had lost.

"Yes, you'd all better go," Mrs. Tynan said. "He wants all the air he
can get, and I can't make things ready with all of you in the room. Go
outdoors for a while, anyway. It's summer and you'll not take cold! The
Young Doctor has work to do, and my girl and I and these two will help
him plenty." She motioned towards the banker and the gambling farmer.

In a moment the room was cleared of all save the four and Crozier,
who knew that upon the coming operation depended his life. He had been
conscious when the Young Doctor said this was so, and he was thinking,
as he lay there watching these two women out of his nearly closed eyes,
that he would like to be back in Ireland at Castlegarry with the girl he
had married and had left without a good-bye near five years gone. If he
had to die he would like to die at home; and that could not be.

Kitty had the courage to turn towards him now. As she caught sight
of his face for the first time--she had so far kept her head turned
away--she became very pale. Then, suddenly, she gathered herself
together. Going over to the bed, she took the limp hand lying on the
coverlet.

"Courage, soldier," she said in the colloquialism her father often used,
and she smiled at Crozier a great-hearted, helpful smile.

"You are a brick of bricks, Kitty Tynan," he whispered, and smiled.

"Here comes the Young Doctor," said Mrs. Tynan as the door opened
unceremoniously.

"Well, I have to make an excursion," Crozier said, "and I mayn't come
back. If I don't, au revoir, Kitty."

"You are coming back all right," she answered firmly. "It'll take more
than a horse-thief's bullet to kill you. You've got to come back. You're
as tough as nails. And I'll hold your hand all through it--yes, I will!"
she added to the Young Doctor, who had patted her shoulder and told her
to go to another room.

"I'm going to help you, doctor-man, if you please," she said, as he
turned to the box of instruments which his assistant held.

"There's another--one of my colleagues--coming I hope," the Young Doctor
replied.

"That's all right, but I am staying to see Mr. Crozier through. I said
I'd hold his hand, and I'm going to do it," she added firmly.

"Very well; put on a big apron, and see that you go through with us if
you start. No nonsense."

"There'll be no nonsense from me," she answered quietly.

"I want the bed in the middle of the room," the Young Doctor said, and
the others gently moved it.