The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1937-03-11

n.
men gathered closely around him.
"Best thing to do is to take off
that old bunkhuse door, Bill" said
Carpy, when he saw whom they
were carrying. eve can lay him on
that and carry him over here to the
she'd"
They had brought Panama out OF
the burned timber where Denison
and Bull Page had found him. They
had taken in pony, bareback, to
where he lay, slung the big fellow
across it, and thus carried him
through the woods.
Panama was lifted from the pony
and laid on the door.A colored neck
erchief was laid over his face, and
with stumbling steps he was carried
back of the clubhouse. Two saw
horses had been set to support the
door, and on it Panama lay at rest.
His companions made ready to start
back for the fire lines.
''Now, boys, watch out" said Deni-
son gravely. 1--WE can't afford any
more mistakes like this. If Jake and
Panama had listened to me they
wouldn't have got cut off. Bull" he
added, speaking to Page, get up a
pair of ponies, if you can find 'em,
and hitch 'em to the light wagon.
Carpy wants Panama taken right in
town."
The injured barber was coming to.
He had been carried to the bunk
house and was propped up on a
bench outside the doorway. He look
ed at Carpy wistfully. Tell me,
Doc" he begged "have they found
Panama YETI"
''They have, Jake. And he was
hurt. did what little could do for
him here. But I've not got what's
needed here for treatment. Panama'S
got to 60 to town. They're hitching
up the wagon"
Spots started up, on fire. "Then
I've got to see him before ne goes.
Don't let 'em start till see him,
Doc. Where is he?"
Carpy tried in vain to quiet his
patient. He might as well have tried
to stop a forest fire by talking to it.
Keep your leg quiet, Jake. You
mustn't have any excitement to-
night. I've done my best for you.
Now, damn it, dry up: I tell you
you can't see him."
A dreadful light dawned on the
barber. His gaunt jaw dropped, his
hollow eyes flames. "Doc!" he cried
out. ''Panama's dead!'
The word rang in Carpy's ears for
many a day. Jake" he said brus-
ouely. 1--WE tried to soften things for
you-doesn't seem to be no use.
They pulled him out of the woods
after the fire passed grove back OF
Gunlock Knob"
THAT'S where we got caught
right there" cried the barber. I'VE
got back to the ponies an had to
cut across piece of burned timber
to get out A dead limb from one or
the trees fell on me. went down
with the pony. When I kicked loose,
the pony bolted, an when tried to
get up, my leg was broke.
There we was, Doc. Panamas
pony couldn't carry double. The fire
was creepin' up on two sides OF u.s.
It was terrible. Doc-that's all a man
can say, just terrible. We couldn't
hardly hear us talk. Panama picked
me up to ct me on his pony. No! l
yells. Tt won't do, Panama, an you
know it. I'm done, Panama. Save
yourself. You amt got minute to
lose. Get back on your horse and
run for it.
"'Shut up, jake Panama yells
Get up on that pony! | tried to
fight it out with him-but l was
crazy with pain n couldn't handle
myself. neither. He lifted me on his
ponv. stuck the lines in my HANDS.
BEAT it, he yelled. ''What'n you do?'
says I. I've got good legs, I'll run,
he says"
A melancholy procession took the
desert road that night for Sleepy
Cat. In the wagon lay Panama; be-
side him lay his injured friend,
Spots would have it no other
way. ,
In town, next day, the boys tried
-vainly to figure out some sort OF a
decent burial service for Panama.
The best coffin to be had in Medl-
cine Bend was ordered by telegraph
to reach Sleepy Cat on train Num-
Der One.
give got it," exclaimed Jeff Soil
ers, who was sitting near Carpy. He
slapped the doctors knee. well
have the old Doc himself make few
remarks over Panama"
mo"
eyes"
Hell, no! I won't dot il" growled
Carpy.
They all set on him. eyes, you
will"
Carpy was inflexible. "Boys, you
might just as well shut up"
''But why won't your"
"Well, I'll tell you. I'm just an
other bum, like poor Panama-that's
all You needn't Yell know. The
way I look at it is this: Nothing in
Panama's life became him like the
leaving of it. Surely no man could
! die a nobler death than Panama's.
Y A., r 1x,onf RI COO n man UJbO lives