“Is that Martin there?” interrupted the German.
“Yes,” the Southerner replied, “and I’m afraid it is a serious case—a pretty serious case—”
“Is he dead?” broke in the saloon-keeper again.
“He is dead,” the doctor answered.
“Then why didn’t you say so?” asked the short man harshly. “Why waste all that time talking if he’s dead?”
The Southerner was inclined to resent this rudeness, but he checked himself.
“I understand that you are Mr. Carroll’s brother-in-law,” he began again, “so I suppose I can leave the body in your charge—”
The German went over to the stretcher and turned down the blanket.
“No, you don’t leave him here,” he declared. “I’m not going to take him. This ain’t my sister’s husband!”
“This is not Mr. Carroll?” and this time the doctor looked around for the boy who had misinformed him. “I was told it was.”