and bring him up to the house to me and I'll give 

 you a five- dollar bill." The good Doctor never for 

 a moment thought there would be a response to his 

 generous proffer, and the topic was dropped and lost 

 sight of, until, as I have stated, six young summer 

 months had passed away. 



It was a cool, snappish evening. The air was crisp, 

 the owl hooted and the distant screech of the B. & O. 

 locomotive sounded shrill and clear, the only sound 

 of civilization. A party of friends occupied the broad 

 veranda of the rustic club house. Their laughing and 

 singing was interrupted suddenly by the approach of 

 a tall, long, lean individual attired in humble clothes 

 with pants in his boots, and who carried a box under 

 his arm. Stepping from the gravel path onto the 

 porch he said, "Gemmen, is der docta hea" ? "Doctor 

 who," was asked by all. "Doctor 'Bin," responded 

 the stranger/ "Doctor Harban is here," said one of 

 the party, "Well, dat's der man." At this the spokes- 

 man for the party proceeded to find the doctor and in 

 a few moments returned with him. "Well sir, what 

 will you have? I am Doctor Harban." "Wall, doctor 

 I hea' yer givin' five dollers fer rattlers and I brought 

 yer up a couple." "Rattlers," remarked the Doctor 

 with emphasis, at which time the entire party of 

 associates and friends began to beat a retreat. "I 

 don't want any rattlers." "Wall, I was tol' so by der 

 man on der road." Explanations followed and the 

 Doctor compromised matters by remunerating the 

 stranger for his trouble and the further burden of 

 carrying the box of snakes as far off as he could 

 to complete the job by killing them. 



It is useless to say, congratulations were in order 

 and the doctor has never been charged with having 



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