Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-07-21

fast mail. A short passenger train
was on the long siding. waiting for the
south bound to pass. Dale gave his
end of the litter to Caleb Moreland,
and strobe up to the locomotive. The
engineer sat quietly smoking in his
cab.
Dale wanted the fast mail stopped,
and gave his reasons.
The engineer smoked and cOnsid-
cred. 1t was against rules. Dale
swore at rules. The engineer said he
would see the conductor. He did, and
the conductor stepped TO the ground
and began to consider.
"Better put her on my train" he
said finally, land take her to Barton's
station. There's a good doctor at Bar
| TOMS"
"Bnt this IL q case for q surgeOni"
impatiently interrupted Bill Dale.
They disagreed. The old trainman
was a close friend Of the doctor at
Barton's station. What was the diff
ference between a doctor and q sur
geon, anyway
Dale became angry.
you'll stop the fast mail for u.s."
he snapped. cor well take your id
red nag and hold her up long enough
to put the girl aboard, and you've goI
only half second to decide which !"
The conductor was obdnrate. The
mountain men were too hOt-headed to
bear with him longer. The positions
Of dozen rifles underwent a sudden
change. The conductor Immediately
went pale and mentioned the law
but he agreed to stop the southbound.
As ne ordered his flagman up the
tracks. the sound OF the fast trains
whistle came to their ears.
The fiier came to a, screeching 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 1t 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
train began to gather momentum. A
baggageman approached John More
land and asked why the rifle. More
land half closed one keen grey eye
and patted the walnut stock Of his
repeater.
"Oh, Jest brought 1t along to see
at everybody has a straight DEAL" he
drawled-sgo on 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 sorne-
thing of the circumstances, he insinu-
ated that Dale had done exactly the
right thing. He would see whether |
there was doctor aboard.
Within five more minutes he re-
turned in company with an elderly
man wearing pointed beard and nose
glasses.
Doctor Mckenzie" he said polite
ly; "Mr. H
dale"
The two nodded, and the physician
knelt beside the litter, which had been
placed with its ends on boxes to allow
the center to swing free. He made as
thorough an examination as was pos
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. '1The bone there IL broken In
slightly, making a compression; she
will doubtless be unconscious until the I
pressure IL relieved. But she has fine
chances for a quick and entire recov-
cry, with q good surgeon on the Job,
20 there's not much ground for worry
Dale was glad. They were all glad.
Ben LittIeford laughed nervously in
his sudden joy. He went down to his
knees beside his daughter, took up |
one Of her limp hands and stroked It
IN q way that was pitifuL
When he arose he spoke cordially |
to Moreland. But MOreland didn't re-
ply. he still looked upon his old en-
envy with contempt
Doctor Mckenzie was leaving the
train at the next town Of importance.
and he would wire Doctor Braemer to
meet them with an ambulance. II Dale
wished.
III yen please" said Dale.
They reached the city shortly before
midnight, and were promptly met BY
the surgeon. Braemer took charge or
the patient. put her into his ambu-
lance and hurried her to his private
hospital. BIN Dale and the two clan
chiefs followed IN "a automobile. The
hlIlmen had never before seen an au-
tomobiIe; but they asked 10 questions
about II and the only word Of COM
ment was this. from John Moreland:
y 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
"A.