'Doc.' Gordon Read online

  CHAPTER VII

  The next morning James was awakened by loud voices coming from thevicinity of the stable. He had not slept very well, and now at dawn feltdrowsy, but the voices would not let him sleep. He rose, dressed, andwent out in the stable-yard. There he found Doctor Gordon, Aaron, and astrange man, small, and red-haired, and thin-faced, with shifty eyes,holding by the bridle a fine black horse.

  "Don't want to buy a horse with a bridle on," Doctor Gordon was sayingas James appeared.

  "Do you think I'm the man to bear insults?" inquired the littlered-haired man with fierceness.

  "Insult nothing. It is business," said Gordon.

  "That's so," Aaron said, chewing and eyeing the black horse and thered-haired man thoughtfully.

  "Well," said the little red-haired man with an air at once of injuredinnocence and ferocity, "if you want to know why I object to sellingthis horse without a bridle, come here, and I'll show you." Gordon andAaron and James approached. The red-haired man slipped the bridle, andunderneath it appeared a small sore. "There, that's the reason, and I'lltell you the truth," said the man defiantly. "Here I am trying to sellthis darned critter; paid a cool hundred for him, and everybody saysjest as you do, won't buy him with the bridle on. Then I takes off thebridle, and they sees this little bile, and there's an end to it. Isuppose it's the same with you. Well, good day, gentlemen. You're losin'a darned good trade, but it ain't my fault. Here's an animal I paid acool hundred for, and I'm offering him for ninety. I'm ten dollars out,besides my time."

  "Let me see that sore again," said Gordon. He slipped the bridle andexamined the place carefully. Then he looked hard at the horse, whichstood with great docility, although he held his head proudly. He was afine beast, glossy black in color, and had a magnificent tail.

  "Make it eighty-five," said Gordon.

  "Couldn't think of it."

  "I don't know as I want the horse anyway," said Gordon.

  "I'll call it eighty-seven and a half," said the little red-haired man.

  Gordon stood still for a moment. Then he pulled out his wallet."Eighty-six and call it square," he said.

  "All right," said the red-haired man. "It's a-givin' of him away, butI'm so darned tired of trampin' the country with him, that I'll call iteighty-six, and it's the biggest bargain you ever got in your life inthe way of horse flesh. I wouldn't let him go at that figure, but mywife's sick, and I want to get home."

  The red-haired man carefully counted over the roll of bank-notes whichDoctor Gordon gave him, although it seemed to James that he used somehaste. He also thought that he was evidently anxious to be gone. Herefused Gordon's offer of breakfast, saying that he had already had someat the hotel. Then he was gone, walking with uncommon speed for such asmall man. Aaron, James, and Doctor Gordon stood contemplating the newpurchase. James patted him. "He looks like a fine animal," he remarked.Aaron shifted his quid, and said with emphasis, "Want me to hitch up andbring that little red-haired cuss back?"

  "Why, what for?" asked Doctor Gordon. "I guess I have made a good trade,Aaron."

  "You mark my words, there's somethin' out," said Aaron dogmatically.

  "I guess you're wrong this time," said Doctor Gordon, laughing. "Come,Elliot, it is time for breakfast, and we have to drive to Wardvilleafterward for that fever case."

  James followed Gordon into the dining-room. Clemency said good morningalmost rudely, then she hid her face behind the coffee-urn. Gordonglanced at her and smiled tenderly, but the girl did not see it. Jamesnever looked her way at all. She turned the coffee with apparentconcentration. She did not dare look at either of the two men. She hadnever felt so disturbedly happy and so shy. She had not slept all night,she was so agitated with happiness, but this morning she showed notraces of sleeplessness. There was an unwonted color on her little fairface, and her blue eyes were like jewels under her drooping lids.

  They were nearly through breakfast when the door which led into thekitchen was abruptly thrown open, and Aaron stood there. In his hand heflourished dramatically a great streaming mass of black. "Told you so,"he observed with a certain triumph. The others stared at him.

  "What on earth is that?" asked Gordon.

