The rider had awkwardly lifted his wide hat, but his eyes lighted up as he saw the other occupant of the cart, and over the girl's cheeks there came a flush like the dawn.
"C'n I do anything for you, doc? Everything all right?"
"Nothing's right. Look at this road. It's an eternal disgrace—a disgrace to the community."
Dr. McDermott cursed heartily and without stint.
"Should've made the grade in quarter the time."
"Where you bound for? Shall I ride along with you?"
"You may. Might need you. Sick wom—" He started to say "woman" and then curiously changed, and blurted out angrily, "Lady over there."
"You don't say. Not at your old dump? Well, what's she doin' there? Shall I go ahead, doc?"
"She owns the place. Don't know what happened, or when she arrived. Drove by this morning. Saw the door down and the nails off the window. Went in, and—Well, it's a sick woman—a very sick woman! Get up, you, Mack!"