Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1905-12-22

y M uoy W otdtt l<cttCis. 0ut 1HLlCTy
could not understand. although he evr
IDENTIFY tried hard. He was wanted to
go somewhere; 80 he went down the
gulch, up the gulch, out on the trail,
forward and back a mile or 30. and re-.
turned.
Finally. ear night, Ben ostentatious
ly tied up the chip in a rag. put the
package in Letters mouth. and or.
dered: 90. Letters! Go to Scots!
Take It to SCOTS! Cot"
Scott was the name Of the postmas.
ter where the mail was due. Letters
knew him. He looked grieved, It was
such q long way of. He seemed to
think for a moment; then he laid down
the rag and put out his paw for Q
good.by shake.
Ben shook. then said: "Good-by!
Now 60. 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-the dog did
not return. He was gone. Would he
keep on the whole 43 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 1t yet, but I reckon ]
can travel on one foot. Guess | can
draw the mail sledge, a few rods Mt a
time. quite a piece in all day. This
mail has got to go on somehow"
Thus resolved, he slept soundly. In
the night he was awakened by q
pounce upon his body. He started up,
grasping his revolver.
why. Letters"
The dog barked. pranced, rolled over
stood up on his hind legs. shook hands
and manifested delight in every dog.
gish way. But Ben noticed that he
did 1t 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 a fight
with some wild beast a day or two ago
But the chip was gone-evidently Let,
tiers had lost 1t.
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 leaped
up, barking. and ran out of sight along
the trail. Ben heard him barking
long way OF. Soon a clear Hello
sounded above his bark. and presently
Letters reappeared at the brow Of the
sulch. proudly leading three stalwar
settlers.
Hello. down there" one cried. "An
alive and clipper. Ell? That's good.
We fearod-How's this? We expected
to find Dick Garry! Well. we'll! And
you're getting on fine. Boy. you've
done a big thing; mighty few men
could have managed so we'll"
Ben shook hands all round. Then
came a reaction. He buried his face
in his hands and sobbed for several
minutes.
Don't, now" "Sho!" "Your hard
times are all over now, youngster!'
Take it easy!" With such assurances
the men soothed him until he became
calm.
One OF them. busy getting breakfast
broke out: well, IL the youngsteY
hain't kept camp neater'n a well man!
Meat hung up. eevrything clean and
handy. no litter. And he most too lame
to stir"
"Sho! So he has. But see this here
leg. Bill. II there's a doctor can do up
a broken limb in a handler Job than
this don't know him! Ben, you're a
buster!"
While eating, they told Ben how Let.
ters appeared at SCOTS. torn and
They inferred he had met mad
fought Off n wildcat. The chip which
he carried was read, and three men
as o as they could get
ready. Letters wounds were dressed:
he was fed and given a bed by the
fire; but he soon started after the men
and kept with them until they wers
about a dozen miles from Whitewater
he dashen ahead alone
After breakfast M OF the men SET
off with the mail. The other two rugged
litter OF two poles. with skins dashed
them. on which Ben lay com
while the men shouldered tn.
and carried him.
The mail reached Scott's on the