American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-01-13
CHAPTER WI.
Lonesome.

tleford had finished their breakfast
there in the dining room of the BIais-
dell, they drank the water from their
,iingerbowls, threatened with sudden
death the waiter who ~snickered, and
found the way 10 rhe lobby.
TO Littleford dhe minutes dragged
soddenly. Finally ne told Moreland,
in a sentence filled with double mega.
,tives, that he could bear the pen
no longer. and proposed that they sci
out AT once for Doctor Braelner'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 Littleford 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.
Your 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 Littleforct
stole out unnoticed by his ~neighbor
from the Big Pine, inc went at a brisk
gait up the street. Moreland found il
out shortly afterward he followed the
Littleford chief hotfoot. n overlook
him. Trust your hill dweller to note
landmarks when he goes into unknown
territory - Littleford vas headed
straight for the hospital.
They walked for two blocks in 81.
Ience. Moreland had assumed the AT
titude Of one who has had the guaro
ianship of an irresponsible person
thrust upon him. But 10 he soft
ened somewhat.
II shore CANT understand, Ben" he
drawled, "how Bill Dale ever could
bear 1t to live here"
II wonder Littleford said absent
mindedly, 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"
III wasn't ham 1t was beef"
lit was ham,"
"lt was beef"
at was ha-"
Don't We reckon" tiared John More
land, that l know a dang cows meat
when / see itf 1t was beef !'
They had halted in the middle of a
stream OF pedestrians. A policeman
crowded his way to them.
Move on !" he growled.
y
Bill Dale was at that enter
ing the lobby of the Blaisdell 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
MeLaurin told Dale something thai
saved him the journey to Cincinnati
"You haven't heard about Harris
Billy I'm sorry, because he woulC
have accommodated you. lie wen
broke a few days ago in the cotton
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.
"Iu ave to try somebody here,
guess. But 1 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 a fei
lows mother would urn him dowI
like this Usually, y'know, it's a fel
lows mother that sticks by him the
longest.
Il wonder where l could find ole
Newton Wheatley, of the Luther
Wheatley Iron company7 l know him
all right. he always liked me, Bobby.
you'll find him at home" McLauril
d answered. He's out of business, ant
here all the time now, He might tax,
a shot at GOAL. Why not phone hin
: from here2"
"Ill do that. Dale decided. "Lool
up my two friends for me, Bobby, vii
your
y He was soon speaking to NewtoI
! Wheatley. he was brief in stating hi
{ wishes. To the question as to why h
ulu moi go 10 MS IdLner IOE 1unuS-
{ well, he had his reasons, and 1t wa
= rather a private matter. Wheatley, 0
} course, remembered the near-weddinl
y The old Iron mar was silent TO
= what seemed to Dale a very long Tins
= Then his voice came owe the wir
y with an almost ominous calm:
"Who besides you has seen this veil
{ Carlyle? Anybody that knows coal7
Yes, my father" Dale answere
Y quickly. "He went over it years ag'
= Ask him about the coal In David More
lands mountain. Phone him, and the
Z phone me. I'm waiting at the Blaii
dell"
= Wheatley agreed a little reluctant.
Dale waited patiently for tiftee
minutes. Then the clerk called hir
to the phone, He took up the receive
> with boyish eagerness,
Wheatley began cordially: "Your fl
y Their tells me it is a good proposition
: Carlyle, SO I'll let you have all tn
money you'll need. And If 10 want