The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-08-25

Ace for he beiIeved he knew what
was In the air. He had already zone
to work at the mine, and his thick
beard, his face and his hands were
black with the dust Of coal.
"Sit down. Ben." said the general
manager. "We're going to hold q
council Of war;"
Littleford took a chair and crossed
his legs.
us 1t the Ball outfitr he drawled.
"Yes," answered the younger man,
and forthwith he told the other of the
news that By Heck had brought MIN
few days before; he had not given
the matter really serious eonsidera-
ton until that morning. "Now," he
finished, ii want to know whether you
think there's any danger2"
Lttleford tugged at his blackened
beard and frowned.
BILL" he said soberly, do you
rickollect what John Moreland told
you oncet about them Balls? He told
ye ''at you wasn't safe, and at he
wasn't safe, ontel they was dead and
buried, didn't he? I believe he did.
BY Heck says the's q whole big passel
O them Nawth Ca'liner Turner's; he's
shore them and the Balls'l outnum.
Der us more'n two to one. Yes, the's
danger, Bill, and specially to you.
They think 1t was you killed Adam,
and they don't think the law handed
'em a square deal at the trial."
"rhen listen to this plan." said
Dale.
'T'll keep BY Heck up the river
watching for them. He will have
three sticks Of dynamite tied together
and capped and fitted with a fuse. II
he sees them coming this way in any
thing like a force. he will fire of the
dynamite as signal to us. Our men
will gather here in the upstairs Of this
building, and bar the doors"
"Oh. BILL" moaned the old fighter
."you shorely don't think we'd ever let
'em git to- the doorsI'
II hope they DON'T certainly, !"
smiled Dale. "Where are your rifles
Bill2"
"At the mine." said Littleford. aye
see, Bill, we've been a-lookin' TO
trouble"
Dale went on: AT BY Heck's sig.
nal, I'll get on my horse and ride to
theMowlands for the Morelands. l can
get them a lot quicker than I can ge,
competent help from the law. What
do you think Of it?"
"It's good plan. reckon
growled Ben Littleford, "only don't
cotton very easy to the idee O. u.
a-runnin' from the mine to this here
buildin'. i never did like to run from
any man wo'th a durn, Bill"
But that wouldn't be cowardly, :
Dale protested. ut would be purel,
o strategic move, and It would saw
lives for us. For. when the Balls anc
their kinsmen come, you'u have to de-
liver me ints their hands or you'll
have 80 aShtt IKE the ye-s devil: that's
sure; and, according to BY Heck's fig
ures, they outnumber you more thar
two to one"
All right" Littleford replied, with
q shrug Of his huge shoulders. what
ever You say, that same we'll do"
So BY Heck was sent for, and short
ly afterward he sneaked into the lau
rels and went OF toward the settle
ment OF the Balls. In the crook Of hi,
arm he carried his rife. and Inside hi,
shirt he carried three pieces Of dyna
mits al ready for the match-and ht
chose every step with great care fol
fear Of Earring the explosive too much
He had not been gone an hour wher
Bill Dale h6asd dull. smothered roar
from somewhere to the northward
Dale sprang up from his desk, ran t.
his ready and waiting horse. mounted
and rode like q streak toward tn,
lowland.
Dale arrived at John Moreland's bi,
white farmhouse q little before III;