The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1921-07-08
CHAPTER III-Continued.

men Iale came BACK 10 q state OF
consciousness, he was lying under
covers in the carved black walnut bed
Beside him stood John Moreland, who
held in n hand a bowl containing a
pared. Granny Heck, her son BY, and
Mrs. Moreland stood not far away.
This hereIl be good fo' We, / think
said Moreland, nOdding toward the
bowl in his hand. He went over and
put an arm around Dale's shoulders
and helped him to sit up.
Dale drank the stuff with difficulty.
Much obliged" he muttered thickly,
"I-let's see. did I whip-how did it
end? He didn't lick me, did he-that
fellow Ban?'
He shore didn't" smiled Moreland.
"Not by a big sight. He fell out fust.
His own pap won't hardly know him,
Bin!'
News travels rapidly in the big hills.
The MorelandS began TO gather at the
home of their chief to see the man
Wv a oiHpICh DsuNh ANul1 I)dl q,
every Moreland able TO walk came to
see Bill Dale. For three hours he was
lioniZed, but he didn't enjoy it; the
water had left many pains In his
chest, and his head ;ached duly, and
his hands still felt as though the bones
were shattered in them.
Came a thunderShower that after
noon, and the mountain evening fell
with a chill. A fire was made in the
wide stone fireplace in the guests
room, and when supper was over the
family gathered there with Dale, who
refused to be kept in bed.
After a few minutes Of silently
watching grOteSque shadows fit across
the log walls, Dale said to John More
land:
IF your brother David could know,
don't you think he'd want you to get
the value out of the coal?'
John Moreland bent forward to rest
his chin in his hands. His sober grey
eyes stared %thoughtfully toward the
fire.
II amt never looked at 1t that
away" he said.
That's the right way to look at It,"
declared Dale. But you shouldn't
sell the property as it u.s."
The mOuntaineer turned an inquir-
ing face toward his guest.
How in thunder could 1 handle it
eft / didn'tT"
why not let me develop it for
your" Dale said earnestly, eagerly. Il
won't charge you anything above eX-
penses, and 1 won't be ex%travagant."
ltd take considerable money to start
things a-movin'. Have you got it,"
asked Moreland.
mo, but l can get it. Almost any,
body would be willing to lend money
on so good a thing as this, y'know."
For a little while Moreland sat there
and looked sQuarely at Dale, who re-.
turned his gaze without a sign of
ffnching. The hillman was trying to
find a motive.
How m 1t at you, who amt
knowed us but two days." he de-
manded, "can be so much interested
In us?"
The question demanded a straight-
forward answer. Dale realized that
there was but n way In which he
could give a satisfactory explanation,
and that hat was by telling the truth
but not the whole truth, as he
surmised it, for then his efforts would
60 for naught.
Moreland was speaking again, and
his eyes were brighter now.
II agree at David would want us
to develop the coal, eff he could know.
It's like a light a-breakin' to me. But
that coal is sacred to us, Bill Dale,
and afore We go any fu'ther I'll hat
to ak We to tell me all about yeself.
A city man up here in the Wilderness
it don't look s'picious. Bill, mebbe,
but-well. ! hopes We can pardon me
TO akin II. ! shore got to be keer-
full about Brother David's coal. Addie
and the boys'll 60 out and leave jest
US two In here; and when ye're a-talk-
in to me it's the same as talkin' to a
tombstone 10 fer as tellin' Il con-