Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-13
''DoC!!''
BY
BY HAROLD TITUS.
Author Of ITO the Victor"
Copyright
The Frank A. Munsey Company

And YET - Kennedy What about
him. Something sinister about the
fellow, Hardy thought, even as ne
ranked on memory OF the mans Gov
ert taunts.
Why that agitation when Ruth
Mitchell told OF kiheka's traitor
Was il simply jealousy? Or some
thing deeper?
He dismissed all this from his mind
when they arrived at the ranch. In
the moonlight the house and the barn
of in the trees looked CHASTITY the
logs had bleached to a luminous gray
and the mid chinking showed dead
white between them.
Hardy had half expected to ma
Sears suffering with hopeless infec-
ton and was SURPRISED to see him in
reasonably good shape, considering
the nature OF the wound and the phys
ical environment.
He stood looking down at the man
with q scrutinizing, boring gaze. for
the first time thinking of the outlaw
as other than patient,
Surely, resolution showed in that
month. firm even in desperate sick
ness and the chin below it was the
sort that knows no turning the
gray. flat eyes looking up at the doc
tor were OF the inscrutable sort which
bstray nothing. which defy analysis
OF the hought which transpires be
hind til m.
judging frcm the eyes alone. baf'
Sears might have been dull. stupid,
y hut a glance back at the. mouth and
chin wiped away any such possibility
The features were all regular and
fine in sense. the only hint of gross
ness showing in the lips which, on in
spection, were too broad and without
those most delicate shapings which
are thu marks of breeding.
And over It all was youthfulness
sccentuated by the mop of light hail
with its decided tendency to curl
Spite OF his big stature. he looked
much of boy -- until the CLINT ol
hate came into those eyes, even ther
strong characteristics of reckless
needless, meaningless dcvltry were
prominent.
Perhaps she was right, Hardy
thought, still studying the flushed face
OF the outlaw; perhaps the character
OF that man was strong. The ides
was a stranger because he had Away
been of that class which, as Rutl
Mitchell pointed out, held strength tt
be only in goodness.
The doctor turned away with
smile. Surely, his standards OF juds
ment, his sense Of values, were chang
ing Here he was almost admirng
murderer.
He laughed silently as he packe
his case and the others In the room
watched him curiousy
Sears spoke. for the first time sine
the doctors arrival.
Doc he said. and Hardy turne
10 him, looking down into the gaz
from the gray eyes--the gaze whic
told nothing. "Doc-he's playin yo
for a greenhorn; he'll get yoli--he
get--hell break you--'
Then laughter, wild and cracklin
and the eyes glowed with whites
humOr.
But on the sick mans words Sal
Davort had started forward with
gasp, crossing toward the bed wit
hurried, unguarded strides.
The laughter broke short and Seal
stiffened, as though spasm OF pal
had gripped his vitals.
Hardy, alert. alarmed, wheeled
face Davort; and Dav0rt stoppe
confused, flushed. For bare nstal
the gazes OF the two men chung,
fierceness, a challenge In them.
Then the bandit relaxed his tensi
of poise and summoned a. laugh.
Huh - little batty, guess, Doc
he stammered.
But Hardy's staring did not wave
He held his eyes on Davort until u
man shuffled back to his chair BY Il
stove, evidencing his suspicion.
He stopped over the bed and spol
soothinsly to the outlaw who mi
tered and looked up with uncompl
bending eyes. Then sat down on &
p rumpIed blankets and remained so
long time. nursing consciousness aw
from the touch OF delirium which n
seized upon 1t.
And while he worked he wonders
surely, the disconnected I'M
htrent cry Of Sears had carried
msanink, and one that was moi