The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-05-08

break up the gathering. But il was Of
no use. Young Doc had laid his plans
too well. and he carried the meeting
with him from start TO finish. His
speech was a masterpiece. He told the
assembled farmers all about the natural
advantages of their township, and tho
beauties of their valley. Then he pic
tured the disgrace IL would be to such
an enterprising lot of citizens IL the
road were TO be gobbled up by such
n bacl1woods and behind-hand settle
ment as Barlxley's Corners. He had
himself left the Corners because of the
superior attractions of their township
and he was personally so much inter-
ested that he would start the subscrip-
ton with $500, nearly his entire saw
irgs from his wages as a school-teach-
err before he had begun to read medi-
cine. III the others would properly fol-
low suit and then vote the bonds at
special town meeting, TO be called
some time the next week, the prize
would be won.
"Young Doc" must have accom-
plished a good deal among the farmers
before the meeting, as well as in his
speech, for the needed subscriptions
were all made, and a resolution in ia.
vor of bonding at a special town meet
ing to be held the next month was
passed without n dissenting voice,
Gavin being too enraged TO vote at all.
IL was then that the real fight began.
Although Gavin had been the only one
present at the meeting who was OPP
posed TO the railroad, there were sew
eral others in the township, and they
and Ingram strained every nerve to
Illustrate Young Docs plan. Gavin did
most, OF course, for he had double
motive. lie hardly slept until the day
OF the special meeting, and he called
On almost every voter in the settle
ment. OF course Young Doc didn't rest
minute, and Miss Meg wanted to
help, but Gavin, in a voice OF thunder,
forbade her going out of the house or
seeing Opdylle till after the fight was
over, and both she and her lover
thought IL best to heed her fathers
command.
At the finish Young Doc won. The
bonding proposition was carried by .
vote of three to one.
Before winter set in grading was well
begun in the valley, and by next mid
summer the construction train actually
crossed the fiat lands of Gavin's farm,
and the engine seemed to loot laugh
at the old Londonderry man every time
the engineer pulled the whistle cord.
Gavin made a great stand against the
men when they got ready TO go TO
work on his land, taking up his posi-
ton right in the middle of the line
MS surveyed, but dozen Of the men
picked him up bodily and carried him
away roaring with rage, in spite of his
frantic struggles. 1t was great les
son 10 him, and he took il to heart most
pitifully. For a month or two he man.
aged to avoid Young Doc, but the meet
! ing could not be put off for ever, and
one day they ran against one another
at Graham's store at Slatertown.
Young Doc held out his hand, but for
minute Ingram refused to see ii.
Then he suddenly changed his mind,
and gripped 0pdylSe's hand till tho
bones cracked.
you're fine lad, Young Doc" said
Gavin, "and I'd be pleased to welcome
We at the house whenever ye're minded
10 come up and set the day. Ye'ye
won yer point, and I'll not gainsay va
ser reward"
IL was not till after that that any
outsider knew why Young Doc had
taken up the railroad fight, but when i
got noised abroad il made him more
popular than ever, for everybody then
thought the building of the railroad
would make good-sized towns spring
up at every crossroad. Whether il did
or not is neither here nor there. For
years nobody knew, either, that the
railroad men had made up their minds
that the Wilseyville route was the bet
ter of the two before ever Melville
Opdyke went 10 see the engineer, and
that the latter always looked upon
Young Docs bargain with Gavin MS an
especial dispensation Of providence in
favor Of the railroad company. It's
only fair to say, though, that Young
Doe didn't know this either
Gavin Ingram was great success in
his defeat, for he gave his lass and
Young Doc such a wedding as the val
| ley had never seen before or since. lie
insisted on their being married right
away after the rails were laid across
his farm, and then he forced Young
Doc TO take enough money to carry
him through his course at one of the
big medical colleges, for Gavin was well
heeled as TO the dollars.
That's all there Is to the story, but it
isn't likely many folks outside the Cor
ners and the Valley have ever before
heard that he sought to change the
route or a railroad 10 get his wife.
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