CHAPTER XXIII
AN OPTION ON SUMMIT CITY
BOB CARRUTHERS had come with Rose Hurley from Indian City, carrying little Eddie on the saddle in front of him. Having dropped back to give place to Hurley's wife and son as they hurried into the cabin, he now came up to join Steele and Dr. Gilchrist.
"So you are fighting about something or other again, are you, Billy?" he asked as his proffered hand was gripped hard. "Just what's the trouble?"
Steele sketched the situation briefly, Carruthers and Gilchrist hearing him through without comment. At the end the doctor said in his brisk way:
"My hospital might prove convenient in more than one way, eh, Mr. Carruthers? If this is the sort of thing to be expected along with the birth throes of new towns. Now, if Mr. Steele will oblige us by arranging for a man's size breakfast, I'll go inside again and give my attention to Mrs. Hurley's husband while the famous meal is in preparation."
Since here of late Steele had been taking his meals at the new lunch counter at Boom Town and there was nothing to eat at the cabin, he and Carruthers strode away together to the settlement, undertaking to bring back a hot breakfast with them. While they took their coffee and bacon and "stacks o' wheats," sitting upon high stools on the so-called street, the
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