“I couldn't find the time.” Trawley was opening a canvas-backed ledger with thin, quivering fingers. “I've been powerful busy, Cap. Lots an' lots o' rigs an' hosses goin' out an' comin' in--can't trust my shebang with these coons. They don't feed an' water my stock--or rub 'em down when they come in tired. They git things all balled up--send out hosses on long trips that hain't had no rest; one o' my best mules dropped dead t'other day an'--” “I understand all that.” Hoag's eyes bore down on him impatiently. “But you didn't _use_ to be so all-fired anxious about this dang stable. It's a new twist altogether. Say, has anything gone crooked with you?” “What makes you ax that?” Trawley's words crept slowly from his stiff lips, and his glance rose, only to fall precipitately. “I don't know,” Hoag replied. “Some o' the boys said they didn't know but what you'd took to doctorin' yorese'f--got a fool notion in yore head that you was about to git down sick.” “Well, I _am_ sick--if you want to know,” Trawley suddenly declared. “I'm not a sound man, by a long shot.” “Oh, come off!” Hoag laughed. “You've been eatin' too much or smokin' more'n you ought. Maybe yore liquor ain't o' the right brand. There's a lot o' poison in the truck shoved over bar-counters these days. You oughtn't to touch any but straight moonshine corn. Some o' our boys make the best that ever slid down a gullet.” “'Tain't nothin' o' that sort,” Trawley sighed, despondently. “Dr. Lynn examined me an' wasn't a bit satisfied. He said my stomach had clean gone back on me. Nothin' I eat won't stay down. I roll an' tumble at night an' shake all over durin' the day. Doc said it was serious.” “Oh, now I understand.” Hoag seemed slightly relieved. “But you hain't a-goin' to let _that_ scare the socks off you. Besides, Lynn may be mistaken.” Trawley's chin dropped despondently. “He knows as much as any doctor, I reckon. Looked to me like he considered my case hopeless. He shook his head all the time he was talkin'. He--he hinted purty strong that I ought to be prepared, that I might--might have to go any day.” Trawley's scant blood had left his face and his lip hung limply. Hoag shrugged his shoulders indifferently. “So you've let that scare you plumb off from old habits. You set here an' mope instead o' bein' up an' about with the rest of us. We all got to die some time or other.” Trawley glared fiercely out from his labyrinth of fears. “You wait till it gits _you_ down!” he blurted out. “_You_ kin talk, standin' thar with that solid pouch on you--an' a meal in it that you can hold down. Don't talk to me; I know when I'm in trouble!”