Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-04-27


II wonder where l could find old
Newton Wheatley, of the Luther
Wheatley Iron company? l know him,
all right. lie always liked me, Bobby"
You'll lind him ut home" McLaurn
answered. He's out of business, and
here all the time now. lie might take
a shot at coal. Why not phone him
from here?'
iii do that" Dale decided. Look
up my two friends for me, Bobby, Will
you?"
lie was soon speaking TO Newton
Wheatley. lie was brief in stating his
wishes. 10 the question as TO why he
did not go TO his father for funds
we'll, he had his reasons, and it was
rather private matter. Wheatley, OF
course, remembered the near-wedding.
The old iron man was silent for
what seemed TO Dale a very long time.
Then his voice came over the wire
with an almost ominous calm:
"Who besides you has seen this vein,
Carlyle? Anybody that knows coal?"
Yes, 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. I'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 boyish eagerness.
Wheatley began cordially: Your ia
Their tells me it is a good proposition,
Carlyle, so I'll let you have all the
money you'll need. And il you want a
good mining man, i know where you
can lay your hands on one; also | can
furnish you, at half the original cost,
all the necessary machinery and Access
series. You didn't know the old Luz
ther-Wheatlcy company dickered in
coal as well as iron; eh? Well, ii did.
Let me see you at three o'clock this
afternoon"
Dale was jubilant. Here was rare
stroke of good fortune. He went 10
McLaurin-who had not yet found
John Moreland and Ben Littleford-
and told him about it. McLaurin was
almost as happy as Dale over it. a
bellboy appeared like a jack-in-the-boS
in the center of the floor. "Mistoh
Cahlyle Dale! Mistoh Cahlyle Dale !"
Dale wheeled. "Well?"
WANTED immejitly at Doctoh Brae-
meh's hospittle, 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
me-"
lie turned and led the way through
a long corridor ana TO a sunny white
room where Babe Littleford lay with
bandage about her temples. Ben Lit
tleford was on his knees at his
daughters bedside; he was slowly
wrnging his big, rough hands and beg
ging piteously TO be forgiven.
Babe stared at him trifie coldly.
She had not yet seen the two men who
stood in the doorway. Then she in
terrupted her father:
You hush, pap, and 60 away. I'd
told We hunderd times about tghtin
a-bein' murder, and specially TO us
wimmenfolks, and you never would
pay any 'tentiOn TO me. You hush,
pap, and 20 away. Ef l die, III jest
hat TO die. And eff l die, shore do
want TO die in peace. Go way, pap"
"But We must live Babe, honey ="
Ben Littleford moaned. EFF you was
to die, what'd l do?"
81 don't know what ye'd do, pap"
Babe said weakly. You ought to
thought o. that afore, pap. II may be
too late now. l want We TO go on of
and le' me alone. Ef | die, l want To
die in peace. The Lord knows never
got to live in peace"
There was worried look I'm her
wonderful brown eyes, and the doctor
saw it. He strobe forward decisively
and helped Littleford to his feet. The
hillman wiped away tear with his
faded blue bandana, and hung his
head. He had been made q broken
man in one day.
"Go out to your friend Moreland,"
smiled the doctor, "and wait there for
a little while"
Babes father walked unsteadily out
OF the room. Dale went to Doctor
Braemer and whispered, Isn't she go
ing to make it," anxiousiy.
Certainly she's going 10 make It,"
Braemer assured him. Go on; she
wants to see YOU"
Dale drew chair UP close to the
white bed and sat down. Babes eyes
lighted at once, and she put a hand
uncertainty out toward him. Dale took
the hand in his. He saw that 1t was
little pale under It's delicate sunburn.
GLAD to see you, Babe" he told her
softly. why do you think you're go
ing TO die, BabeY"
She smiled at him. "Why, I don't
think I'm a-goin' 90 die" she said. II
know I'm a-goin' TO live, Bill Dale.
1 feel like / could walk fifty miles
right nowl"
"But heard you tell your father"
81 was a-tryin' to skeer him out o.