The Hanging Tree Page #2

Name's Elizabeth Mahler, from

Switzerland. This is to her father.

Well, he sure can't read it

in his grave.

Well, the lord only knows which way she headed.

Let's all fan out...

And meet us up

at Stump Meadow.

She'll need good clothes to

survive these cold nights.

Well, if you find her dead,

fire two shots. If alive, three.

- Any luck?

- No.

- How many are still out?

- About a dozen.

Well, all right.

We'd better bed down for the night.

Stinking country. You get fried days

and froze nights.

At least we got

blankets and a fire.

But she?

We're gonna find her dead.

- You know you're bleeding, son?

- Sure, a thorn bush tear.

- You known Doc Frail long?

- Not too long.

Have some jerky.

Thank you.

I've known Doc Frail 5 years.

Ever since the Bannock strike.

We do a little business together

off and on.

The Doc could have had it pretty

easy half a dozen times

But he can't seem to get away

from that little black bag of his.

- Maybe he carries his soul in it.

- That's good...what soul he's got.

Once I asked the Doc

about that name of his: Frail.

All he said was...

...it suited a man with frail hope.

You knew that wasn't his

real name, didn't you?

No, I didn't.

- A strange man, the Doc.

- Yes.

Tried to get himself killed.

I know he slammed a fellow,

because this fellow asked

about a house that burned down.

A wonder the Doc

didn't shoot him.

Why would he have shot him?

There's a story about the Doc.

A man named Temple

was a doctor.

He lived in a town where

the Ohio runs into the Mississippi.

Seems the doctor lived in a fine grand house

on the point that overlooked the joining of the waters.

And something happened in

that house one night.

A man and a woman were killed.

And the doctor...

...put a torch to the house

and burned it to the ground.

You can still see the burned fingers sticking

above the willows where the rivers meet.

- See anything?

- Rattlesnakes.

I dunno, something.

Hey, you looking to kill a snake?

Lady!

Lady!

Lady!

I've got water. I've got water!

Water. Water.

No, no.

Not so fast, lost lady.

Please, lady. I...

... I'm going

to shoot off a gun, ma'am.

Lady...

Lady, don't be scared.

I'm going to shoot off a gun

to call the other searchers here.

You're going to be all right, Ma'am.

Frenchy promises.

- Come here!

- Is she alive?

Yes, but she sure is cooked.

She's cooked good.

Come here. Look, how she's

hanging on to my canteen.

She won't let go, see?

The poor thing ought to be dead.

Ain't much left from the neck up.

But she still is all woman

from there down.

I was only trying to

pay her a compliment.

There's nothing wrong in that.

We're going to make a litter

and take her to the cabin in Stump Meadow.

I'll ride after Doc Frail and

pass the word that you found her.

Just look here.

Maybe she was pretty.

Hey! The lost lady's found!

I found her!

At the canyon.

Me! She's alive!

I've found the lady, Doc. I want you to

come right away. She needs you.

I have a patient here.

What's the red head doing at your place?

She's dying. She didn't want to

do it where she works.

The Lost Lady is real bad.

They're taking her to Stump Meadow.

I'll be over as quick as I can.

- You ain't doing the red head no good, are you?

- No. I guess nobody ever has.

But I'm not leaving her now.

- How long will you be?

- Couple of hours, maybe.

Do you want me to strangle her

to hurry it along?

I don't want nothing from you, Doc.

Nothing at all.

I have done my duty in finding her.

You do yours when you see like it.

Glad you're here, Doc.

Let us know how she is, will you?

We took turns watching her.

She didn't move once

the whole night.

The red head kick off?

Sure glad you got here, Doc.

- You own this place?

- Yes.

- Who put the axle grease on her?

- I did.

Good. You did right.

Bring the lantern over, Rune.

Did it ever occur to you

to clean this place up?

I'll need plenty of clean water. Collect it

from the men's canteens. All they can spare.

She's talking to her father.

They killed him in the hold up.

- What's her name?

- Elizabeth Mahler.

That's my canteen, Doc.

[Moaning.]

She's suffering from second

degree burns, exposure

and possible concussion.

And she's been blinded.

- Will she ever see again?

- It's hard to tell how deep the burn is.

- We have to get her out of this filth.

- Maybe we can borrow this man's wagon.

There's a small summerhouse

right behind the store.

You can put her in my place.

Okay, I'll get the water.

Here's all the water we got.

Put it beside the stove,

We'll have to boil it.

All right, get out of here.

Doc, I know you'll be too busy

to take care of her.

When I'm done with my chores

and she needs somebody

to get her dinner...

Maybe I could get it.

Fine, Rune. Thank you.

Hey, kid!

Fancy wanting all that water!

He's got to wash her, don't he?

All over?

It's different with doctors.

They're bringing in the Lost Lady!

They're bringing her in!

Come on!

I hear how she's a foreigner.

Is she of loose virtue?

What's that mean? She's foreign and

she's blind and she's hurt bad.

Dr. Frail? I think my husband acted

hastily in offering our place.

- What if she dies in there?

- She's not going to die.

It's going to be all right, Miss.

You're all right now.

We're home now.

[Mumbling]

- I do not like this - one bit.

- Let's get back to the store, Edna.

Close the shutters.

This room must be kept dark.

Elizabeth. Can you understand me?

The stage was held up.

The horses ran away with you.

- But you're safe now.

- Oh, God. You are not my father...

- How's....they are killing him!

- You must remain quiet.

I've found some more tea.

Add some to the pot.

I never heard of putting

tea on anybody.

Fool book. It says

stupor or semi-consciousness may

be induced by a

sharp blow on the head.

I learned that the first time

I ever fell off a horse.

Why don't they try to

learn what happens inside?

That's where the

damage is done.

Bring the lamp.

She's looking kind

of human.

Took us two days. Why can't

we get the canteen?

If you'd gone through what she has,

you wouldn't let go of it either.

She's awake.

Only half awake.

The other half

is still somewhere else.

By golly, Doc.

I think you can you take

the canteen now.

- But she's got a hold of you now, Doc.

- That's all right.

I'll sit here

until she lets go.

Go to bed.

Who are you?

I'm a doctor.

Why are my eyes covered?

You've been badly burned

by the sun.

The sun.

- Can I see you?

- Not yet.

You are temporarily -

remember, temporarily - blind.

My father...

...dead, isn't he?

Yes.

He was killed in the hold up.

And he didn't even live

for the payback.

Where is he buried?

By the road where it happened.

Now I'm going

to get you something to eat.

Don't be frightened of being alone.

My cabin is only a few paces away.

Doctor, is there someone

for me? A woman?

No.

What am I wearing?

They sent your trunk

and your traffic bag.

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