“He didn’t explain why. I kinda gathered he was in a hurry. Probably had an engagement down the street.”
The doctor’s keen eyes took in the strong grave face, the splendid figure, the imperturbable composure of the patient. It occurred to him that a Sierra grizzly would be no more dangerous than this man if he were aroused to action.
“Did you kill him?” he asked hesitantly.
“Not this time,” McClintock answered quietly.
When he left, the doctor’s gaze followed him out of the office. He wondered who this light-stepping Hermes could be. In his years of practice he had never met a finer specimen of humanity, judged on a physical basis of health, strength, and coördination of nerves and muscle.
CHAPTER XVII
A KNIFE WITH FOURTEEN NOTCHES
Hugh was feeding his horse next morning when a voice moved wheezily toward him as its owner passed through the stable into the corral.
“Old Grimes is dead, that good old man,
We ne’er shall see him more,”