The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-10-07

ten minutes before the arrival OF the
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 Aloreland,
and strobe UP to the locomotive. The
engineer sat qui=tly 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 ut 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, and take her to Barton's
station. There's a good doctor at Bar
toms"
But this is a case for a surgeon! !"
impattently 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. "or we'll take your ID
red flag and hold her up long enough
to put the girl aboard, and you've got
only half n second to decide which -
The conductor was obdurate. The
mountain men were too hot-headed to
| kanr with him ICnnnr Uha Dacitf1ng
Of n 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 flagman up the
tracks, the sound of the fast trains
whistle Came to their ears.
The flier came TO a screeching halt
with sparks streaming from it's wheels.
Bill Dale and John MOreland passed
the litter and its burden into the bag
gage car and followed it hastily, anu
Ben LittlefOrd climbed in after them.
John Moreland leaned oQtsof the door
way and ordered his sonFLuke to pass
him his rifle, n 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, l jest brought it along to see
at everybody has a straight deal,' he
drawled-"go 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 mad learned some
thing of the circumstances, he insinu-
ated that Dale had done exactly the
right thing. He would see whether
there was q doctor aboard.
Within five more minutes he re-
turned in company with an elderly
man wearing q pointed beard and nose
glasses.
Doctor Mckenzie" he said polite
ly; MIR. -"
Dale"
The two nodded, and the physician
knelt beside the litter, which a been
placed with it's 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 with something like adj
miration in his sober, professional
eyes.
Perfect physique" he said as
though to himself. . . -. "She will
have to undergo an operation" he told
Dale. 1.-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 a quick and entire recov-
cry, with q good surgeon on the job.
so there's not much ground for worry"
Dale was glad. They were all glad.
Ben Littleford laughed nervOusly in
his sudden JOY. He went down to his
knees beside his daughter, took up
one OF her limp hands and strOked 1t
in a 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 mex own of importance,
and he would wire Doctor Braemer 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 aIpbu-
lance and hurried her to his private
hospital. Bill Dale and the two clan
chiefs followed in IN automobile. The
hillmen had never before seen an au-
tomobile; but they asked no questions
about 1t, and the only word of com
ment was this, from John MOreland !:
II don't like the smell"
Everything a been made ready fer