Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-08-05
. CoPyriqht By DovbE

Ii was altogether by accident that
the Littleford chief found his weapons.
He had dropped small coin through
a crack in the floor. Babe was quick
TO say that she would crawl under the
house and look for the coin, although
she had just put ON freshly aun-
dered blue-and-white calico dress. Her
anxiety showed plainly in her face.
Her father questioned her sharply, and
she Stammered in spite of herself. Ben
LittlefOrd'S suspicious were aroused.
So he came out from under the cabin
floor with his hands full of the steel
OF rifle barrels, and with the money
forgotten. he placed the rifles care.
fully OF the floor of the porch, turned
and caught his daughter by the arm.
"Who hid 'em?" he demanded grutily.
81 hid 'em," was the ready answer,
defiant and bitter-"I, me! What're
you a-gOn' TO do about it,"
I.ittleford flung his daughters arm
from him. He was king, even as John
Moreland was king. His keen eyes
stared at the young womans face aS
though they would wither it.
What made you hide 'em?" he
grOwled. Say, what made We do IL:
"To try and save human lives, ats
why!" Babe answered. That man
from the city-what'll he think o uS
a-doin' thls-away, a-hghtin' like crazy
widcats"
"Ef he don't like the way we dc
here, he can so back home" retorted
the angry mountaineer. "He amt tied
is he?" -
Babe smiled n smile that was some
how pltiful, and turned Off.
The amt no use in a-argyin' Will
you, pap" she said hopelessly. IL
might nigh wisht was dead"
At that instant the gate creakcd
open. Babe glanced toward ii and saw
coming that black beast of Il man.
Adam Ball the Goliath, and he was
armed heavily; in one hand he carried
q new high-power repeating rifle, and
around his great waist there WAS
new belt bristling with long, bright
smokeless cartridges fitted with steel.
jacketed bullets.
When tDale and his companion
reached the cabin, Addie Moreland met
them. Anxiety was breaking her
heart. F-N"
mir. Dale" she pleaded, 81 want you
to go down thar to the river and see
eff the's anything ye can do to stop
1t afore 1t begins. You jest walk out
bold in the open and ye won't be shot
at, and I'll be obleeged to ye. Oh,
know the amt but one chanst in ter
thousand, but I'm a-prayln' yell strike
that one chanSt."
Dale knew that he could do nOlhIn.
toward bringing peace, and he knew
that John Moreand would be angry
at his interfering. But he nodded and
went toward the river. He didn't have
the heart in him to refuse.
Thcu mere came the keen thunder OF
q rifle shot.
Dale halted for q moment. Between
TWO SycamOr4S on the nearer elde Oi
the river he saw a puff of smoke rls-
ing lazily from behind water oak on
the farther side; Littleford had hred
first. Dale went on, moving rapidly
and trying to keep himself always In
plain view.
Then came a puff of white smoke
and a report from one of the More
land rifles, then shots from both sides
- and the battle was on. Dale heard
the nasty whine Of bullet IN lull
flight; he heard the coarse ''zz@' OF q
half-Spent ricOchet. He knew that he
was I'm some danger now, and he was
surprised TO find that he was not
frightened.
When de halted again it was on his
knees behind the biz white sycamore
that sheltered John Moreland.
Back, are ye!" frOwned the noun
taineer. And with the grimmeSt hui
NOR, IL reckon ye had q fine, large
time In Cincinnaty. YOre friend Har-
ris was well, hope. Git that money
from himT
cut that out" said B.ll Daie. III
doesn't get us anywhere"
A bullet threw particles of sycamore
bark to his face, interrupting. John
Moreand pointed to green furrow in
the side of the tree.
ben Lttleford hisSelf," said More
land. He's ahind O. that water oak
acroSt thar. Don't stick yore head
out !"
The mountaineer turned his gaze
ove2 Dale'S shoulder, and his cOunte-
nance seemed to freeze. Dale looked
around quickly and saw Babe Little
ford, less than ten feet behind him
She had crept up through the tall
grasses and weeds. In one hand she
carried white flag made of Il mans
handkerchief and willow switch. She
halted and sat up.
Babe Dale cried out. What are
you doing here?'
Babe gave him pale smile. "Et
Oap'd shoot me, a-thinkin' | was
Moreland, mebbe it'd stop the ever
lastin' hghtin," she said.
John MOrcland stared, and Bill Dale
stared. They We're in Presence. ana