that," muttered Atkinson.

The white-haired surgeon turned to the leader of the vigilantes. "It
is not a matter of personal inclination, Atkinson. When I took my
degree for the practice of medicine, I took an oath to respond to
every call of suffering and I have no right to refuse this one."

Leaving his own injured with his assistant, the surgeon told the
messenger to proceed and the two walked across the square and up Front
Street to the Three Horses. Arriving there, Arnold was asked to dress
the wound of a man that had been shot through the breast in the fight
along Fort Street. While he was working over his patient, who lay on a
table surrounded by a motley crowd of onlookers, Levake walked in. He
nodded to the surgeon and drawing a pocket knife, while Arnold was
cleansing the wound, sat down beside him to whittle a stick.

"I hear your man, Stanley, wants me," began Levake after an interval.

"I guess you hear right," returned Arnold dryly.

"Tell him for me to come get me, will you?" suggested Levake.

"If he ever comes after you, Levake, he will get you," returned
Arnold, looking the outlaw straight in the eye. "There isn't any doubt
about that," he added, resuming his task.

Levake whittled but made no reply. He watched the surgeon's work
closely, and when Arnold had finished and given directions for the
wounded man's care he walked out of the place with him.

"Tell Stanley what I said, will you?" repeated Levake, as the railroad
surgeon left the door and started down street.

Arnold made no answer and Levake, taunting him to send all the men the
railroad had after him, followed Arnold toward the square.

The surgeon understood that it was Levake's purpose to engage him in a
dispute and kill him if he could. Arnold, moreover, was hot-tempered
and made no concealment of his feelings toward any man. For this
reason, despite his realization of danger, he was an easy prey.

To the final taunt of the outlaw the surgeon made rather a sharp
answer and quickened his pace, to walk away from his unpleasant
companion. But Levake would not be shaken off, and as the two were
passing a deserted restaurant he ordered the surgeon to halt. Arnold
turned without shrinking. Levake had already drawn his pistol and his
victim concluded he was to be killed then and there, but he resolved
to tell the outlaw what he thought of him.

"I understand your game perfectly, Levake," he said after he had raked
him terrifically. "