Death Devil (9781101559666) Read Online Free PDF

you,” Harold said, and started to move around behind Fargo.
    By then Fargo had the Colt out and the hammer back. “Like hell you will.”
    Harold froze.
    Dogood took a step and Fargo swung the Colt to cover him. “I’ll shoot the next son of a bitch who moves.”
    â€œHe shows his true colors, my friends,” the patent medicine man declared.
    Orville was blinking his eyes. Both were watering and his cheeks were stained brown. “You’d shoot me even though I ain’t armed, mister?”
    â€œTry me,” Fargo said. With difficulty he pushed to his knees and from there to his feet. His body hurt all over.
    â€œI should of known,” Orville said.
    â€œAll of you sit on the porch,” Fargo directed.
    â€œAnd if we don’t?” Harold challenged.
    â€œYou’ll spend the rest of your days walking around without a knee,” Fargo said.
    â€œWe could rush him, all of us at once,” Harold said. “He can’t get all of us.”
    â€œI’m not much of a fighter, I’m afraid,” Dogood said. “The most I can offer is moral support.” He was the first to sit. Draping his arms over his legs, he said, “It won’t hurt to rest here a spell and hear what the doctor has to say about sweet little Abigail.”
    Harold reluctantly sank down. Artemis was still unconscious on the ground.
    That left the big man. Orville squinted at Fargo and at the Colt and said, “This ain’t over. Me and you have a score to settle.”
    Fargo pointed the Colt at Orville’s left leg.
    â€œBut it won’t be right this minute,” Orville said. “You have the upper hand. We’ll meet again, though. Count on it. And next time things will be different.”
    â€œSit,” Fargo said.
    â€œI don’t think I like you,” Orville said, but he finally sat.
    Fargo breathed an inward sigh of relief. His left side was throbbing and it was all he could do to stand up straight.
    â€œWhat I want to know,” Harold said, “is what the lady doc is doin’ up there?”
    â€œProbably taking Abigail’s pulse and using her stethoscope,” Dogood said. “And after a while she’ll prescribe a medicine that is no more effective than any of mine, and likely less so.”
    â€œDamn doctors, anyhow,” Harold said.
    â€œWhy are you so against them?” Fargo asked.
    â€œMainly I’m against the female ones. Women ain’t got no business doin’ man’s work.”
    â€œWho says only men can be doctors?”
    â€œWhy, most everybody hereabouts,” Harold said. “It’s like bein’ a lawman or an undertaker. Some jobs ain’t fit for females.”
    â€œAmen to that,” Orville said. “I was over to the county seat last month and there was a woman clerk at the bank.”
    â€œYou’ve got to be joshin’,” Harold said.
    â€œAs God is my witness,” Orville said.
    â€œWomen ain’t got a head for numbers. What were they thinkin’, hirin’ her?”
    â€œShe was a right pretty filly,” Orville said. “I reckon that had somethin’ to do with it.” He wiped at his running eyes and then stabbed a finger at Fargo. “How about you, mister? I take it you reckon female sawbones are fine.”
    â€œFemale anything is fine by me,” Fargo said.
    â€œGod Almighty,” Harold said. “Next thing you know, this jasper will say it’s all right to give women the right to vote.”
    Dogood laughed.
    â€œI don’t know about that one,” Orville said. “My wife would like to and I can’t say as I blame her.”
    â€œCousin Orville!” Harold said in dismay.
    â€œWell, it don’t take much brains to savvy politics,” Orville said. “You just naturally figure all of them are liars and vote for the one who lies the least.”
    â€œThem there are wise words,”