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Alec Howard nodded: "Doc Lee's the stuff. Here he comes now,

talking of angels."

Doctor Lee dismounted and grinned. "Which of you lads is she

making love to now?"

Arlie laughed. "He can't understand that I don't make love to

anybody but him," she explained to the younger men.

"She never did to me, doc," Dick said regretfully.

"No, we were just talking about you, doc."

"Fire ahead, young woman," said the doctor, with assumed

severity. "I'm here to defend myself now."

"Alec was calling you an angel, and I was laughing at him," said

the girl demurely.

"An angel--huh!" he snorted.

"I never knew an angel that chewed tobacco, or one that could

swear the way you do when you're mad," continued Arlie.

"I don't reckon your acquaintance with angels is much greater

than mine, Miss Arlie Dillon. How's the patient?"

"He's always wanting something to eat, and he's cross as a bear."

"Good for him! Give him two weeks now and he'll be ready to whip

his weight in wild cats."