The Adair County news., 1921-09-06
CHAPTER VII.
Lonesome.

When John MOreland and Ben Lit
tlefOrd had finished their breakfast
there in the dining room of the Blais-
dell, they drank the water from their
tingerbOwls, threatened with sudden
death the waiter who Snickered, and
found the way to the lobby.
To LittlefOrd the minutes dragged
sOddenly. Finally he told MOreland,
in a sentence filled with double mega
tives, that he could bear the suspense
no longer, and proposed that they set
out at once for Doctor Braemer's hos
pital. The hotel manager overheard
some of the One-sided conversation
he 'phOned the surgeon and learned
that the young woman was resting
easily, which information he passed
on to the mountain men.
Ben LittIefOrd was quiet for five
minutes, more or less. Then he again
proposed to John Moreland that they
go to the hospital to see Babe. More
land refused fatty, and accompanied
his refusal with an unmistakable look
of contempt.
You're as restless as a dawg in a
flea town." he told his old enemy, and
with that he walked away.
A few minutes later Ben LittlefOrd
stole out unnOticed by his neighbor
from the Big Pine, and went at a brisk
gait up the street. Moreland found il
out shortly afterward; he followed the
of
him. Trust your hill dweller to note
landmarks when he goes into unknown
territory - Littleford was headed
straight for the hospital.
They walked for two blocks in 81.
lence. Moreland had assumed the at
titude of one who has had the guard
ianship OF an irresponsible person
thrust upon him. But soon he soft
ened somewhat.
81 shore CANT understand, Ben," he
! drawled, how Bill Dale ever could
bear it to live here"
II WONDER" Littleford said absent
mindedIy, as though he had not heard,
"whar Bill Dale is at? It's mighty
burned lonesome without him, amt It'll
That was good ham We had for break
fuS, John"
1T wasn't ham. 1t was beef"
1T was ham,"
1T was beef"
lit was ha-"
Don't ye reckon" tiared John More
land, that l know dang cows meat
I GOO it9 hopf i''
They had halted in the middle OF a
stream of pedestrians. A policeman
crowded his way to them.
Move On!" he growled.
Bill Dale was at that moment enter
ing the lobby of the Blaisden with
Robert McLaurin at his side. Dale
had Just told McLaurin that he meant
to go to Cincinnati to borrow money
from his wealthy friend Harris. Their
McLaurin told Dale something thai
saved him the journey to Cincinnati
You haven't heard about Harris
Bill? Pm sorry, because he woulc
have accommodated you. He wenI
broke a few days ago in the cottor
smash. He was here yesterday, anC
left last night for Cincy."
Dale did not try to conceal his sur
prise and disappointment. Harris, fol
all his youth, had been a business mar
vel.
"Pll have to try somebody here,
guess. But l won't take it from ia
ther-mother wouldn't permit it, any
way, if she knew-and there are sew
eral other reasons. Queer how fel
lows mother would turn him dowI
like this! Usually, y'know, it's fel
lows mother that sticks by him the
| longest.
Il wonder where L could find OLE
Newton WheatIey, of the Luther
Wheatley Iron company? l know him
all right. He always liked me, Bobby.
You'll find him at home" McLauriI
answered. He's out of business, ant
here all the time now. He might taxi
a shot at coal. Why not phone hin
from here?
"Pll do that" Dale decided. "Lool
up my two friends for me, Bobby, will
you?"
He was soon speaking to NewtoI
WheatIey. He was brief in stating hi
wishes. To the question as to why h'
did not go to his father for funds
well, he had his reasons, and it wa
rather private matter. Wheatley, o
course, remembered the near-wedding
The old iron man was silent TO
what seemed to Dale very long time
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