  "That new horse's tail; it comes off," replied Aaron with brevity. Thenhe chewed.

  "Comes off?"

  Aaron nodded, still chewing.

  Gordon rose from the table saying something under his breath.

  "That ain't all," said Aaron, still with an air of sly triumph.

  "What else, for Heaven's sake?" cried Gordon.

  "Well, he cribs," replied Aaron laconically. Then he chewed.

  "That was why he didn't want to take the bridle off?"

  Aaron nodded.

  Gordon stood staring for a second, then he burst into a peal oflaughter. "Bless me if I ever got so regularly done," said he. "Say,Aaron, that was a smart chap. He has talent, he has."

  "Aren't you going to try to find him?" asked James.

  "Well, we'll keep a lookout on the way to Wardville," said Gordon; "and,Aaron, you may as well put the chestnut in the old buggy and driveStanbridge way, and see if you can get sight of him."

  "He's had a half-hour's start," said Aaron. "You might track a fox, butyou can't him."

  "I guess you are about right," said Gordon, "but we'll do all we can.However, I think I'll try to get even with Sam Tucker. It's a goodchance. I'll drive the new horse to Wardville. Aaron, you just tie thattail on again, and fasten it up so as to keep it out of the mud."

  Aaron grinned. "Goin' to get even for that white horse?"

  "I'm going to try it."

  Gordon was all interest. James regarded him as he had done so many timesbefore with wonder. That such a man should have such powers ofassimilation astounded him. He was actually as amused and interested inbeing done, as he called it, and in trying in his turn to wipe off someold score, as any countryman. He seemed, to the young man, to havelittle burrows like some desperate animal, into which he could dive, andbe completely away from his enemies, and even from himself, when hechose.

  He hurriedly drank the remainder of his coffee, and was in his officegetting his medicine-case ready. James lingered, in the hopes ofgetting a word and a kiss from Clemency. But the child, the moment heruncle went out, fled. It was odd. She wanted to stay and have a minutewith James alone more than she had ever wanted anything, but it was forjust that very reason that she ran away.

  James felt hurt. At that time, the mind of a girl, and its shy workings,were entirely beyond his comprehension. He saw no earthly reason whyClemency should have avoided him. He followed Gordon with rather adowncast face into the office, and begun assisting him with hismedicines. Gordon himself was too full of interest in the horse trade toremark anything. At times he chuckled to himself. Now and then he wouldburst out anew in a great peal of laughter. "Hang it all! I don't liketo be done any better than any other man, but that little red-hairedscamp was clever and no mistake," he said, "showing me that little sore.I believe he had sandpapered the poor beast on purpose. He took me in asneatly as I ever saw anything done in my life. Well, Elliot, you waitand see me get even with Sam Tucker. I have been waiting my chance.About two years ago he worked me, and not half as cleverly as thiseither. He made me feel that I was a fool. The red-haired one needed thedevil himself to get round him, and see through his little game. SamTucker sold me, or rather traded with me a veritable fiend of a horsefor an old mare. The mare was old, but she had a lot of go in her, andwas sound, and the other, well, Sam had bought him for a song, becausenobody would drive him, and he had killed two men. He was a white horsewith as wicked an eye as you ever saw, and ears always cocked formischief, like the arch fiend's horns. Well, Sam, he made some kind of adye, and he actually dyed that animal a beautiful chestnut, and tradedhim for my old mare. I even paid a little to boot. Well, next morning Isent Aaron down to the store in a soaking rain, and the horse bolted ata white rock beside the road, and the buggy was knocked into kindlingwood. Aaron wasn't hurt. He always
comes out right side up. But when hecame leading that snorting, dancing beast home, the chestnut dye waspretty well off, and I knew him in a minute. Well, he was shot, and Iwas my old mare and some money out. I wasn't going to have men's liveson my conscience. But this is another matter. Now I've got my chance toget even, and I'm going to get my old mare back."

