"I'll do it," said Hal, going to the telephone to give the orders.
While he was thus engaged, McGuire Ellis entered.
"Hello!" the physician greeted him. "What have you got there? Revolvers?"
"Count 'em; two," answered Ellis.
"Gimme one," said the visitor, helping himself to a long-barreled .45.
"Here! That's for Hal Surtaine," protested Ellis.
"Not by a jug-ful! He's too hot-headed. Besides, can he afford to be in it if there should be any serious trouble? Think of the paper!"
"You're right there," agreed Ellis, struck by the keen sense of this view. "If they could lay a killing at his door, even in self-defense—"
"Pree-cisely! Whereas, I don't intend to shoot unless I have to, and probably not then."
They explained the wisdom of this procedure to Hal, who reluctantly admitted it, agreeing to leave the weapons in the hands of Dr. Elliot and McGuire Ellis.