“Take Bobby again,” Letty urged in an undertone. “You know how tough he is. He won’t mind, if the trip is short.”
“But he ain’t had his feed,” said the doctor.
“I’ll tie some oats to the saddle.”
As she hurried off the doctor went up to the man on the mule. “What kind of a case is it?” he inquired, and noticed that the stranger had a handkerchief tied under his jaws and over his ears.
“That’s what I expect you to tell me.” There was a note of sneering in the retort.
“I mean, is it surgical?” explained the other.
“Well, suppose you come fixed so’s you’ll be ready for any kind of a case.”
The doctor stared. It was Eastman’s reply—with a different wording. And the coincidence seemed a strange one. Then: “You’d better let me do somethin’ for that toothache,” he said kindly.
“Oh, it don’t amount to anything,” was the short answer.
The doctor had not unbuckled his case. Now he crossed the corral to Bobby and picked up bridle and saddle.