“Look-a-here, Arlie.  I’m the doctor.  Where do I come in?”

“I’ll kiss you, too, when you tell me he’ll get well.”  The half-hysterical laugh died out of her voice, and she caught him fiercely by the arm.  “Doc, doc, don’t let him die,” she begged.

He had known her all her life, had been by the bedside when she came into the world, and he put his arm round her shoulders and gave her a little hug as they passed into the room.

“We’ll do our level best, little girl.”

She lit a lamp, and drew the window curtain, so that none could see from the outside.  While the old doctor arranged his instruments and bandages on chairs, she waited on him.  He noticed how white she was, for he said, not unkindly: 

“I don’t want two patients right now, Arlie.  If you’re going to keel over in a faint right in the middle of it, I’ll have Dick help.”

“No, no, I won’t, doc.  Truly, I won’t,” she promised.

“All right, little girl.  We’ll see how game you are.  Dick, hold the light.  Hold it right there.  See?”

The Texan had ceased talking, and was silent, except for a low moan, repeated at regular intervals.  The doctor showed Arlie how to administer the anaesthetic after he had washed the wound.  While he was searching for the bullet with his probe she flinched as if he had touched a bare nerve, but she stuck to her work regardless of her feelings, until the lead was found and extracted and the wound dressed.

Afterward, Dick found her seated on a rock outside crying hysterically.  He did not attempt to cope with the situation, but returned to the house and told Lee.

“Best thing for her.  Her nerves are overwrought and unstrung.  She’ll be all right, once she has her cry out.  I’ll drift around, and jolly her along.”

The doctor presently came up and took a seat beside her.

“Wha—­ what do you think, doctor?” she sobbed.

“Well, I think it’s tarnation hot operating with a big kerosene lamp six inches from your haid,” he said, as he mopped his forehead.

“I mean—­ will he—­ get well?”

Lee snorted.  “Well, I’d be ashamed of him if he didn’t.  If he lets a nice, clean, flesh wound put him out of business he don’t deserve to live.  Don’t worry any about him, young lady.  Say, I wish I had zwei beer right now, Arlie.”

“You mean it?  You’re not just saying it to please me?”

“Of course, I mean it,” he protested indignantly.  “I wish I had three.”

“I mean, are you sure he’ll get well?” she explained, a faint smile touching her wan face.

“Yes, I mean that, too, but right now I mean the beer most.  Now, honest, haven’t I earned a beer?”

“You’ve earned a hundred thousand, doc.  You’re the kindest and dearest man that ever lived,” she cried.

“Ain’t that rather a large order, my dear?” he protested mildly.  “I couldn’t really use a hundred thousand.  And I’d hate to be better than Job and Moses and Pharaoh and them Bible characters.  Wouldn’t I have to give up chewing?  Somehow, a halo don’t seem to fit my haid.  It’s most too bald to carry one graceful....  You may do that again if you want to.”  This last, apropos of the promised reward which had just been paid in full.