Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1902-12-27

man was all right, of course. hur he
was IN the wrong place. It was a
manifest duty to discountenance the
mistake
AT TINS moment came a stumblino
outside, and an Intellectual groping for
the latchstring, then an open de do,
l sa-ay, open de do'i'
Herkamer sprang forward to com.
ply, and as the door swung back a
short, squatty figure half fell into the
room.
THE half-breed," calculated Herka-
mer, forgetting to shut the door in
his CONSERVATION. Whats up, Bap-
tiste? Where is Seth?"
Busted, responded Baptiste,
throwing out his arms dramatically:
tree fell on shanty, break t'rou. Seth
busted, Batiste-busted, too.
Come for help, medicine-rub on
Not dead?" gasped Mrs. Herkamer,
her face whitening. 'Seth amt dead pr
This brought the breed to his
| senses.
Non, only jes' busted" he reas-
surred her. LEG hurt SO amt walk.
! Me-Ba' tiste-busted too, finger
broke. Come for medicine rub on.
Amt bad busted, non"
With trembling hands Mrs. Herka-
mer produced some bottles and band
ages from the cupboard Her hus-
! band reached for his greatcoat.
I'VE must hurry back to him." he
cried. IF his legs broke, it must
be attended to at once. You'll have
to excuse u.s. to his guests.
Baptiste raised his squatty figure
to its full height.
No good you Co." he declared, stur-
Oily; bad way t'rou ravine. Fo'teen
mile we come, all time fallin' an
climbin'; take five, six hour You no
strong like young man. Better me go
| lone. Go two time quick. Leg broke,
want look out for soon. Me fix him,
den we stay two, tree day, an come
home all right Bes' way"
| THE half-breed's right" said DR..
| Brown. eff the legs broken, it needs
| looking after at once, and Baptiste is
! just as good at that work as I am.
Two old fellows like us, Herkamer,
would only be drag on Baptiste's
progress"
But old Herkamer paid not the
least notice. He was resolutely hump
ing his shoulders into his greatcoat,
when he felt light touch on his
arm. ..
you would better stay here, Mr..
Herkamer," the young minister said,
quietly. Your son is in need of help,
which should reach him just as speed
! lily as possible. l am used to this sort
of thing, and am young and strong; be-
sides, l have some little knowledge of
medicine. Baptiste and / can do all
that is necessary" He buttoned his
| coat and turned to the half breed, who
had been listening with open derision.
But, somehow, when Baptiste met the
straight gaze of this young fellow the
contempt faded from his face. Like
those who live close to nature, he was
accustomed to look into the eyes, and
those eyes were strangely legible.
We'll, [ guess mebbe you go long"
he acquiesced, graciously; dat is, if
you think you good for tough job"
Old Herkamer stared. That soft
handed boy, used to this sort Of
thing" and Baptiste accepting him in
preference to himself? What was the
world coming to?
why, the boy can't get through the
ravine to save his life" he blurted
out.
Amt go I'rou ravine," Baptiste de-
clared, stolidly; go roun' by hill dis
time Take two time longer, but mo-
safe. Go in ravine, find snow tick,
mebbe no get t'rou. Bes' go safe way.
But no time wait for old peoples"
Herkamer snorted, but slowly re-
moved his coat.
We'll, young feIler," ignoring Bap-
tiste and speaking to the minister,
you'd better put on my big coat an
all the other warm stuff we can scare
up. Better freeze comfortable longs
| you're bound to freeze. An don't let
| that half-breed push you on too fast.
| we don want no REMAINS On our
hands, even if Seth has broke his leg"
| The young minister smiled.
This costume is all l need, thank
you. l had it made especially for this
sort of work, and it is very warm.
do not like heavy wraps for hard
walking; the exercise is better. Now,
Baptiste, about the route? Is this ra-
vine you speak of a plain trail? Would
a greenhorn like me be likely to lose
his way?'
Non; it be narrow, an dere be
rocks high on bot sides, an de camp
be right in de middle. 1t can't be miss
| if one go dat fur. But we amt goin'
| in de ravine, non. We go roun' by de
! hill. De ravine no let US out, mebbe,
| an him berry dark, now"
We'll. we must remember that a
| man is waiting in urgent need of help
| and that a barrier is liable to block
| onv trail We must take no chances.