Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-01-30

Amt pad busted, non.
| With trembling hands Mrs. Herka-
mer produced some bottles and band
| ages from the cupboard. Her hus-
band reached for his grcatcoat.
| 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.
Baptists raised his squatty figure
to its full height.
No good you 60" he declared, stur-
Oily; bad way t'rou rayine. 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-brecd's right" said DR..
Brown. IF the legs broken, it needs
looking after at once, and Baptiste is
just as good at that work as | 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 a 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, 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.
well, | guess mebbe you go long"
he acquiesced, graciously; dat is, if
you tink you good for tough job"
Old Hcrkamer 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
ravinc to save his life," he blurted
out.
Amt go t'rou ravine," Baptiste de-
clared, stolidly; ego 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 fer old peoples"
Herkamer snorted, but slowly re-
moved his coat
Well, young feller," 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't 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. | had it made especially for this
sort of work, and it is very warm l
do not like heavy wraps for hard
walking; the exercise is better. Now,
Baptiste, about the route? Is this ra-
vine you speak of plain trail? Would
greenhorn like me be likely to lose
his way?"
mon; 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
any trail. We must take no chances
You go round by the hill, and / will
take the ravine, with lantern. / am
used to climbing, and can possible
get through without any trouble"
Baptiste raised his hands as though
to protest, but no words came from
his lips. Those straight glances were
controlling him, and his hands fell to
his sides. The minister was a leader,
evidently, and must be obeyed.
When they turned toward the door
the rest accompanied them. Baptiste
bent his head to the storm and plung-
ed stolidly away to the hill route; the
minister waited for few directions
from IIerkimer; then he strobe out
into the gathering darkness toward
the ravine.
do you think there's any chance at
all of his making it?" asked Herka-
mer in troubled voice.
"Chanee?" echoed the doctor, with
a curious ring in his voice; "of course
do. That young fellow is small only
in size. Why, has climbed half the
mountains in Europe, and likes moth
ing better than tough wrestIe like
this to help somebody It's the best
job | ever did for the neighborhood,
getting him here. | was afraid |
couldn't, for he has plenty of money,
and only took TO the ministry through
love for the work. | thought he'd
want softer place; but, no, he actu-
ally seemed pleased when asked him
to come out to our wild country. OF
course he'll make it."
And he did, but with a sheer force
of will that made it linger for many
long year about the neighborhood
firesides as story of pluck and en-
DURANGO. And when he stood in the
pulpit the next Sabbath, with one arm
in sling and his face still pale from
the journey, there was not one in the
rought audience but listened with re-
spectful and earnest attention. And
later, When they crowded about to
shake hands after service, it was not
If - T. L. -