- Jason brings fear on the town when he brings a sick friend in to see a female doctor, whom the town believes is not a good doctor. After his friend dies and she determines Jason is now ill, he agrees to stay under her care so she can treat him with medication that will help cure him, but Jason has many obstacles he must fight if he wants to stay alive!—Michelle
- Yellow For Courage
Jason drove a wagon into town one day. His face was broken out in sweat and he looked pretty sickly. Jason stopped in front of the newspaper office and asked, Do you know where I can find a Dr. Miller?
Dr. Miller the man muttered. Mister, if youre sick, you better get to Doc Shackley. His office is right there.
I want Dr. Miller, where? Jason asked weakly.
Its your funeral
Where? Jason questioned again. The man told him where to go. Jason wasted no time.
The man walked into the barber/doctors office and asked the Sheriff, Bernie, to come with him. You can finish his save later, Doc.
Im not a customer, Beckett, Im a patient, the sheriff grumbled. The doctor said he had some pretty bad bumps on the back of his neck. The sheriff wanted to know the trouble.
Well, a big fellow came riding into town on a buckboard. He acted peculiarkinda panicky. He just didnt look right on that wagon. Hes sure no farmer. Well, Ive got an idea hes up to something thats going to make a story for my paper. The doctor declared Bernie wasnt going anywhere until he was done treating him. Beckett told the doctor to hurry up.
Jason made it to the doctors office. Dr. Miller was a woman. She noticed how sickly he looked and told him he didnt have to knock. No no, its not meits a friend of mine in the wagon. He was helping me do some surveying work. He was too sick to walk.
The doctor got finished with the sheriff and turned back to Beckett and asked him if he figured the stranger was wanted. Beckett thought that could be the case.
Jason took Dr. Miller out to the wagon and pulled back the blanket. He told her that he was told she was the only one that could help him. Dr. Miller was amazed they had traveled fifty miles to see her. She told Jason they needed to get him inside.
Back at the Doc Shackleys office, Beckett was telling the men that Jason had something under a blanket and insisted on seeing Karen Miller. Miller? Well, why would he go to her instead of me if he wants a doctor? Unless maybe hes an outlaw and hes got one of his wounded pals underneath that canvas.
The men wasted no time in going to see about the stranger at Dr. Millers. They burst into her office and hurried to the back. Whats going on in here? the sheriff asked. This man been shot?
Hes sick, Jason answered. The sheriff asked him who he is. A friend of mine.
Im sorry, Dr. Miller said softly to Jason. But Im afraid your friend is dead.
Jason was grieved at her news. Whats your name, mister? Beckett rudely asked.
Jason McCord.
Jason McCord? From Bitter Creek?
Just Jason McCord.
Howd he die? one of the men asked. Jason was so grieved he couldnt answer. You sure he wasnt shot? Jason still said nothing. Hey you! At his touch, Jason turned to him.
I was toldDr. Miller could cure diphtheria.
Diphtheria? Doc Shackley repeated. Well thats contagious! Stay away from him, thats dangerous! Look at himsoak and wet. Sure looks like diphtheria. Well, I aint getting any closer to check.
You drove something like that into this town? Beckett accused Jason. Maybe youve got the disease yourself.
Finally, Dr. Miller spoke, but directly to Jason as she grasped his hand and stared at him. You do have the symptoms, Mr. McCord. But I think I can help you.
Now, weve put up with a lot of meddling nonsense with you, Karen. But this is one time youve gone too far, Doc Shackley declared. Youre not keeping that fellow here to try out your crazy ideas. He called Jason a menace and wanted him out right away.
That made Dr. Miller mad. If you send him away, hell die! She was clinging to Jason now, trying to protect him.
Doctor, do you think youcan help me?
Yes. I think I can. Beckett called her a fool. Keeping him there could cause an epidemic.
Well maybe the epidemics already started just by my coming here. Wouldnt it be better for you and the whole town to know that the doctor can help you if you were struck down? The doc told Ab not to listen to him.
He wants to risk the whole town just to save his own life!
Alright, Doc, thats enough! Beckett declared. He told Karen to experiment on him like a genie pig, but she was to keep him locked up in her office tight until she cured him or he died. And Doc, you put a big quarantine sign on the door of this office. Tell folks to give it a wide berth. Doc declared that he certainly would!
Before the Sheriff left, he promised Jason that if he stepped foot out of the office, hed shoot him down like a dog with rabies!
She treated him, telling him she was positive he had the disease. She tied a yellow armband around his arm to warn others to stay away from him.
Suddenly, shooting erupted outside. Jason hurried out onto the porch to find bank robbers trying to escape. He did some shooting, but only one man managed to go down. The rest rushed out of town.
The banker hurried into the street and ran up to Jason and Dr. Miller. I sure do want to thank you, mister! He held the money bag. Jasons fast actions had saved his bank a lot of money. But Doc Shackleycame in and ordered the men to back up, telling them all that Jason had diphtheria.
Yes. And hes going to be cured!
By you? The doc asked sarcastically. Jason agreed with her. Oh, dont believe that, folks! You know who your doctor is! Ive been treating all of you for years!
With your magic elixir thats mostly alcohol? It may ease the pain, but it doesnt cure anything!
You made yourself a hero a little too late, McCord! Beckett declared then. You made yourself a hero a little too late! Now get back in there.
