The Belding banner-news., 1921-09-14

Robert Mcl.aurin at his slue. Dale
had lust told McLaurin that he meant
TO 20 TO Cincinnati To borrow money
from his wealthy friend Harris. Then
Mclaurin told Dale something that
saved him the journey To Cincinnati.
You. haven't heard about Harris,
Bill? I'm sorry, because he would
have accommodated you. He went
broke few days ago in the cotton
smash. lie was here yesterday, ana
left last night for Cincy
Dale did not try 10 concea! his sur
prise and disappointment. Harris, for
all his youth had been business mar
vel.
"lll have 10 try somebody here,
guess. but 1 won't take il from ia
ther-mother wouldn't permit IL, any
way. il she knew-ald there are sew
efal other reasons. Queer how tel-
lows mother would turn him down
like this Usually, yknow, it's tel-
lows mother that sticks BY him the
Il wonder where l could find old
Newton Wheatey. Of the Luther
Mheatley Iron compunyl | know him,
all right. lie always liked me, Bobby.
You'll lind him AT home" Mclaurin
answered. Hes out of business, and
here all the time now. lie might take
a shot at coal. Why not phone him
from here!" ucse
I'll do that" Dale decided. Look
up my two friends for me. Bobby, Will
your
He was soon speaking TO Newton
Wheatey. lie was brief In stating his
wishes. To the question as 10 why he
did not go TO his father for funds
well. he had his reasons, and IL was
rather private matter. Wheatley, OF
course, remembered the near-wedding.
The old iron man was silent for
what seemed 10 Dale very long time.
Then his voice came over the wire
with an almost ominous calm:
"Who besides yuu has seen this vein,
Carlyle? Anybody that knows coaly''
"ics, my father" Dale answered
/ quickly. "He went over il years ago.
ASK him about the coal in David More
lands mountain. Phone him. and then
phone me. l'm waiting at the Blais-
dell"
Wheatley agreed little reluctantly.
Dale waited patiently for fifteen
minutes. Then the clerk called him
TO the phone. he took up the receiver
with boysh eagerness.
Wheatley began cordially: Your ia
ther tells me IL is good proposition,
Carlyle, so I'll let YOU have all the
money you'll need. And If you want a
good mining man, | know where y0u
! can lay your hands on one; also | can
4 furnish you, NJ half the original cost,
all the necessary machinery and acces-
sories. You didn't know the old Lu-
ther- wheatley company dickered in
coal as well as iron eh? Well. it did.
Let me see you at three O'Clock this
| afternoon"
4 Dale was jubilant. Here was rare
! stroke OF good fortune. He went TO
/ McLaurin-who had not yet found
! John Moreland and Ben Littleford-
! and told him about IT, McLaurin was
almost as happy as Dale over IL. A
bellboy appeared like a jack-in-the-box
| I'm the center OF the floor. "Mistoh
Cahlyle Dale! Mistoh CahIyle Dale -
Dale wheeled. "Well?"
Wanted immejitly at Doctoh Brae-
meh's frospttle. sub :"
Dale shook hands with McLaurin
and hurried toward the street.
few minutes later Doctor Braemer
met him in the reception room.
whats wrong. doctor?"
The surgeon beckoned. Come with
1 me-
He turned and led the way through
long corridor and TO a sunny white
room where Babe Littleford lay with
a bandage about her temples. Ben Lit
tleford was on his knees at his
daughters bedside; he was slowly
wringing his big, rough hands and beg
ging plteously 10 be forgiven.
Babe stared at him tribe coldly.
She had not yet seen the two men who
stood in the doorway. Then she in
terrupted her father:
You hush, pap, and go away. I'D
told We hunderd times about tightin
a-bein' murder. and specially to us
wimmenfolks, and you never would
pay any 'tention to me. You hush
pap. and 90 away. Ef | die. I'll jest
haf to die. And ef | die, | shore dc
want to die in peace. Go way pap"
''But ye must live, Babe. honey y
Ben Littleford moaned. "Ef you was
to die, what'd I do?"
II don't know what ye'd do. pap
babe said weakly. You ought Il
thought o. that afore, pap. II may bs
too late now. want We TO go on OF
and le' me alone. Ef ! die. want e
die in peace The Lord knows | never
got to live I'm peace I"
There was worried look In heI
wonderful brown eyes, and the doctor
saw IT, lie strode forward decisivel,
and helped Littleford to his feet. Th'
hillman wiped away tear with hi
faded blue bandsna. and hung hi
head. lie had been made a brokeI
l man In ono dav