The damage was slight, but the
Frenchman was thrifty, and had sued for a round sum. Palmer was quite
willing to pay actual damages, but he had refused to be robbed. A
compromise had finally been made, and Dupre agreed to withdraw his suit
upon the payment of fifty dollars. To this contract the old man now
affixed his signature, in a very shaky hand.
"There, I'm glad that's settled," said he. And a moment later he had
fallen out of his chair upon the floor.
Miner's paralysis! Even the Woolsey boys knew the symptoms. They lifted
the old man up and put him on his bed, gave him whiskey, and then
consulted as to their next duty. They could not leave him there alone
upon the mountain-top; nor was it an easy matter to descend to the
bottom of the canon for help.
"You stay here, Charley," said John, "and I'll go for Dr. Mason."
"That won't do, Jack. It will be five o'clock before you can cross the
canon, and dark by the time you reach North Bloomfield. Alleghany City
is the place to strike for. Get Dr. Lefevre over there. They say he can
cure paralysis if any man can."
"It's no easy trip to Alleghany, either," said John thoughtfully.
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