Jason started to explain what Dr. Miller was doing. I know what Dr. Miller is trying to do. Shes trying to start an epidemic so there will be too many sick ones for me to handle, giving her a good chance to move in where she aint wanted! Sides, shes a fool woman and a foreigner to boot, and we just dont need her kind of doctoring!
Dr. Miller studied a sample of Jasons blood through the microscope while Jason slept. She was worried and went in to check on Jason. He woke at the feel of the cloth on his forehead. He asked her if the medicine was working. She said it would take time. Suppose it doesnt work? Jason asked.
I thought you believed in me.
I do, but maybe the bacteria dont.
Dr. Miller reminded Jason that faith was a part of any cure. You may get worse for awhile. If you do,
If I do?
Youll experience trouble with your ears. Theyll be inflammation of the lungs. Paralysis of the nerves and finally spreading of membranes to the larynx which could cause heart failure or suffocation. Jason laughed. I once knew this scout who got trampled to death by a heard of stampeding buffalo. Wait until I tell them my story.
Im afraid you really dont trust me.
Jason reached for her hand. I doI doYou know why? Your eyesthey tell me to.
Its not a very scientific reason, Dr. Miller said softly. But I like it. You need rest and absolute quiet for the serum to work. She told Jason his next injection would be at midnight.
She quietly left the room, only to be grabbed from behind. A hand went over her mouth to keep her from screaming. The man asked her who she was talking to and she told him it was a patient. She also told him she was the doctor. He wasnt really happy with it, but told her he didnt have time to be picky. His partner was bad off with a bullet hole. She had to go with him. I cant go with you. I have a patient and hell die.
Forget him! My brother needs you or hell die! the outlaw stated.
She started to take the medicine back into Jasons room, but Collins grabbed her and took the medicine from her. That wont do your partner any good. My patient needs it desperately!
Well take it anyhow, Collins declared angrily.
PleaseLet me leave him a not so he can get some more medication, maybe another doctor. Then Ill do all I can for your brother. She quickly wrote the note out and gave to him to see. Whats that? he asked after looking at the note.
Latin, she answered.
What good will that do him?
It may save his life. She stuck it someplace he could find it as Collins grabbed her and pulled her from the office.
It was 10:10 pm when she left her office. The clock quickly turned to 3:30 AM. Jason woke up, realizing it was time for another dose of medicine. DoctorDoctor, its 3:30, Jason croaked. It was past time for him to take his medicine. When Karen didnt answer him, Jason stumbled out of bed and weakly opened the door. He leaned heavily on the door jam, announcing again that it was 3:30.
He realized she wasnt there. Stumbling further into the room, Jason found the note and took it in his hand. Periculum Domus Lupina Monta, it read. He was able to translate the Latin. It told him there was trouble at a house on Wolf Hill. Jason went back into the room and grabbed his coat and hat.
Unfortunately, Karen was unable to save the outlaw. This was not a good thing for her. Jason weakly rode toward the house. He found it.
Its a good thing too, because the outlaw was really getting mad. He was alive when you got here. Now you killed him. Stupid woman doctor! he muttered. She assured him the bullet killed him, but the outlaw didnt feel like she had tried hard enough.
The human heart isnt like a water pump. You cant prime it when it stops working. She went to prepare to leave.
Dont both about sending no bill, doctor. Im gonna pay you just what youre worth!
I told you I did what I could.
Just then, the door opened and Jason stumbled in. He grabbed Jason who was gasping for breath. He recognized Jason as the one who had shot Charlie. He dragged Jason over to the bed and lifted the blanket. Do you remember him? Karen begged the outlaw to take it easy Jason was a very sick man. Im gonna gun you down the same way you gunned down Charlie!
He flung Jason across the room. Jason was so weak he just laid across the table, trying to lift his weak body up. How bad off is he?
Without medication hell die, Karen answered.
Good. Lets watch him do it. Collins lifted Jason up by the front of his shirt. Lets give him some medication! Collins and his friend started shoving Jason back and forth until he collapsed weakly.
Doctor Jason mumbled breathlessly. Tell them why I need the medicine.
This man has diphtheria.
Diphtheria? Charlie questioned then. Anyone that touches him can catch the disease. The germs are deadly. All you need is contact, and YOUVE had contact.
Thats right, Jason said. NowWere all in the same fix. Collins wanted to know what she could do to help them. She held up the bottle and he wondered if there was enough for all of them. Karen tried to keep Collins distracted as she told him that Jason needed the medicine the most.
The doctor Jason cocked his gun. is making you an even trade. Your lifefor your gun.
Collins put his hand on his gun.
Drop it, Jason warned.
BANG!
Collins tried to draw. Jason shot him down fast. He turned his gun on Collins partner. The samegoes for you, mister. Drop your gun.
Karen told Jason to take his coat off. She filled the syringe with medicine and went to give him the shot.
The towns people were singing a different tune. They all agreed that Dr. Millers medicine had indeed cured Jason. She was going to get quite the write-up in the paper. Doc Shackley was quite upset.
Doctor Miller, we owe you more than just an apology, Mr. Beckett told her as he shook her hand. She thanked him.
She took the yellow band off Jasons arm. Ironic, isnt it?
What?
Yellow can also be the color of courage. With that, Jason said goodbye, left her office, and rode out of town.
So, even on his death bed, Jason McCord was able to save the day!
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