Laramie Holds the Range

  CHAPTER XX

  THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE

  When Sawdy rode into Sleepy Cat next morning it was known that he hadcome from the Reservation and he was besieged for news from the FallingWall. At Kitchen's, where he put up his horse; on his way up street tohis room over McAlpin's pool hall, he was assailed with questions.Pretty accurate reports of the two exciting days in the North countryhad already trickled into Sleepy Cat. To these, Sawdy listened withstolid attention but he managed to add to them very little. Hepossessed to a degree the faculty of talking freely, sententiouslyeven, without contributing anything strictly pertinent to a subject.What he conveyed, when he meant to withhold information, was really nomore than an air of reserve in which wisdom seemed discreetlyrestrained. On this present occasion he realized it would be knownthat he had encountered the raiders the day before at Laramie's--butwhile admitting this profusely, he minimized all else.

  Not until he had bathed, slept, shaved and set himself down nearnightfall at Belle Shockley's did he tell any considerable part of hisstory. But all that prudence would permit he told, or rather, Belledemanded and received at his hands. Where the heart is involved thestrongest men are helpless.

  "I ran into the bunch on my way down, right at Laramie's cabin," Sawdysaid to Belle. "Laramie and Doubleday were having the hottest kind ofa row when I rode up. I made sure we'd be shooting in the next coupleof minutes. But John Lefever was watching pretty close and holding VanHorn. Barb cooled down when he saw three of us on deck. I told him onthe side, the Governor had telephoned Pearson and the Colonel was goingto send cavalry down after them and they'd better scatter. It was abluff, but for a few minutes I had him and Van Horn guessing. Theysaid they'd go home when they got Hawk. Lefever is staying up therefor a day or two."

  "What did they do after that?" demanded Belle, referring to the menwhose names were on everybody's tongues.

  "Beat the bushes from Laramie's to the Reservation," answered Sawdy."Didn't leave a square yard of country unturned from the Falling Wallto the Crazy Woman."

  "Will they ever find Hawk?"

  "Did you ever find a needle in a haystack?"

  "I never looked for one."

  "Them fellows are looking for the stack. They can't locate the hay.Slip me that Worcestershire sauce, Belle. Yours truly. No morepotatoes. This is a good piece of ham, Belle. I wish to God you'dserve a glass of beer with a man's supper."

  "You can get all the supper and all the beer you want at the hotel,"flared Belle. "This is no blind pig----"

  "It's the only place in Main Street, then, that ain't."

  "And it never will be," averred Belle, indignantly.

  "Come up to the hotel with me right now," returned Sawdy coldly, "andI'll buy you a bottle of beer. Bet you ten dollars you da'ssent doit--who the devil--" Sawdy almost choked as the two heard a knock atthe door--"who the devil is that?" he repeated. The door opened andJim Laramie walked in.

  He sent his hat sailing toward a side table, stepped forward and,catching at a chair on the way, greeted Belle and her guest and satdown before a plate cover opposite Sawdy. He pointed to what remainedof Sawdy's supper and, with knife and fork, started in: "There's enoughfor me right here, Belle," he said.

  Sawdy raised his chin: "Not this time, Jim. Not on your life. That'sthe way you always eat my supper."

  "You eat too much, Henry--it will kill you some time," observedLaramie, losing no time in his initiative. He ignored Sawdy's stareand the big man, disgusted, sat dumb: "Don't surrender, Sawdy,"counseled Laramie. "Keep going, and excuse me if I seem to begin."

  Sawdy paused, his knife and fork firmly in hand, but pointinghelplessly into the air: "This is the first square meal I've had fortwo days," he said, as one whose hopes have been dashed.

  "First I've had for ten days," returned Laramie.

  "What are they doing up there, Jim?" asked Sawdy peremptorily.

  "Killing their horses."

  "They won't find him," Sawdy predicted in words inaudible six feet away.

  "I hope not."

  "How's he holding out?"

  "Hard hit, Henry."

  "Will he make it?"

  "You can't kill a cat."

  "Well"--Sawdy resumed his supper, "it's your game, Jim, not mine; butI'd think twice before I'd get that range bunch after me on any man'saccount."

  Laramie's eyes flashed, but he spoke quietly: "I couldn't see Abekilled like a rattlesnake."

  "What are you down for?"

  "I've got to have a couple of needles, a little catgut and some gauze."

  "Where are you going to get them?"

  "Going to steal them over at Doc. Carpy's."

  "Nervy."

  "You can do it for me, Henry."

  "Me?"

  "I'll give you the key to his cabinet."

  "Where'd you get that?"

  "Met him on my way in. He was going up to Pettigrew's to look afterthe wounded. The window in the end of the wing opens into theoperating room, where the supplies are."

  "I'd look fine climbing into a window at two hundred and twenty pounds."

  "It's on the ground floor," returned Laramie, unmoved.

  "What will the family be doing while I'm burgling?"

