. . mebbe," he said finally. "But not
now. If you pulled the Kid it would just be running up the county
expense all for nothing."
The sheriff left him in silence and leading his horse went the few
steps to the hotel. Ignacio Chavez appearing opportunely Norton gave
his animal into the breed's custody; Ignacio, accustomed to doing odd
jobs for el Senor Roderico Nortone, and to the occasional half dollars
resulting from such transactions, led the big gray away while the
sheriff entered the hotel. It had been a day of hard riding and scanty
meals, and he was hungry.
Bright and new and conspicuous, a gold-lettered sign at Struve's
doorway caught his eye and caused him to remember the wounded left hand
which had been paining him considerably through the long hot day. The
sign bore the name of Dr. V. D. Page with the words Physician and
Surgeon; in blue pencilled letters upon the practitioner's card,
affixed to the brass chain suspending the sign, were the further words:
"Room 5, Struve's Hotel."
The sheriff went to Room 5. It was at the front of the building, upon
the ground floor. The door opened almost immediately when he rapped.
Confronting him was the girl he had encountered at the arroyo. He
lifted his hat, looked beyond her, and said simply:
"I was looking for Dr.
Pages:
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53