The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-09-01

became quite close friends. They had
many traits In common yet each had
a strong will and did what they each
thought best. 1t therefore transpired
that on account of the trouble between
DR.. Lunt and the Telephone company.
that breach in the friendship be-
tween the doctor and Alice Hampton
arose that caused much anxiety and
great disappointment to each.
The Telephone company received
its greatest blow when 1t learned that
DR.. Lunt was training fifty carrier
pigeons. They fully realized how
these pigeons were to be used, yet
they repeatedly declared that 1t
could not be done with any degree OF
success. There was one person, how
ever, who knew that these pigeons
meant ruin to the company. Before
this disagreement occurred DIR. Lunt
had pigeon that he had trained to
carry messages and 1t was a useful
and reliable bird. Alice recalled the
many notes which the pigeon had
brought to her from the doctor, and
the times she had used the bird for
many errands. She loved the little
feathered messenger.
Light shortly dawned upon the peo-
pie. The success Of the new system
was pronounced The doctor, find
ing his venture SO highly appreciated,
was greatly encouraged and sent an
order for one hundred more pigeons
The telephone company was shaking
as IL about to collapse. The directors,
in their extremity, went to see DR..
Lunt When they came away from his
office the expression on their faces
showed that their errand had not
been satisfactory to them.
On the same day DR.. Lunt received
note from Alice saying:
"Dr. Lunt:
l am very sorry to know that you
have heartlessly brought my father
to ruin, utter ruin, in his old age.
can never forgive YOU"
The doctor sent to Alice, by his old
pigeon, the following brief reply:
my Dear Miss Hampton:
l regret very much that your faith
err is SO unfortunately situated in this
matter, but | must do what | think
is right l hope that you will under
stand me some day"
A few days later the doctor sat in
his office in deep thought. 1t was the
close of a summer afternoon. Pres
emily one of his pigeons came in
through the hole above the door and
few down to him. The doctor I'M
ted note from the birds neck and
ON opening it read:
Come to Sam Collins at once Mol
lie Is very sick"
The doctor looked at his watch and
told his stable boy to harness the
horse. He then turned and looked out
of the window and said to himself:
81 must not go till Old Dilo' (mean-
ing the pigeon) comes. | do not I'M
derstand what can have delayed her
The doctor had sent his old carrier
bird to one of his patients and now
eagerly awaited it's return with an
answer. He grew anxious on account
of the pigeon and also on account of
the sufferer in the Collins family.
But his anxiety was soon relieved for
he heard noise abe We the door and
on looking up he saw Old Dilo' fly
down. He took the note from the
birds neck and at once noticed writ
ing on the outside of the missive
which he quickly recognized as that
of Alice Hampton. Opening it hur-
riedly he read the following:
DIR. Lunt:
l am in trouble. Come to the woods
on the Old South Road"
Trouble" Come to the woods
What could this all mean? The doc
tors pulse beat little faster, but
he Gained himself, and turning to his
desk he wrote a note, enclosed some
tablets with 1t in the envelope, and
sent one of his pigeons with the mis-
sive to Sam Collins home.
He was soon in his wagon and rat
thing off at furious speed to the as
sistance of Alice, his old Dilo leading
the way.
That afternoon Alice Hampton had
taken a long ride along through the
woods on horseback, and had stopped
beside the road near an embankment
to pick some wild locust. Losing her
balance in the saddle, she fell from
the horse and severely sprained her
ankle. Her horse finding himself
riderless galloped off. Alice could not
walk. In this dreadful predicament
she became frightened fearing she
might have to remain there helpless
and alone all night.
But her sinking hope was revived
when she saw Dllo, the pigeon, flying
around and above her. She cried,
"Dilo, Dilo." The bird heard her
voice and flew swiftly to her. She
seized the note about the pigeons
neck and hurriedly wrote message
IN mr. limit