. . ." He shrugged eloquently.
"She say you do for Tony; you do better than Patten."
Virginia's eyes flashed upon Patten. He came a step toward her, his
attitude half belligerent.
"The man has to be operated upon immediately," he said sharply. "He
was hurt in the afternoon out on the end of the ranch; has been all day
getting in; fainted half a dozen times, I guess. The arm has to come
off at the elbow."
"Thank you," returned Virginia quietly, going to the table. "I'll take
the case now, Dr. Patten."
"You?" Patten laughed, his eyes jeering. "You operate? Do you think
that they want you to cut a skein of silk with a pair of scissors? Cut
off a man's arm . . . how far would you go before you fainted?"
"That'll be about all, Patten," came Norton's voice sternly from the
door. "This is Dr. Page's case. Clear out."
"Thank you, Mr. Norton," said Virginia quickly. She was already making
an examination of the blood covered arm and hand, and did not look
around. "And please clear the room, will you? Let Tony's wife stay,
that is all. Eloisa."
The woman came forward, her eyes wide and frightened. Virginia smiled
at her reassuringly.
"_No muy malo_," she said in the few Spanish words which she could
summon for the occasion from those she had picked up from the desert
people.
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