He snorted. "I'm a false alarm. Nothin' a-tall. He jes' creased me."
"You're so brave," she cried admiringly.
He had never been told this before. He suspected it was not true, but to hear her say it was manna to his hungry soul.
The policeman helped him into a taxicab after first aid had been given and Johnnie's diagnosis verified. On the way home the cowpuncher made love. He discovered that this can be done quite well with one arm, both parties being willing.
The cab stopped at the house of a doctor and the shoulder was dressed.
The doctor made one pardonable mistake.
"Get your wife to give you this sleeping powder if you find you can't sleep," he said.
"Y'betcha," answered Johnnie cheerfully.
Kitty looked at him reproachfully and blushed. She scolded him about it after they reached the apartment where they lived.
Her new fiancé defended himself. "He's only a day or two prema-chure, honey. It wasn't hardly worth while explainin'," he claimed.
"A day or two. Oh, Johnnie!"