Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-08-26

only half second to decide which =
The conductor was obGurate. The
mountain men were too hot-headed to
bear with him longer. The positions
of q dozen rifles underwent sudden
change. The conductor Immediately
went pale and menti.g4ed the law
but he agreed to stoc che southbound.
AS he ordered his flagman up the
tracks, the sound of the fast trains
whistle came to their ears.
The fiier came to screeching halt
with sparks streaming from it's wheels.
Bill Dale and John Moreland passed
the litter and it's burden into the bag
1 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 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 it along to see
at everybody has 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 had learned some
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
A glasses.
Doctor Mckenzie" he said polite
ly; Mr.. -"
4 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 adj
miration in his sober, professional
4 eyes.
Perfect physique" he said as
though to himself. s'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 quick and entire recov-
cry, with a good surgeon on the job.
so 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 way that was pitiful.
i 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, it 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-
tomcbile; but they asked no questions
about it, and the only word of COM
ment was this, from John Moreland !:
4 II 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
a stone, with his empty rifle between
his knees, and watched his old enemy
i queerly
i 1t seemed a long time before Brae-
mer came to them and told them smil-
ingly that it was all over 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 see her at
some time during the afternoon of the
following day.
i Dale escorted his two companions
to a modest hotel and then put them
in a room that had but one bed; by
thus throwing them together in a
strange land, he hoped to do some
thing toward making them friends.
Then Dale went to another room, UNI
dressed and went to bed.
1t may be noted, parenthetically as
it were, that John Moreland and Ben
Littleford quickly reached Wordless
agreement not to sleep together they
divided the pillows and linens evenly,
tore the odd coverlet exactly in half,
and slept on the floor.
When Dale went down to the lobby
the following morning an alert-eyed
young fellow sprang from chair and
FASTENED up to him.
"By George, Bobby!" Dale eX-
claimed. as they began to shake hands.