Quicksilver Passion (134 page)

I’m Doc Johnson,” the other said.
Who’s your friend?”

Jake took off his hat and scratched the red scar where he’d been partly scalped by Indians many years ago. He thought fast.
Bob Smith.” It was the first name that came to him.
Of course, he might be using a fresh handle now.” He laughed.
Minor scrap with the law a few years back.”

The doctor nodded.
Common enough in these parts. I don’t recollect anyone by that name. We haven’t had too many new people since the smallpox epidemic near wiped out this town, even though it is the county seat. I suspect they’ll take that away from us when they see we aren’t growing.”

On the other hand,” Jake drawled, and grinned agreeably,
he might be calling hisself Bill or Tom.”

Doc pulled at his mustache.
Did your friend have a partner or maybe two?”

Jake pretended to puzzle over it.
Wal, he might have. It’s been a long time.”

I wonder if that might be old Bill and Willie up in Mosquite Gulch?”

Might be. Describe him to me.”

The gullible doctor described both old men in detail.

Why, that’s him, the old rascal!” Jake beamed.
You say he and Willie are alone up there?”