"What in thunder she wants that ole cuss fer I can't find out. She's drivin' me plum crazy." I explained.
"That's it," said George. "It's bin Pap an' her money night an' day fer forty-eight hours. She wanted ter give him--him, by Jing!--her money."
The doctor heard the story half an hour later. He had not the honour of Andrew Spooner's acquaintance, and he had reason to believe that all men in the foothills were devoid of fear.
"Fetch Pap," said he, in the same tone as he might have said, "Fetch milk and water!" We made no remark.
"I think," said the doctor, gravely, "that if this man comes at once the child may pull through."
"By Heaven! he shall come," said George Leadham to me. The doctor had hurried away.
"He won't come," said Ajax.
"If he don't," said the father, fiercely, "the turkey-buzzards'll hev a meal, for I'll shoot him in his tracks."
Ajax looked at me reflectively.
"George," said he, "shooting Pap wouldn't help little Sissy, would it? You and I can't handle this job. My brother will go. But--but, my poor old George, don't make ropes out of sand."