  "Mrs. Carpy and the girls are in Medicine Bend. The house is empty.When you're through, leave the key in the skull of the skeleton behindthe door."

  Sawdy stared without much enthusiasm at the little key that Laramiepassed to him; then he slipped it without comment into his pocket. Thetalk went on in low, leisurely tones until the second portion of hamhad been served, when both resumed their supper as if nothing had beeneaten or said. Afterward, Laramie spent an hour getting together somethings he needed at home. He met Sawdy later at Kitchen's barn.Sawdy, with abundance of grumbling at his assignment, had the gauze andthe catgut, but he had brought the key back. He could not find thesurgeon's needles. There seemed nothing for it but for Laramie to goto the office and make the search himself. He thought of Belle; shewould do it for him, he knew, but he felt it would not be right to mixher up in what might prove a still more tragic affair. After briefreflection he started for Carpy's himself.

  The doctor's house stood back of Main Street, a block and a half fromthe barn. Laramie walked half a mile to reach it, choosing unlightedways for the trip. The night was dark and by crossing a vacant lot hereached the rear of the house unobserved. The office, divided into aconsulting room and an operating room, consisted of a one-story wingconnecting with the residence--the consulting room adjoining theresidence, the operating room occupying the end of the wing. Thislatter was the room Laramie sought. The window that Sawdy had alreadyburglariously entered, opened easily, and Laramie, standing alone inthe dark room, felt in his pocket for a match.

  He had been in the office more than once before and knew about wherethe cabinet containing the surgical instruments stood. A connectingdoor led from the room he had entered to the office proper. He triedthis. It was unlocked and he left it closed. The curtains of thewindows were drawn and he took a match from his pocket, lighted it andlooked around. The first thing he saw was the articulated skeletonsuspended near the door from the ceiling. It would have been a shockhad he not seen it before and been familiar with the label fastened tothe breastbone reciting that this had once been Flat Nose George, anearly day desperado of the high country.

  Turning from this relic, Laramie set about his work, disdaining toinspect various gruesome specimens in alcohol ranged along a shelf.Aided by an occasional match which he lighted and shielded in his lefthand, he found the cabinet and with his key opened the door. The flameof his match too carefully guarded, flickered in his fingers, failedand went out. He thrust it hastily into one pocket, drew a fresh matchfrom another and was about to scratch it across his leather wristletwhen he heard a door open. The next moment he saw, under the doorleading from his room to the consulting room, a flash of light.

  Awkward as it was to be interrupted, he faced the s
urprise with suchcomposure as he could muster. Who could it be? he asked himself. Thefamily was accounted for, the house locked. He scratched the matchagain. As it flared up he looked into the cabinet, found the packet ofneedles, tore a card of them in two, slipped one piece into a waistcoatpocket and closed the cabinet door. He turned to listen to the officeintruder. Laramie hoped that nothing would bring the unwelcome visitorinto the operating room, but as he stood awaiting developments theunlocked door was pushed open and a tiny flashlight was thrown into theroom in which he stood.

  Fortunately Laramie outside the circle of light was left in the dark.The intruder was a woman. He shrank back and she luckily turned herlight from him but only to encounter, as she stepped forward, Flat NoseGeorge, no less forbidding now than he had been in life. The womanwith the light started back in horror and a sharp little exclamationbetrayed her identity; Laramie was at once aware that he was facingKate Doubleday.

  Nothing could have pleased him less. In so small a room it wasimpossible to escape detection. He could almost hear her breathe andwould have reveled in her presence so close, but that the apprehensionof frightening her weighed on him like a mountain. Hardly daring tobreathe himself he cursed the erratic doctor's skeleton pet--hung, ofall places, where every little while he was cutting people open.

  The skeleton had already set the girl's nerves on edge. What wouldhappen if she discovered a live man as well as the ghastly remains of adead one--not to mention alcoholic clippings from other subnormalnotables of the mountains? With the flashlight she was evidentlysearching for something and Laramie surmised it must be the electriclight switch: "I think," he suggested in as steady a tone as possible,"you'll find the light button to the right of the door behind you."

  He was prepared for a scream or a swoon. Instead, the flashlight wasturned directly on him: "Who are you?" came sharply and quickly frombehind it.

  "I might ask the same question. You can see I'm Jim Laramie. I canguess you're Kate Doubleday."

  "I am, and I've come here for dressings for wounded men at Pettigrew's.What are you doing here?" she demanded, peremptorily.

  His lips were sealed for more reasons than one. Least of all would itdo for him to expose Doctor Carpy's friendliness and embroil him in afeud which Laramie knew he ought to face alone.

  Kate held the light excitedly on him. It was an instant before he hadhis answer in hand: "I've lied to a good many people at different timesabout different things," he said deliberately. "I've still got myfirst lie to tell to you, Kate. And I certainly won't tell it tonight.Don't ask me what I'm doing here. Turn on the light by the door, orlet me do it, so I can see you. You here alone?"

