Dr Harrington strode briskly into the room and stopped short. Newly had found some easy chairs and was stretched out in one, dozing. Kitty had another chair next to Matt's bed and they were holding hands and talking quietly, while Doc paced back and forth between the marshal and Festus. He saw Harrington and went over to him. "Dr Harrington, I presume?"

One of Harrington's eyebrows went up and he asked coldly, "Am I addressing Dr Galen Adams?"

"You are." Doc held his frosty glare a moment longer, then broke into a smile and seized Harrington's hand. "George, by golly, it's good to see you!"

Harrington smiled back and pumped Doc's hand. "It's good to see you too, Galen. I don't like to think how long it's been."

Doc shook his head. "Too long, George. Way too long." Newly had been roused and now Doc turned to him and the others. "George, I want you to meet Miss Kitty Russell..." Harrington took Kitty's hand. "Newly O'Brian." Newly got to his feet and shook hands briefly. "Marshal Matt Dillon. Matt, Kitty, Newly, this is Dr George Lyman Harrington."

Matt smiled. "It sounds like you two go way back."

Dr Harrington bent over to shake hands with Matt. "We served in the war together." He looked around at Doc and asked, "Isn't this the fellow you wired me about?"

"This is the one."

Harrington examined Matt thoroughly, then straightened up. "Well, Galen, he seems to be in pretty good shape."

"He is," Doc answered, his expression an odd mixture of sheepishness and pride. "I had to remove the bullet myself after all...and on the train, no less!"

Harrington's jaw dropped. "Well, you certainly did a remarkable job."

"Doc..."

They all turned at the weak voice from the other bed and Doc took Harrington's arm. "George, I'll tell you all about it later. As it happens, this is the man I'm concerned about at the moment...he was shot yesterday and we need to remove the bullet right now." The two doctors went over to the deputy and Doc sat down next to the bed. "Festus?"

Groggy from the heavy sedatives, Festus whispered, "Doc, I don't mean to be bothersome when you got Matthew to tend to but I ain't feelin' so pert."

Doc felt a lump in his throat. "Festus, Matt is fine. He's just fine. He's right here." The old man moved back so the deputy could see the marshal. "We're at the Harrington clinic and Dr Harrington is going to help me take care of Matt and you. Now I want you to let him take a look at you." Festus remained silent and allowed Harrington to examine him without protest but he visibly relaxed when the doctor straightened up and turned away from him.

Harrington looked puzzled. "Galen, did you say you wanted to operate immediately?"

"That's right," said Doc.

Harrington pulled out his pocket watch. "Well, I'm about done for the day and there's no immediate danger...I think tomorrow morning would be soon enough. Would you and your friends like to join me for dinner?"

Doc looked at Harrington as if he had suddenly sprouted an extra head. "George, you can't mean to go off and leave a man with a bullet in him? I want to take care of that right now."

"I don't stay after hours unless it's an urgent case," said Harrington.

"I see." Doc's voice turned flat. "In that case, before you go off to dinner I would appreciate it if you would set up an operating room."

Harrington looked surprised. "You mean you really do intend to operate tonight? Galen, it's not necessary...just give him a sedative. He'll get through the night all right."

The old man went on as if Harrington had not spoken. "I also want another bed brought in."

The other doctor's eyes narrowed. "What for?"

Doc frowned. "So I can stay with my patients. I don't mind sleeping in a chair but you must have a spare cot around here somewhere."

Harrington laughed. "Galen, you're in a real hospital now. We have nurses to watch the patients when we doctors have to be elsewhere."

"Is Nurse Gridley a good representative of your nursing staff?" asked Doc.

"She is," said Harrington. "A most efficient woman."

"I have no doubt of that, " said Doc dryly. "However, I have to tell you I've seen killers with better bedside manners and I don't want her in here again."

Harrington looked thoughtfully at Doc. He started to speak, then shook his head and consulted his watch again. "As you wish, Galen. I think you're making a mistake but it's rather late to go into it now. Miss Russell, Mr O'Brian, will you be dining with me?" Nobody responded and he left with an ironic smile and airy wave of the hand.

Festus waited until the door closed, then said miserably, "Doc, I don't like this place."

"I don't care for it either, Festus," said Doc gruffly, "but we're here now and we'll just have to make the best of it. Now I'm going to go make sure they're getting an operating room ready so I can take that bullet out of you."

The deputy's soft hazel eyes were fearful. "What 'bout Matthew?"

The old man went back to the bed and sat down. "Newly's here, and Kitty." His voice was very gentle. "They'll look after Matt. I'm not going to leave you or him alone for a minute."