Show f N NDoc CHAPTER II IID t Doc D oc Joe and the Judge were at the F King Ring Cole Ranch almost as soon as the young Mexican They found t four of the ranch hands hanging around the house scraping dirt with the toes of their sided lop boots look- look lookIng looking looking Ing as though they didn't mean to look worried At the sound of speeding speed- speed speedIng speeding Ing hoofs and wheels they jerked up their heads and one man came out of the house a small mahogany mahogany- brown man who looked as hard as nails n ns and was harder than he looked Early Bills Bill's foreman Cal Round Round- tree Howdy gents he said and sounded surly as though he resented their coming Come on in They went In and found old Early Bill sitting in his big chair He looked more dead than alive You darned old fool snorted Doc Joe He put his bag down took off his coat and rolled up his sleeves What did you shoot yourself for Or far as that goes why the hell didn't you do it long ago Think I like to go all over the country for the likes of you Howdy Judge Howdy Judge said the old man by way of most beautifully ignoring ig ig- ignoring ignoring noring Doc Joe and all aU his words Ive got to get you onto a bed Bill said Doc Joe I cant can't get at you right this way sitting on a chair I aint ant going to bed Most likely working me over youre you're going to kill me anyhow and if Ive I've got to get murdered Id I'd like it better sit sit- sitting sitting ting up If U the old buzzard wont won't go to tobed bed bcd Judge being that superstitious and scared of dying because of the devil waiting to grab him said Doc Joe lend me a hand to heave his old carcass up on this here ta ta- ta ble Now Bill BilI you come off your high horse and do as I say or Ill I'll bat your brains out If U I had bad any brains you pill pill- roller grumbled Early Bill do you think Id I'd let you put your mur mur- murdering murdering murdering dering hands on me The two helped him to stand and with what small aid he could give them got him stretched out on top of the table Doc Joes Joe's skilful hands bands whether or not murderous swiftly denuded him from neck to belly- belly bellyband bellyband bellyband band and removed the shift make bandage Then for a time the phy phy- physician and and there was not a more skilled within riding range of Bald BaldEagle Eagle kept Eagle kept his tongue in his mouth and gave himself shrewdly to his work The Judge stood by watching in ina ina ina a detached sort of way as though willing enough to stick around in incase incase incase case a hand band were needed but mildly bored The men outside stood look- look lookIng looking looking Ing in at the open door only Cal Roundtree came in he didn't know that he was walking on tip toes Sometime later when Early Bill Cole returned to a misty sort of con con- consciousness consciousness he made out that he was in his bed undressed bound about with what he judged Jo to be a couple of miles mUes of bandage and stuffed into one of his tailed long night gowns At the moment somehow he didn't care He had stirred very slightly and andon on the instant the two old cronies of his popped into hIs bis room Well he demanded as sharply as he be could manage You sure bled like a stuck Doc Joe told him Who shot you Bill Dill I wouldn't know Doc that's the hell of it Say Sayi 1 If U you boys happen to e a feller wearing a light col ore ored Stetson with a hole In It or It-or or wearing no hat tall a-tall or tall or one brand new out of the store store But But lets let's take up business before pleasure as the feller says Got my comeuppance for certain this trip huh Doc I sort of reckon Bill he be said laid t pulling at his lower lip that it wont won't be fired all long now before this Is a better cleaner world world and and me and the Judge will be winning a couple of bets limit said Early Bill BW Then that crooked and somehow endearing old grin Erin of his came back just a ghost of what it used to be but still sUll there like a flicker icker of winter sunlight Might be you lose out yet you two of nf creation Might be your horse runs away and breaks breau your damn necks before I 1 check out r Nobody said anything for a little mUe while Early Bill was resting Doc Doci i Joe stepped out to bring him something some some- something something thing to swallow mostly hot whisky r and the Judge appeared to be taking matters judicially under advise advise- advisement ment meet They lifted Early Bill and got gat his hi drink down him Then they had bad one apiece The draft brought the sick and wounded man a flush of strength He spoke more clearly Squat you boys boy and listen Me Mc Ill I'll do the talking They dragged up chairs chain I r i r l- l |