Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1921-11-18

the outer doorway and answered ror
himself:
"Here ne is, father. Are you wellY'
Dale the elder arose, and their
hands clasped warmly. Young Dale
then shook hands with Elizabeth, who
blushed In spite Of herself as she
faced him.
To hide her confusion, Elizabeth
turned to the tall and lanky BY Heck,
who had come in behind Bill Dale
"How are you, ByT she greeted
him.
"Hongry," grlnned BY Heck, taking
her hand awkwardly. 81 never ct
nothin' but couple o. baked 'possums
and peck or two O. sweet 'taters To-
dinner, and I've been as busy as the
dev-as thunder a'doin' nothin' ever
sence. DOM nothing shore does make
me hongry,, M-M-M-Miss Babe"
Supper was announced, and they
went into long, log-walled room that
served as both kitchen and dining
room.
Bill Dale sat beside his father and
talked Of nothing but coal veins-big
and little coal veins, long and short,
broad and narrow, deep and shallow,
blue and black coal veins. Babe Lit
tleford, who wouldn't marry him, who
had come back to the hills to torture
him with beauty that he had never
believed possible In any woman,
shouldn't know that he was even
thinking Of her!
He talked coal with his father until
bedtime, and he was wiser In the ways
of the black diamond when nine
o'clock came. After Ben Littleford
had haitingly conducted family pray
ers-and in this he mentioned even
the Balls, Turner'S and Torreys-Bill
Dale bade them all good night and
started for his Office to sleep, rolled In
a blanket on the floor. There was a
lack of beds at Ben Littleford's that
night.
A little later, John Moreland drew
old Ben out to the cabin yard. The
skies were clear, and the moon was
shining brightly; everywhere there
was beauty and peacefulness.
"Ben," softly, 1--WE got to bother ye
a minute, as late as it is. wanted ye
to find me a hammer and a chisel and
a lantern"
tive got 'em all three right thar
in the house." replied Littleford. "But
what'n the name O. Torment and
thunderation do ye want with q ham
mer and a chisel and a lantern, John
old friend"
The answer came straightforwardly
1t was the Moreland way.
"Tm a-goin' up thar to whar pore
David he's buried at, and cut off some
them letters often the stone, Ben. /
CANT sleep ontel it's done. You can
guess what part I'm a-goin' to cut off,
CANT ye?"
"Yes," said Littleford. Babe told
me about what happened up thar
afore dark. And I'm pow'ful glad
ye're a-goin' to do it, John, old
friend"
He went with Moreland to the little
enclosure on the highest point of
David Moreland's mountain. He held
the lighted lantern while Moreland
worked. They were there for hours.
When the work was finished David
Moreland's brother arose from his
knees in the snow, put the hammer
and the chisel into his pocket and
spread open his cold, cramped fingers.
EFF David could know" he said
wearily, Il believe he'd be glad at
l done 1t. Anyway, it makes me feel
better"
Ben Littleford put a big hand on
John Moreland's shoulder.
EYES," he agreed, "ef David could
know about 1t, he'd be glad at ye done
it, John. The hain't no doubt o that.
And who can say he don't know about
it?"
Elizabeth learned of it early on the
following morning. When breakfast
was over, she whispered to John K.
Dale that there was something she
had to show him. She wouldn't tell
him anything in advance. So he went
With her to see for himself.
Continued Next Week