He's enjoyed your smashed arm, too, the
old fraud. Was he ever so decent to you before?"

Burns laughed. "You can't strike fire that way today," he declared.
"Hold on! You're not going to put that arm back into the splints?"

"Of course I am. It lacks two days yet off the shortest modern
regulation period. Come on here."

"Leave 'em off. I'll take the consequences."

"Don't be foolish, man. If I had my way I'd keep the thing put up
another full week. I'm not an advocate of this hurry business."

"I am. The arm's well enough to come out. I'll wear it in a sling, but
I want my coat sleeve on, and I'm going to have it on. Fix me up, will
you? I'm in a hurry."

"You're going on a journey?"

"Yes. Get busy."

"That's the very reason why you should keep that arm out of danger till
you get back. Jostling round in a crowd."

"Is this my arm or yours?" thundered Burns.

Buller laughed. "Don't knock me down with it, Pepper-pot. It may be your
arm, but you're my patient, and I--"

"Don't you fool yourself. If you won't fix me up I'll go out with it
hanging, I can judge my own condition. Will you dress me and put any
arm in this sling here, or must I send for Grayson? He's none of your
idiotic conservatives."

"Keep quiet, and I'll make you look pretty, little boy. I see--these are
new clothes just home from the tailor, and they're an elegant fit. Bully
fresh scarf, peach of a pin, brand-new black silk sling--Oh, I say!"

For with his good left arm Burns was threatening his professional friend
in a way that looked ominous. But a laugh was in his eye, now that he
had got his way, and the altercation ended in a fire of jokes. Then
Burns stood up.

"You're a jewel, Buller boy," said he. "You've brought me through in
great shape. It was a nasty fracture, and you've given me an arm that'll
be as good as new. I'm grateful--you know that. Now, if you'll look over
that list I gave you of cases here in the city, and go out once to take
a look at Letty Tressler, I'll be ever faithfully yours. Griggs'll see
to my village practice. Now I'm off."

"Hope you enjoy your trip. Must be a concentrated pleasure, to be
crammed into five days and still make you look like a schoolboy just let
out," observed Buller as Burns turned, with his band on the door-knob.

"A dose doesn't have to be big to be powerful," rejoined Burns, opening
the door.

"Nitro-glycerin, eh?" Buller called after the departing bulk of his
friend. "Don't let