The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-02-09
ii his youth, had been a business mar

vel.
"rll have to try somebody here, l
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 Il fel-
lows mother would turn him down:
like this! Usually, y'know, it's a fell
lows mother that sticks by him the
Il wonder where I 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 at home" McLaurln
answered. Hes out Of business, and
here all the time now. He might take
a shot at coal Why not. phone him
from here?" -
"Tn do that" Dale decided. Look
up my two friends for me, Bobby, will
you?"
He was soon speaking to Newton
Wheatley. He was brief III stating his,
wishes. 10 the question as to why he
did not so to his father for funds
well, he had his reasons, and it was
rather Il private matter. Wheatley, OF
course, remembered the near-wedding.
The old iron man was silent for
what seemed to Dale very long time.
Then his voice came over the wire
with an almost Ominous calm: i.
"Who besides you has seen this vein,
Carlyle? Anybody that knows coal?'
"Yes, my father" Dale answered
quickly. He went over it 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.
Whentley began cordially: "Your IA
ther tells me it is q good proposition,
Carlyle, SO I'll let you have all the
money you'll need. And il you want
good mining man. ! know where. You
can lay your hands on one also l can
furnish you, at half the original cost,
all the necessary machinery and Access
series. Y0u didn't know the Old Lll-
ther-WheatIey company dlckered in
coal as we'll as iron; Ell? Well, it did.
Let me see you at three O'Clock this
afternoon"
Dale was jubllant. Here was a rare
stroke OF good fortune. He went to
McLauriu-wh0 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 observation-disclosures
in the center OF the floor. "Mistoh
Cahlyle Dale! Mlstoh Cahlyle, Dale"
Dale wheeled. "Well?"
"Wanted imlneiltIy ut Doctoh Brae-
meh's iiospittlc, sub"
Dale shook hands with McLaurin
and hurried toward the street.
A few minutes later Doctor Braemcr
met him in the reception room.
whats wrong, doctory'
Tho surgeon beckoned. '"COlne with
me-"
lie turned and led the way through
a long corridor and to a sunny white
room where Babe Lttleford lay with
n bandage about her temples. Ben Lit
tleforl was on his knees at his
daughters bedside; he was slowly
wringing his big, rough hands and beg
ging plteously to be forgiven.
Babe stared at him n triHe' coldly.
She had not yet seen the two men who
stood in the doorway. Then she in
terrupted her father:
"You hush. pap. and so away. I'd
told We a hunderd times about tightin'
n-bein' murder, and specially to- us
wimmenfolks, and you never would
pay any 'tention to me. You hush,
pap. and go away. Ef 1 die. III jest
hat to die. And eff die, shore do
want to die in peace. Go way, pap"
But ye must live, Babe, honey"
Ben Ltttleford moaned. "Ef you was
to die, what'd l d0?"
Il don't know what ye'd do, pap,"
Babe said weakly. you OugM to
thought o that afore, pap. 1t m4y be
TOO late now. want ye to 50 on Oft
and le' inc alone. LIZ die, wast to
die in peace. The Lord knows never
got to live in peace"... - .>~
There was worried look In her
wonderful brown eyes, and the doctor
saw it He STROBE forward decIsively
and helped Littleford to his feet. The
hillman wiped away sa::tearswith his
faded blue bandanass and hung his
head. He had been made a broken
man in one day. II
eco out to your rticnd Morclsntssss'5
smiled the doctor. "and wait there Tor
little WHILE" Il
Babes father walked unsteadily out
OF the room. Dale went to Doctor
Braemer and whispered, Isn't she go
ing to make it," anxiously.
Certainly she's going to make IT,"
Braemer assured him. "Go on; she
wants to see you" 80
Dale drew chair up close to the
white bed and sat down. Babes eyes
lighted at once. and she put q hand
Uncertainty out ytowardshim. Dale took
the hand in his. He saw that it was
little pale under its delicate sunpurn.