"Jugged! Are yous givin' it to me straight?"
"Yes."
Rags lay back and closed her eyes in a tired way.
"Well," she muttered, "dey won't git nuttin' out o' me."
The doctor came, just then, and for several minutes he gave his undivided attention to Rags. When he had got through, and had left some medicine, he beckoned Matt to follow him out on the porch. The moment they were clear of the house the doctor's face became very grave.
"Not much hope for her," said he.
"What!" exclaimed Matt, taken aback. "Do you mean she can't get well?"
"Chances don't favor it. There's an injury to her spine and she's paralyzed from the hips down. What do you know about her, King?"
"Not a thing, doctor, and she won't say a word about herself. But maybe the man the sheriff arrested can be made to tell something."
The doctor, apparently, had been told all about the runaway and the arrest of the Mexican, by Clip.