  Presently the two men were out on the road driving the black horse. Hewent well enough, and seemed afraid of nothing. "There's not much thematter with this animal except the tail and the cribbing, I guess," saidthe doctor. "As for the tail, that is simply a question of ornament andtaste. The cribbing is more serious, of course, but I guess Sam Tuckerwon't be in any danger of his life." They had not gone far before thedoctor drew up before a farmhouse on the left. A man with a seriousface, thin and wiry, was coming around the house with a wheelbarrowfulof potatoes. "Hullo, Sam!" called Doctor Gordon. The man left his barrowand came alongside. James could see that he had a keen eye upon thehorse. "Fine morning," said the doctor.

  Sam Tucker gave a grunt by way of assent. He was niggardly with speech.

  "Have you got any more of those Baldwin apples to sell?" asked DoctorGordon, to James's intense surprise.

  Sam Tucker looked reflectively at the doctor for a full minute, thengave utterance to a monosyllable. "Bar'l."

  "So you've got a barrel to sell," said Gordon.

  Sam nodded.

  "Well, I'll send my man over for them. They are mighty fine apples, andEmma said yesterday that we were about out. I suppose they are the sameprice."

  Sam nodded.

  "Seems as if you might take off a little, it is so late, and you mighthave them spoiling on your hands," said Gordon, and James began towonder if they had come to drive a sharp bargain on apples instead ofhorses.

  Sam shook his head emphatically. "Same," he said.

  "Well, I suppose I've got to pay it if you ask it," said Gordon. "Ican't buy any such apples elsewhere. You've got it your way. I'll sendthe money over by Aaron." Doctor Gordon gathered up the reins, but SamTucker seemed to experience a sudden convulsion all over his lank body."Horse," he said.

  Doctor Gordon drove on a yard, but Sam, running alongside, he stopped."Yes," he said placidly, "horse. What do you think of him?"

  Sam said nothing. He looked at the horse.

  "He's the biggest bargain I ever got," said Gordon. "I am going to hangon to him. Once in a while there is an honest deal in horses. I am notbringing up anything, Sam. I believe in letting bygones be bygones,although you did risk my life and my man's. But this time I am allright." Gordon gathered up the reins again, and again Sam Tucker stoppedhim. James barely saw the man's mouth move. He could not hear that hesaid anything, but a peculiar glow of eager greed lit up his long face,and Gordon seemed to understand him perfectly. "You can take your oathnot," he said brusquely. "What do you take me for? You have stuck meonce, and now you think you are going to do it again. You can bet yourlife you are not." Again he gathered up the reins. Sam Tucker's facegleamed like a coal. James saw for the first time in its entirety thetrading instinct rampant. Again Gordon seemed to understand what hadapparently not been spoken. "No, Sam Tucker," he declared almostbrutally, "I will not trade back for that old mare you cheated me outof, not if you were to give me your whole farm to boot. I know that oldmare. I wasn't the only one that got stuck. She's got the heaves. I knowher. No, sir, you don't do me again. I've got a good horse this time,and I mean to hang on to him."

  Again Gordon attempted to drive on, and once more Sam stopped him. Jamesfelt at last fairly dizzy, when he heard the farmer almost beg Gordon totrade horses, offer him twenty-five dollars to boot, and the apples. Hesat in the buggy watching while the mare was led out of the stable, theblack horse was taken out of the traces, and the bridle was left onwithout a remonstrance on Sam's part, and exchanged for a much newerone, while twenty-five dollars in dirty bank-notes were carefullycounted out by Sam, and then Gordon jumped into the buggy and drove off.He was quivering with suppressed mirth. "The biter is bitten this time,"he said as soon as he was out of hearing of Sam Tucker. Then he made anexclamation of dismay.

  "What's the matter?" asked James.

  "Well, I have left my whip. I must risk it and go back. I paid a lot forthat whip."

  Gordon turned and drove back at a sharp trot. When they came alongsidethe farm fence James saw the whip lying on the ground, and jumped out toget it. He was back in the buggy, and they were just proceeding ontheir way, when there was a shout, and Sam Tucker came rushing aroundthe house, and held the horse's tail as Aaron had done in the morning."Comes off," he gasped.

