The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1902-01-31

upon recovering consciousness, and ne
wanted his father and brothers. Inc
doctor would telegraph the elder Hark-
ness from the next village, but the NC
Inness camp lay sixty miles out OF the
course he must follow.
There's a very sick woman l must
see, right in the opposite direction, ne
told Mrs Hardness. 81 came here iirst
because she's probably got some other
woman who can do almost as much as
| can with her, and never delay over
calls like this. But l must get on TO
her without delay"
"I'll go for the boys" spoke up the
young minister. ut will be moon
light after ten O'Clock, and If the trails
decent well have them here by GAVIN
at the latest. A saddle horse Will
make the best time"
And saddle horse it had to be, any
way, because the only Hardness team
not up at the McInness camp for the
winter was in Bracken, waiting 10
bring Mr. Hardness home when he re-
turned from Toronto, and all the
neighbors were in similar case-both
for horses and men. So the young
minister saddled the "coltie" While
Nell made him a cup of strong COZ
fee; he swallowed it, cheered her and
was off-just as the clock struck four.
Four and a half hours later the CAMP
trail being fair, and the highway lead
ing to it hard packed and in good con-
dition, the men at the McInness camp
heard a sound of wild shouting. They
night and the frozen darkness, to find
the young minister dropping over his
| horse outside.
Lift nae down carefully. please,
men," he said-and there was new
ring to his voice which stirred their
blood strangely. 1.-THE horse fell with
me, while back, and I'm afraid my
right legs broken. / had lot of trou-
BILE getting back to the saddle again."
Then he tainted, and the broken leg
was set and splinted in rough but eff
fective camp fashion before he came
to. A circle of admiring faces sur
rounded his improvised couch when
his eyes opened, and Big Elder. the
camp talker, was performing sort of
ecstatic war dance in the corner.
Broke his leg and got on again! Rid
with the broken leg hanging! jim
mikins, but he's grit!"
So chanted Big Elder over and over,
until the young minister sobered him
with the announcement he had come
to make. And then Big Elders great.
tender arms around him, young Arch
err was borne to the rude sled which
McInness himself had made ready, and
driven, in fur-encircled luxury, back
to the Hardness farm.
Hell go home with u.s." the Hark-
ness boys had decided, summarily,
when somebody limited that his own
lodgings at Bracken were nearer; 'the
extra eight miles won't hurt him, see
ing how far he's got to go anyway, an
we can look after him better'n the ho-
tel people"
"He-he rid up here with a broken
leg 20 tell us bout Ben" finished Bill
Hardness, who had always despised
the young minister. Il reckon we owe
him something for that"
And they paid him, paid him In full
and with splendid interest, long be-
fore Ben was about again, or before
the new logging camp hero had recov-
cred from the fever and weakness
which followed that awful ride in the
bitter cold and with but a cup OF hot
coffee to stay the days hunger and ex-
haustion. For they. with every man
in the whole countryside, gave him
their fullest respect and admiration
from that moment, and the Hardness
boys and their father. to heap up the
good measure OF their bargain, con-
scented to give him-Nell.