Page:West of Dodge (1926).pdf/95

 "I wouldn't give you fifteen cents for everything you own, past, present and future prospects," Dr. Hall replied, loud enough to be heard by the deafest one in the crowd. "If you don't like my company in this town, the road's open for you to leave. It's a cinch I'm not going."

"By the gods!" Ross fumed, so wrathful over this bold defiance he seemed to stand there and chew his words. "By the eternal gods! if you're hangin' around this town in the morning, I'll let daylight through you!"

"Now I guess that's about all for you, old duck," Hall said.

"It ain't half, you lean-bellied whizzer! I'm red pepper, I'm concentrated lye! Whenever I touch a wolf's hide I take the hair off, I burn him to the holler, I scorch him to the melts! If you're sneakin' around here at nine o'clock to-morrow morning, by the eternal gods! I'll make a smoke behind you they can see from here to Dodge."

"You poor old soak!" Hall said, more in compassion than scorn, "You couldn't bluff a crow. When you're sober and sensible—if you ever get that way—come around and talk to me."

Hall had no feeling for this self-made rival but half-pitying contempt. That there was any danger in so much bluster, such loud declamation for the benefit of those who had groomed him for his act, was not even in his thought. He turned his back to Old Doc Ross, went into his boxcar office and closed the door after him, to let the old villain see how seriously his bombast was appraised.

Old Doc Ross was not in any mind to have it that way. He began to prance around in the cinders after trying the door and finding it locked. He raged along the side of