The Adair County news., 1921-08-30
CHAPTER vi.
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Every mothers son of the IeufSfsss
was numbered in the party thaz hssSs
across David MOreland's mountaics 10
intercept the next south-bound. rss.-
The old enmity was for the time s4lRE
forgotten. Members of onsa esxE
rubbed elbows with members % eas-
other clan, and thought nothing ef r.
John Moreland himself carried rHe
end of the crude litter that held tkke
limp form of Babe LittlefOrdS. NET
Dale carried the other end.
Close behind the litter walked BaEe'ss
father, seeming old and broken R5sIs
remOrse for the thing he had ds@s.-
The grief of Ben Littleford was ssggSRs-
ing now, and Dale was little ss.rrH
that he had spoken so bitterly to kiIIa-
They reached the Halfway sWitct4
ten minutes before the arrival of tisei
fast mail. A short passenger traiEs
was on the long siding waiting for tssfI
south bound to pass. Dale gave hTsif
end of the litter to Caleb MOrq}antze
and strOde up to the locomotive Tbss
engineer sat quietly smoking ia HIS
cab.
Dale wanted the fast mai s1Oppesg.
and gave his reasons.
The engineer smoked ana COnSiGE-
cred. 1t was against rules. late
swOre at rules. The engineer sa{6 b<s
would see the conductor. He diC, &nzs
the conductor stepped to the g.uUEsCg
and began to consider.
Better put her on my tEaiH.~ hG:
said finally, and take her to Barr 8n'ss
station. There's a good doctor At BaE.-
TOMS"
But this is Il case for g surgeon -
impatiently interrupted Bill Dale.
They disagreed. The old traiaIuEn
was a close friend of the d0ct0E Ec
BartOn's station. What was the ELf-
ference between a doctor and Il ~
. geOn, anyway?
Dale became angry.
You'll stop the fast mali to- ycss
he snapped. "Or We'll take your G-sE
red flag and hold her up long grUUEh
to put the girl aboard. and yOU'y sDE
only half q SECOND to decide TtiChT
The conductor was ObGurate ThE-
mountain men were too hot-headed. to
bear with him longer. The positions
of a dozen rifles underwent sudds2
change. The conductor immediately
went pale and mentioned the law
but he agreed to stop the sOuthhOund-
As he ordered his tiagman UD, 1HSs
tracks, the sound of the fast rTSgin'Ss
whistle came to their ears.
The fiier came to a screecfdIG nSIE
with sparks streaming from its wheels
Bill Dale and John MOreland paSSeG
the litter and it's burden into the bag
gage car and followed it hastily, ana
Ben LittlefOrd climbed in after them,
John Moreland '"lned out Of the door
way and Order~d lis Son Luke to pass
him his rifle, and Luke ObeYesa
promptly.
There was a shrek from the whistle
and the brakes were released; the
train began to gather momentum 81
baggageman approached John. More
land and asked why the rife. Mere
land half closed one keen grey eye
and patted the walnut stock OF his
repeater.
"Oh, jest brought it along to see
at everybody has a straight DEAL hG
drawled-"gO on about yore business
mister"
The baygageman went about his
business. - 4
The conductor of the fast train was
very unlike the conductor of the north
bound. When he had learned some
thing CT the circumstances, he fns1nr-
ated that Dale had done exactly The
right thing. He would see whether
there was a doctor aboard.
Within five more, minutes DE re-
turned in company with an eldEEsT
man wearing pointed beard and ROSS>
glasses.
Doctor Mckenzie" he said polite
ly; Mr.. -"
dale"
To BE CONTINUED