Berg and Slevin had a habit of riding into town on Saturday nights, and the next time they left the claim Bill pleaded a jumping toothache and set out afoot for medical attention. It was late when he arrived at Nome, nevertheless a diligent search of the Front Street saloons failed to locate either man. He was still looking for them when they came riding in. With their delayed arrival Bill's apprehensions vanished, as likewise did his imaginary toothache. He had feared that they were in the habit of bringing the gold to Nome, there perhaps to bank it with some friend; but now he knew that they were too cautious for that, and preferred instead to cache it somewhere in the hills. This simplified matters immensely, so Bill looked up his little doctor for a sociable visit. Thomas was in his office; he greeted Bill warmly. "Say! Pill-rolling must be brisk to keep you on the job till midnight," the latter began. "Business is rotten!" exclaimed the physician. "And it's a rotten business." "Nobody sick? That's tough. Open a can of typhoid germs, and I'll put 'em in the well. Anything to stir up a little trade." "I've just balanced my books and--I've just heard from Alice." "Do the books balance?" "Oh, perfectly--nothing equals nothing--it's a perfect equilibrium. Alice wants me to come home and start all over, and I'm tempted to do so." "Ain't going to throw up your tail, are you?" "I can't get along without her." Thomas was plainly in the depths; he turned away and stared moodily out into the dim-lit street. It was midnight, but already the days were shortening, already there was an hour or two of dusk between the evening and the morning light. "Of course you can't get along without her," the ex-bandit agreed. "I seen that when I looked at her picture. Why don't you bring her in?" "Bring her in--_here_?" Thomas faced about quickly. "Humph! Not much." "Well, this ain't no doll's village, that's a fact. It's full of wicked men, and the women ain't wuth braggin' over. S'pose we go out and marry her?" "We?" Thomas smiled for the first time. "Sure. I'll stick to the bitter finish." "I'm broke, Bill." "Pshaw, now! Don't let that worry you. I got money." "You?" The doctor was surprised. "Where did you get it?" "Well, I _got_ it! That's the main thing. It was--left to me." "Honestly?" "What d'you mean, 'honestly'?" "How much?" "I dunno, exactly. You see, I ain't got it actually in my mit--" "Oh!" "But I'll have it, all righto. It's just waiting for me to close down on it. I reckon there must be a thousand gold buzzards in the stack, mebby more. It's all yours." "Thanks!" said the physician, unimpressed.