Read Online Doctor and the Kid, The (A Weird West Tale) (Weird West Tales) by Mike Resnick - Free Book Online Page B

longer,” replied Edison.
    “Doesn't look like it's going to blow again for awhile,” said Holliday. “And besides, you'll be inside.”
    “Doc, do you see that little button on the left temple of your goggles?” asked Buntline.
    “I don't see it, but I can feel it.”
    “Press it.”
    Holliday did so, and suddenly his vision was so blurry he could barely see. “What the hell happened?” he demanded.
    “You just turned the two lenses into magnifying glasses. If you press the button on the right temple, they'll become spyglasses. Not powerful ones, but far stronger than your eyes.”
    “We don't know what we're looking for,” added Edison, “and it may be that we'll need the goggles to spot anything unusual.”
    “And if not, we have other methods,” added Buntline.
    The three men walked into the station building. There was a bearded middle-aged man in a railroad jacket standing in the kiosk where tickets were sold, and a young man who had barely enough stubble to make his chin look dirty was sitting on a bench, reading a dime novel.
    “Still blowing?” asked the stationmaster.
    “Just finished,” said Holliday.
    The stationmaster studied the three men. “Damnedest spectacles I ever saw,” he said at last.
    “They're all the rage in New York,” said Holliday sardonically.
    The young man looked up. “New York?” he said. “I knew someone from there once.”
    “Bet he wishes he was back there every time he found himself in a dust storm,” said the stationmaster.
    “I don't know,” said the young man. “I never asked.”
    Edison turned to Holliday, “Ned and I are going to take a good, thorough look around.”
    “I'll help you,” offered Holliday.
    Edison smiled. “You don't know what you're looking for.”
    “Neither do you,” said Holliday.
    “True,” admitted Edison. “But we'll know it when we find it.”
    “Grab yourself a drink, Doc,” added Buntline. “We won't be that long.”
    Holliday pulled his goggles down until they hung around his neck again, and walked up to the stationmaster. “I assume that's a service you provide?”
    The man nodded. “It gets mighty dry out here, waiting for the train to come.” He reached down, found a bottle and a glass, and poured Holliday a drink.
    Holliday laid a dime on the counter, then turned to see which bench he wanted to sit on, and became aware that the young man was staring unblinking, at him.
    “Is something wrong, son?” asked Holliday.
    “You're him , ain't you?” said the young man. He got to his feet, still staring with an expression of total awe on his face. “They called you Doc.”
    “I am a doctor. Well, a dentist, anyway.”
    “A dentist !” exclaimed the young man. “Then you are Doc Holliday!”
    Holliday tipped his hat. “At your service.”
    “Doc Holliday!” repeated the young man excitedly. “I can't believe it!” He held up the dime novel. “I been reading about you all year!”
    “Am I in that one?”
    “No, this one's about the Younger Brothers.” Suddenly the young man blushed furiously. “Where are my manners?” He held out his hand. “I'm Henry Antrim.” Holliday took his hand. “Damn! Now I can say I shook Doc Holliday's hand!”
    “Come on over and share a drink with Doc Holliday,” said Holliday. “My treat.”
    “Are you sure?” said Antrim. “I mean, I should be buying one for you!”
    “Someday, Henry, when you have money, you can return the favor.”
    “What makes you think I don't have money?” asked Antrim defensively.
    “The train doesn't come until tomorrow,” answered Holliday. “There's only one reason to be waiting for it now. You've got no money to buy a room back in town.”
    The young man's face displayed a guilty smile. “Truth to tell, I couldn't have bought you a drink. But I felt I had to offer.”
    “Loan me that book for a minute, Henry,” said Holliday, stretching out his hand. Antrim gave it to him, and Holliday turned to the stationmaster. “You got a