  "No, there are plenty of men outside with me," she exclaimed abruptly.

  "I shouldn't have asked that question," he continued in the same tone."I know you're alone. You say 'men' because you're afraid of me----"

  "I'm not the least afraid of you. And don't deceive yourself. Thereare men here."

  "But they are mostly in bottles, Kate--and in pieces. Live men don'tride up to a place like this without making a noise. Flat Nose Georgeis the only man here besides me, outside the alcohol, and I can claimhim as well as you can."

  "I'm sure you would feel perfectly at home with Flat Nose George," sheretorted swiftly.

  If the words stung, Laramie kept his temper. "Probably there's a gooddeal I deserve that you haven't heard about me," he said slowly. "Butfrom the way you talk, you've heard a few things maybe I don't deserve.Nobody's got any right to class me with Flat Nose George or anybodyelse in Carpy's museum."

  "You've classed yourself with him," she exclaimed vehemently."Defending cattle thieves and harboring them! Everyone knows that!"

  "I did talk rough to your father this morning. I was pretty angry.Just the same, don't believe everything you hear about me. At present,it's just us two. What do you want to do, surrender to me?"

  "No!" she snapped the word out furiously. "I won't, not if you killme."

  "Suppose I surrender to you? What do you want me to do--stick up myhands? So far, they haven't been up--if I remember right. But Iexpect I'll have to learn sometime how to surrender."

  "I want no surrender, no parley with you. The doctor told me his housewas empty and directed me here for the dressings. When I come, I findyou. I'll get away at once. Before I go----"

  "No, I'll go. But let me turn on the light." He stepped to the doorand pressed the button. "I wanted," he continued, as a light floodedthe queer room, "to have just one look at you before I go." She stoodbefore him quite unafraid. Her eyes flashed as if she were actuallymistress of the situation instead of really helpless in the presence ofher father's most resourceful enemy.

  Laramie half-smiled at her serenity: "Why don't you go?" she exclaimed.

  Still regarding her, he shifted his position a little and replied withentire good-nature: "I only live along, from one sight to another ofyou. I'm just filling up, like a man at a spring. You don't object tomy only looking at you for a minute?"

  "I object to being delayed and annoyed," she declared in a blaze."I've come here for dressings needed for wounded men----"

  "Well, so have I, if you must have it."

  "I was sent here by Doctor Carpy for things he wants tonight; you haveno more right here helping yourself to his property than you havetaking other people's."

  "Don't say I take other people's property!" Laramie spoke fiercely."Don't call me a thief." His words burned with anger. "My hands maynot be as white as yours--they're just as clean!"

  Stunned as she might well have been at the outburst, Kate stood herground: "Did Doctor Carpy give you permission to come here tonight?"She shot the words at Laramie without giving him time to breathe.

  Laramie checked the flood of anger he had loosed: "I don't needpermission from Doctor Carpy to come here night or day. Ask him if youwant to," he said with scornful disgust. He sank down on the chair athis side in complete resentment of the whole situation and, leaningforward with a hand spread over one knee and one fist clenched on theother, he stared not at Kate's eyes, but at the floor, with only hertrim boots in his field of vision. "What's the use?" he exclaimed,drawing the words up seemingly all the way from his own disorderly andalkali-stained foot coverings. "What's the use?" he repeated, instronger and more savage tones. "I've treated her from the firstinstant I saw her, and every instant since, as I thought a woman oughtto be treated--would like to be treated. Now I get my reward. Shecalls me a thief--and, my God! I take it. I don't ride out and killher father who taught her to do it, quick as I can reach him; I justtake it!" he exclaimed.

  He hesitated a moment. Then he flung a question at her like athunderbolt: "What do you want here?"

  She was frightened. His rage was plain enough; who could tell thelengths to which it might carry him?

  She kept her dignity but she answered and without quibbling: "I wantsome gauze and some cotton and some medicines."

  He strode to the cabinet and, concealing the movement as he unlocked itwith Carpy's key, he threw open the glass door: "You'd be all nightfinding the stuff," he said curtly, taking the supplies from variouscluttered piles on different shelves. "You say he wants this tonight,"he added, when her packet was complete: "How are you going to get it tohim?"

  "Carry it to him."

  "At Pettigrew's? What do you mean? It would take an experiencedhorseman all night to ride around by Black Creek."

  "I'm going over the pass."

  He could not conceal his anger: "Does your father know that?"

  "He said I might try it."

  Laramie flamed again: "A fine father to send a tenderfoot girl on anight ride into a country like that!"

  She was defiant: "I can ride anywhere a man can."

  "Let me tell you," he faced her and his eyes flashed, "if you tryriding 'anywhere' too often, some night your father's daughter willfail to get home!"

  Ignoring the door, he stepped to the open window by whi
ch he hadentered and, springing through it, was gone.