"
"She will not," answered the big cowpuncher. "She's got her hands full
with--_him_."
"Exactly. But if it is more than she can do, if she makes no headway
with that singular fellow--she may need help----"
He was interrupted by a slow, long-drawn, deep-throated curse from Buck
Daniels.
"Why in hell should I help her with--_him?_"
"There is really no reason," answered the doctor, alarmed, "except, I
suppose, old friendship----"
"Damn old friendship!" burst out Buck Daniels. "There's an end to all
things and my friendship is worn out--on both sides. It's done!"
He turned and scowled at the house.
"Help her to win _him_ over? I'd rather stick the muzzle of my gun down
my throat and pull the trigger. I'd rather see her marry a man about to
hang. Well--to hell with this place. I'm through with it. S'long, doc."
But Doctor Byrne ran after him and halted him at the foot of the steps
down from the veranda.
"My dear Mr. Daniels," he urged, touching the arm of Buck. "You really
mustn't leave so suddenly as this. There are a thousand questions on the
tip of my tongue."
Buck Daniels regarded the professional man with a hint of weariness and
disgust.
"Well," he said, "I'll hear the first couple of hundred. Shoot!"
"First: the motive that sends you away."
"Dan Barry."
"Ah--ah--fear of what he may do?"
"Damn the fear. At least, it's him that makes me go."
"It seems an impenetrable mystery," sighed the doctor.
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