to the
detachment. "Fwhere away, Docthor?" queried Slavin. "Will ye not shtop
an' take dinner wid us, yu' an' Lanky? 'Tis rarely we see yez in these
parts now."

"Eh, sorry!" remarked that gentleman, climbing out of the rig and
stretching his cramped limbs, "got to get on to Horton's, though. One of
their children's sick. Thanks, all the same, Sergeant." Glancing round
at his teamster he continued in lowered tones, "There's a little matter
I'd like to speak to you fellows about."

"Sure!" agreed Slavin, quickly. "Come inside thin, Docthor."

The party entered the detachment and, seating themselves, gazed
enquiringly at their visitor. For a space he surveyed them reflectively,
a perturbed expression upon his usually genial countenance. His first
words startled them.

"It's about your J.P., Mr. Gully," he began. "This incident, mind, is
closed absolutely--as far as he and I are concerned; but, under the
circumstances, which to say the least struck me as being mighty peculiar,
I--well! . . . I don't think it's any breach of medical etiquette on my
part telling you about it.

"For some time past now I've been treating Gully for insomnia. Man first
came to me seemingly on the verge of a nervous breakdown through it.

"I prescribed him some pretty strong opiates--strong as I dare--and for a
time he seemed to get relief. But a couple of days ago he came around
and--my God! . . . Say! if I hadn't known him for a man who drinks very
little I'd have sworn he was in the D.T.'s."

The doctor's rotund figure stiffened slightly in his seat, and his genial
face hardened to a degree that was in itself a revelation to his
audience. Without any semblance of bravado he continued quietly, "I hope
I possess as much physical pluck as most men--I guess you fellows aren't
aware of it, but many years back I too wore the Queen's uniform--Surgeo