"I dunno, Doc——"
"Well, I don't know anything about it, if you don't. But tell me, how's the fishing up in there? Any grayling?"
"All you want," said Sim Gage. "Come along up any time, and I'll take you out. But no, I guess maybe——"
Dr. Barnes looked at him curiously, and Wid Gardner went on to explain for his neighbor.
"You see, Doc, Sim, he's just newly married," said he, "or else he's going to be right soon. Sim, he's kind of bashful about having you around."
"Thanks! But come—I haven't any time. Come into the office, and we'll have a look at the leg."
Wid drove after the stalking figure, which presently drew up in front of the little office. In a few moments they had Sim Gage, the injured member bared, sitting up in a white chair in a very white and clean miniature hospital which Dr. Barnes had installed.
"This wound hasn't been cleaned properly," commented the doctor at once. "What did you put on it?"
"Why, whiskey. I didn't have nothing else."
"Try water the next time," said Dr. Barnes with sarcasm. "We'll have to paint it up with iodine now. Lockjaw, blood poison and amputation is the very least that will happen to you if you don't look out."