"Pinckney," says I, as we was puttin' up in Newport, "you know all sorts of crackerjacks. Got any expert eye doctors on your list?"

He chews that over a minute or so, and concludes that he has, a Dr. Jason Craige, who's right here in town.

"He's the real thing, is he?" says I.

"Most skillful oculist in the country," says Pinckney, "and charges accordingly."

"As high as fifty a throw?" says I.

"Fifty!" says Pinckney. "You should see his Cliff Walk cottage."

"Let's," says I. "There's a friend of mine I'd like to have him take a look at to-morrow."

"No use," says Pinckney. "He drops his practice entirely during his vacation; wouldn't treat an Emperor then, I've heard him say. He's a good deal of a crank on that--and billiards."

"But see here, Pinckney," says I, and I goes on to give him the whole tale about Beany, puttin' it over as strong as I knew how.

"Sorry," says Pinckney; "but I know of no way in which I could induce him to change his custom. He's Scotch, you know, and as obstinate as---- Hold on, Shorty! I've an idea. How strong will you back my game of billiards?"

Now of all the erratic cue performers I ever watched, Pinckney gets the medal. There's times when he can nurse 'em along the cushion and run up quite a string, and then again I've seen him play a game any duffer'd be ashamed of. But I begins to smell out his scheme.

"If it means a chance for Beany," says I, "I'll bid good-by to five twenties and let you do your worst."

"A wager of that sort would tempt Craige, if anything would," says Pinckney. "We'll try it on, anyway."

Whether it was the bluff Pinckney threw, or the insultin' way he suggests that the Doc don't dare take him up, I can't say. All I know is that inside of half an hour we was in Jason Craige's private billiard room, him and Pinckney peeled down to their shirts, and at it.

As a rule I could go to sleep watchin' the best three-ball carom game ever played; but durin' this contest I holds the marker's stick and never misses a move. First off Pinckney plays about as skillful as a trained pig practicin' on the piano; but after four or five minutes of punk exhibition he takes a brace and surprises himself.

No need going into details. Pinckney wins out, and the Doc slams his cue into the rack with some remark about producin' the charity patient to-morrow. Did I? I routs Renee out at daylight next mornin', has him make a fifty-mile run at Vanderbilt Cup speed, and we has Beany in the eye expert's lib'ry before he comes down for breakfast.

It takes Dr. Craige less'n three minutes to discover that the hospital hand who told Beany he was bound to lose both lamps was a fat brained nut who'd be more useful drivin' an ashcart. The Doc lays Beany out on a leather couch, uses a little cocaine in the right place, monkeys around a minute or so with some shiny hardware, and announces that after he's laid up for twenty-four hours in a dark room, usin' the wash reg'lar, he'll be able to see as well as any of us.

It's a fact, too; for Beany goes back on his old job next Monday mornin'.

"By Jove!" says Pinckney, after the trick is turned. "A miracle, Craige!"

"Miracle be blowed!" says the Doc. "You accomplished the miracle last night, Pinckney, when you ran thirty-two buttons on scratch hits."

THE END

THE NOVELS OF GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON

May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset and Dunlap's list.

GRAUSTARK. Illustrated with Scenes from the Play.

With the appearance of this novel, the author introduced a new type of story and won for himself a perpetual reading public. It is the story of love behind a throne in a new and strange country.

BEVERLY OF GRAUSTARK. Illustrations by Harrison Fisher.

This is a sequel to "Graustark." A bewitching American girl visits the little principality and there has a romantic love affair.

PRINCE OF GRAUSTARK. Illustrations by A. I. Keller.

The Prince of Graustark is none other than the son of the heroine of "Graustark." Beverly's daughter, and an American multimillionaire with a brilliant and lovely daughter also figure in the story.

BREWSTER'S MILLIONS.

Illustrated with Scenes from the Photo-Play.

A young man, required to spend one million dollars in one year, in order to inherit _seven_, accomplishes the task in this lively story.

COWARDICE COURT.

Illus. by Harrison Fisher and decorations by Theodore Hapgood.

A romance of love and adventure, the plot forming around a social feud in the Adirondacks in which an English girl is tempted into being a traitor by a romantic young American.

THE HOLLOW OF HER HAND. Illustrated by A. I. Keller.

A story of modern New York, built around an ancient enmity, born of the scorn of the aristocrat for one of inferior birth.

WHAT'S-HIS-NAME. Illustrations by Harrison Fisher.

"What's-His-Name" is the husband of a beautiful and popular actress who is billboarded on Broadway under an assumed name. The very opposite manner in which these two live their lives brings a dramatic climax to the story.

Ask for Complete free list of G. & D. Popular Copyrighted Fiction Grosset & Dunlap, Publishers, New York

ZANE GREY'S NOVELS

May be had wherever books are sold. Ask for Grosset & Dunlap's list

THE LIGHT OF WESTERN STARS

A New York society girl buys a ranch which becomes the center of frontier warfare. Her loyal superintendent rescues her when she is captured by bandits. A surprising climax brings the story to a delightful close.

THE RAINBOW TRAIL

The story of a young clergyman who becomes a wanderer in the great western uplands--until at last love and faith awake.

DESERT GOLD