Plentywood herald., 1927-06-10

along with me. If you'll pardon the
liberty sir" Tom Baker insisted. we
were just having a round"
YOU'D find it saft up on the moors TO-
day" Granfer Crocombe remarked.
"It seems to be raining everywhere,
was the somewhat evasive response.
you've not had the best OF the wealth
er for your holiday, Sir" Mr.. Scroggins
ventured.
IAN uncertain climate, the English"
The drinks were brought and served
A few polite remarks were addressed 10
the stranger, to which he replied cour-
teously but vaguely. After a time he
drifted out OF the conversation, which
was chiefly concerned with local topics
He filled a great pipe. leaned back In his
chair, and presently relapsed into do7e
In his attitude OF relaxation most OF the
little company permitted themselves q
glance or two. On the whole their ob-
servation was favorable. There was 10th
ing in the least sinister or mysterious
about his appearance.
The stranger suddenly aroused himself
IT beg everyones pardon" he declared
sitting up. 81 really believe I was doz-
ing"
"Quite all right, SIR" MIR. Tidd assured
him.
1.-THE air be strong In these parts,
Tom Baker added.
The stranger knocked out the ashes
@N~%%@%@@N%ASN%
"The drinks are on me- if you please. -
he insisted. "I have been guilty Of q
serious breach Of good manners. AS you
were remarking, sir the air here is strong
and I was always ready sleeper. A
healthy place, this / should think"
"Us never dies" Granfer Crocombe
croaked
"a fine air." the stranger went on. II
can't help wondering--'
He broke off abruptly refilled his pipe,
and sat up in his chair.
II was up on the top of Lamater Bea-
con yesterday" he observed Grand
view!"
"One Of the finest in the county" Mr.
Tidd agreed. ION clear day you can
see the channel"
Mr.. Smith, nodded.
What l did see," he observed, was
how that branch railway from Exeter
seems to go actually out Of its way to
avoid Melhampton. Tell me. you gen.
tlemen. now-I am Just curious stran-
ger-not critfcizing or anything OF that
sort-but why did you SO strongly oppose
that line being brought to Melhampton2"
There was a brief silence. Mr.. Ttdd
leaned little forward in his chair.
II can quite imagine" he admitted
that to stranger our opposition must
seem ridiculous. The town was very much
divided at the time. Let me ask you
this, Mr."
Smith" the stranger announced, Mr.
Welman Smith"
LET me ask you this Mr.. Smith," the
bank manager continued, whilst you
were on Lamater Beacon, did you look
down at Melhampton?"
II did," the other assented. II looked
at it for some considerable time. To
tell you the truth came to the conclu-
sion that it was one of the most pictur-
eSque towns / had ever SEEM"
THAT makes 1t easier for me to ex-
plain" Mr.. Tidd declared. You see, we
were most of us born here-some OF us
had fathers and grandfathers who were
born here, too. We are not only fond OF
the place but 1T seems to have become q
kind of cult with us-a religion, almost
Ito keep 1t Just as beautiful as we have
always known it. We haven't a factory
In the place: I think I may say we
haven't an ugly building. Where we have
had to build or restore, 1t has been done
with the utmost care. The atmosphere
of the place is just the same now as it
was hundreds of years ago. Some OF us
had seen towns to which the railway had
come and we were terrified at the idea
that Melhampton might become like
them"
Mr. Welman Smith nodded gravely.
WELL" he confded, i've been all over
the world, and, although I confess my
self utilitarian, I've learned to respect
the other fellows views. / am bound to
say you're the only company OF business
men I've ever met with who didn't want
to see their town grow. It's all right If
you're satisfied suppose"
J "If ever" Tom Baker ventured looking
covertly across at Mr.. Smith, "the rail-
way should have it in mind to make q
} branch line and connect lis up, / don't
think 1t would find the same measure Of
! opposition to contend with"
"On the contrary" Mr. Meeke re-
marked, 'T think they would find us in
clined to welcome the suggestion"
"Or any similar scheme" Mr.. Tidd
J agreed.
! They all looked at Mr.. Smith inquir-
! ingly, almost eagerly. Unfortunately the
heat OF the room had once more asserted
itself. To all appeegAace Mr.. Smith had
, fallen into q heavy doze.
} 1t was doubtless coincidence that on
the following day--it being early closing
at the bank-Tom Baker invited Mr.. Tidd
to accompany him for trial run in his
new automobile.
! "Out Lamater way?" the ironmonger
suggested tentatively.
} "A very pleasant road" Mr.. Tidd ac-
quiesced.
, They climbed from the valley, from
the fertile corn fields, to the moors, and
up above that to where the land became
loneliness of Exmoor asserted itself. Halt
way round the famous road which crosses
the ridge between Lamater Beacon, Tom
Baker brought the car to standstill
Below them was magnificent panorama;
the moors with their decks of colors
pool-ltke shadows and billowy outlines
sinking to the cultivated land and rising
again to the grimmer outline OF Dart
moor. In the middle distance, many
miles away, there was faint wisp OF
white smoke from the train-itself in
visible. They both gazed at it thought
fully.
Il have wondered many time" Tom
Baker confessed, why the railway COM
J pany didn't kind of link us up. It'd pay
them, for there's many that motors up
5 north from here and travels on the other
' line.'
1T would cost money" Mr.. Tidd re-
. flected, and, after all, Melhampton is
only moderate sized town.
, But look at the farms around" his
, companion pointed out why, I could
count three score from where we sit
There's the fetching and carrying trade
too, Mr.. Tidd; that's more to be consid-
cred than the passengers. 1t be split up
, now IN a dozen ways, but the Great
I South railway'd have tne lot If they
: built the railroad"
t The one thought which was in the
: minds Of both of them they had as yet
!. not touched upon. Suddenly Mr. Tidd
gripped his companions arm.
: Here he comes" he whispered. Nov
t / wonder what he's doing up here"