Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-12-19


Scott was the name of the postmas-
ter where the mail was due. Letters
knew him. He looked grieved, it was
such a long way off He seemed to
think for a moment; then he laid down
the rag and put out his paw for a
good-by shake.
Ben shook, then said: "Good-by!
Now go, sir! Go to Scott's!" Letters
picked up the rag, whined mournfully,
and trotted away over the edge of the
gully.
One hour-two-three-th dog did
not return. He was gone. Would he
keep on the whole 40 miles? Would
he get through in spite of the dangers
by the way?
When two more days and nights
had passed with no rescue, Ben feared
that Letters was dead, and resolved to
start himself the next morning.
Bones knit all right" he thought,
after dressing his leg. "Daren't try
any weight on it yet, but reckon I
can travel on one foot. Guess can
draw the mail sledge, few rods at a
time, quite piece in all day. This
mail has got to go on somehow"
Thus resolved, he slept soundly. In
the night he was awakened by a
pounce upon his body. He started up
igrasping his revolver.
"Why, Letters!"
The dog barked, pranced, rolled over
hic h IN oh !, 10
and manifested delight in every dog
igish way. But Ben noticed that he
did it lamely and with nice care. Max
Ing his fire blaze, he saw that Letters
was badly scratched with sore scars
besides being very tired.
No doubt the dog had been in fight
with some wild beast day or two ago
But the chip was gone-evidently Let
tiers had lost it.
Ben fed the dog literally, and the
two lay down together. They would
start in the morning, and Letters
would help him.
Just after daylight Letters leapet
up, barking, and ran out of sight along
the trail Ben heard him barking {
long way of Soon clear "Hello!'
sounded above his bark, and presently
Letters reappeared at the brow of tht
| gulch, proudly leading three stalwar
| settlers.
Hello, down there!" one cried. Gal
alive and clipper, Ell? That's good
| We feared-How's this? We expected
to find Dick Garry! Well. we'll! Ant
you're getting on fine Boy, you'v'
done big thing; mighty few mel
could have managed so WE'LL"
Ben shook hands all round. Thel
came reaction. He buried his fac
in his hands and sobbed for severa
minutes.
4 Don't, now!" "Sho!" your har'
times are all over now, youngster!
Take it easy!" With such assurance
the men soothed him until he becam
calm.
1 One of them, busy getting breakfast
broke out: "Well. if the youngste
hain't kept camp neater'n well man
Meat hung up, eevrything clean an
handy, no litter. And he most too lam
to stir!"
"Sho! So he has. But see this her
leg, Bill. If there's a doctor can do u
broken limb in handler job tha
this l don't know him! Ben, you're
buster!"
While eating, they told Ben how Lei
tiers appeared at Scott's, torn an
bloody. They inferred he had met ma
fought off wildcat. The chip whic
he carried was read, and three me
started as soon as they could &c
ready. Letters wounds were dressed
he was fed and given bed by til
fire; but he soon started after the mel
and kept with them until they wei
about a dozen miles from Witchwate
when he dashed ahead alone.
~ After breakfast one of the men s,
off with the mail The other two rigge
a litter Of two poles, with skins lashe
across them. on which Ben lay cor
fortably, while the men shouldered tt
poles and carried him.
The mail reached Scott's on IL
morning of the day before Christina
What Christmas eve the settle
made for him!
There was not another stocking
all that region SO stuffed as his {
: Christmas morning, and there wer
: besides, parcels that it could not hol
! He was given seat of honor at tt
Christmas dinner at Scott's, and whs
the toast was given. 1.-THE Witchwat
: Mail" to which Ben was expected
speak, all he could say, being great
abashed at the cheering, was:
: Ladies and gentlemen. The mail
t well-er-the mail-she's bound to G
through, if the mountains don't fall I
. us! Eth, Letters?" -
Letters was seated in chair Whe
1 he could catch morsels thrown to hi
. At this appeal he parked right enthu
9 astically, plainly replying, Right y
are, Master Ben"-Youth's Compa
|. ion.
}, 1CA9ToRfA.r
e p Bears tn. - The Kind YOU Have Always Bong