New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-09-30

Ollf nan Il SecOIu 10 uetlue WHICH
The conductor was obdurate. The
mountain men We're too hot-headed TO
bear with him longer. The positions
of a dozen rifles underwent a sudden
change. The conductor immediately
went pale and mentioned the law
but he agreed to stop the s~outhbound.
As he ordered his fiagman up the
tracks, the sound of the fast trains
whistle came to their ears.
The tiier came TO a s~creeching halt
with sparks streaming from its wheels.
Bill Dale and John Moreland passed
the litter and its burden into the bag
gage car and followed it hastily. and
Ben LittlefOrd climbed in after them.
John MOreland leaned out of the door
way and ordered his son Luke to pass
him his rifle. and Luke obeyed
promptly.
There was a shrek from the whistle,
and the brakes were released; the
main began to gather momentum. A
%baggageman approached John More
land and asked why the rifle. More
land half closed one zen grey eye
and patted the walnut stock of his
repeater.
"Oh, 1 jest brought it along to see
at everybody has "A straight deal" he
drawled-"go Oh about yore business,
mister"
The baggageman went about his
business.
The conductor of the fast train was
very unlike the conductor of the north
bound. When he had learned some
thing of the circumstances, he insinu
ated that Dale had done exactly the
right thing. lie would see whether
there was n doctor aboard.
Within five more minutes he re-
turned in company with an elderly
man wearing II pointed beard and S
glasses.
Doctor Mckenzie" he said polite
ly MIR. -"
dale"
The two nodded, and the physician
knelt beside the litter, which had been
placed with its ends on boxes to allow
the center 20 swing free. lie made as
'h'i'hSh an tAdllllhiioh ~ ""' ~
sible under the conditions, then arose
and stood looking down upon the
young woman with something like ad-
miration in his sober, professional
eyes.
Perfect physique" he said as
though to himself. "She will
have To undergo an operation" he told
Dale. The bone there is broken in
slightly. making a compression; she
will doubtless be unconscious until the
pressure is relieved. But she has fine
chances for n quick and entire recoy-
cry, with Il good surgeon on the job,
50 there's not much ground for worry"
Dale was glad. They We're all glad.
Ben Littleford laughed %nervously In
his sudden joy. lie went down to his
knees beside his daughter, took up
one of her limp hands and stroked II
in a way that was pitiful.
when he arose he spoke cordially
to Moreland. But Moreland didn't re-
ply. lie still looked upon his old en-
emy with contempt.
Doctor Mckenzie was leaving the
train at the next town of importance,
and he would wire Doctor Bruemer to
meet them with an ambulance, il Dale
wished.
IF you please" said Dale.
They reached the city shortly before
midnight, and were promptly met by
the surgeon Braemer toOk charge OF
the patient, put her into his ambu-
lance and hurried her TO his private
hospital. Bill Dale and the two clan
chiefs followed in an automobile. The
hillmen had never before seen an au-
%tomobile; but they asked no questions
about it, and the only word of com
ment was this. from John Moreiand
Il don't like the smell"
Everything had been made ready for
the operation. and Babe received sur
gical aid without delay.
The two ~mountaineers and Dale
waited in another room. Dale had In
duced John Moreland to unload his
rifle, both chamber and magazine.
Babes father paced the floor anxious
ly now and then. Moreland sat like
u Slbllt, WIN hiN tliDif INT tth
his knees, and watched his old enemy
queerly.
IL seemed n long time before Brae-
mer came to them and told them smil-
ingly that il was all oyer and that the
girl was then coming from under the
effects of the ether. She would be all
right soon, he was reasonably certain.
No, they'd better not see her just then.
But perhaps they could sec her at
some time during the afternoon of the
following day.
Dale escorted his W companions
to a modest hotel and then put them
in a room hat had but one bed: by
thus throwing them together in q
strange land. ne hoped to do some
thing toward making them friends.
Then Dale wen to another room, un-
dressed and went to bed.
1t may be noted, parenthetically as
it were, that John Moreland and Ben
LittIeford quickly reached a wordIess
agreement not to sleep together-they
divided the pillows and linens evenly.
tore the odd coyerlet exactly in half,
and slept on the floor.
When Dale wen down TO the lobby
the following morning an alert-eyed
young fellow sprang from a chair and
FASTENED up to him.
-By George. Bobby" Dale ex-
claimed. as they began to shake hands.
.How did you know I was here. any
wayy Your boosted lose for news,
ehT"
Guilty" smiled McLaurin. Il got
word last night that a mountain girl
had been brought q Braemer's, acct
dentally shot, and ! smelled a feud 30