Page:West of Dodge (1926).pdf/72

 "I'm afraid that's the move. I suppose the boys figured they'd have a little fun with a stranger, maybe thinking you wouldn't be here long enough to be in any danger. But, of course, you will be in danger the minute that story gets over to Simrall."

"You mean Sandiver's brother will come gunning for me?"

"He's likely to, he's nearly certain to."

"One thing has struck me as strange through all this affair, and that's the absence of the sheriff. Where is he? What's he doing that he can't protect this town?"

"He was out servin' subpoenas yesterday, and hasn't come back yet. I guess that's why the Simrall outfit made their dash. They wouldn't want to embarrass their friend."

"Oh, the sheriff leans that way?"

"So hard he'd fall and break his neck if somebody was to jerk the prop from under him. It's going to be done, too, and that before long."

"I can't expect much protection from the side of the law, then, if I stay in this man's town," Hall said.

"I hope you're not thinking of quitting us?"

"No, I hadn't thought of it. But I didn't come here to take on arow. I'm a physician, not a fighting man."

"If you stay here," Judge Waters said weightily, "I expect you'll have to throw a shot or two sooner or later. Can you sling a gun pretty well?"

"I don't suppose I ever fired a pistol a dozen times in my life."

"That's unfortunate," Judge Waters said, frowning, pushing back his hat. "Well"—hopefully—"you've got plenty of room down by the river to practice, and I sup-