  "Of course," said the doctor coolly. "I didn't say it didn't. It's forconvenience in muddy weather."

  "Cribs," gasped Sam Tucker.

  "Yes, a little," said Gordon. "Keep him away from hitching-posts. Youdidn't say you wanted a horse to hitch. He never cribs when he's driven.Good-day, Sam."

  Gordon and James were off again. Gordon was doubled up with merriment,in which James joined. "I'm glad to get behind old Fanny once more,"said Gordon. "She's worth two of that other animal! Clemency will beglad to see her again. She felt badly when I traded her. In fact, Iwouldn't have done it if I had known how much the child cared for themare. She used to drive her a lot and pet her. I think it will beperfectly safe for you to take Clemency out driving when there isn't amoon. Fanny is pretty fast when she is touched with the whip, and,though she's gentle, she hasn't much use for strangers. I don't thinkshe would stand a stranger at her head. I think you may go out to-night,if you like. Poor Clemency needs the air. We'll use the team thisafternoon, and Fanny will be fresh by evening."

  James colored. He remembered how Clemency had avoided him that morning."Perchance she won't care to go," he said.

  "Of course, she will," said Gordon. "She will go, and I want her to, butyou must always bear in mind what I told you last night, and--" hehesitated. "Don't do your utmost to make the poor little thing think youare the moon and sun and stars in case you should change your mind," hefinished.

  "I shall never change my mind," James said hotly.

  "You will be justified if you do," Gordon said gravely. "Perhaps youwill not. But you are old enough, and ought to have self-command enoughto keep your head, and shield the poor child against possiblecontingencies. You have not known each other very long. It is notpossible that she would die of it now, nor you. If you can only keepyour head, and meander along the path of love instead of plunging intobottomless depths, it will be better for both of you. I know what I amtalking about. I am old enough to be your father. Go slow, for God'ssake, if you care about the girl."

  "She is the whole world to me," said James.

  "Then, go slow! It will be better for her if you are not the whole worldto her, until you know what a day may bring forth."

  "I don't care what a day brings forth."

  "You are tempting the gods?" said Gordon. "Elliot, you don't know whatyou are talking about. I am not treating you fairly not to tell you thewhole story, but I don't see my way clear. You must bear in mind what Isay. I did not think of any such complication when you came here. I wasa fool not to. I know what young people are, and Clemency is a darling,and you have your good points. The amount of it is, if I don't get stuckby Sam Tucker in a horse trade, Fate sticks me in something bigger. Idon't see the inevitable, I suppose, because I am so close to it that itis like facing the wall of a precipice all the time. We have to stophere. The woman's daughter is coming down with a fever, which will notkill her, and she will have it to brag of all her life. She will dateall earthly events from this fever. Whoa, Fanny!"

  That evening James and Clemency went for a drive. It was a clear night,but dark, save for the stars. Clemency had a thick veil over her face,which seemed entirely unnecessary. Directly as they started, she made alittle involuntary nestling motion toward the young man at her side. Itwas as innocent as the nestling of a baby. James put his arm around her.He thought with indignation of Doctor Gordon's warning, as if anythingin the wo
rld could cause him to change his mind about this dear childwho loved him. "You darling!" he whispered. "So you have not thoughtbetter of it."

  "What do you mean?" Clemency whispered back.

  "Why, dear, you have fairly run away from me all day long."

  "I was afraid," Clemency whispered, then she put her head against hisshoulder, and laughed a delicious little laugh. "I never was in lovebefore, and I don't know how to act," said she.

  "Put up your veil," said James.

  "Why?"

  "I want a kiss."

  Clemency put up her veil obediently and kissed him like a child. Thenthere was a sudden flash of light from a lantern, and a dark form wasat the mare's head. But she was true to her master's opinion of her. Shegave a savage duck at the man and started violently, so that James wasforced to release Clemency and devote his entire attention to driving.Clemency shrank close to him, shivering like one in a chill. "He sawme," she gasped. "It was that same man, and this time he saw me."