New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-09-16
CHAPTER II'-Continued.

Sf1fF Gn i-SOhkl'uCu.
>
When bale came back TO Il stale OF
consciousness, he was lying under
covers in the carved black walnut bed.
BESIDE him stood John Morelnnd, who
heid ia one hand a bowl containing II
not i,rb brew that his wife had pre-
pared. Granny Heck. her son BY, and
Mrs, Moreland stood not far away.
"riis hercll be good 20 We, | think
said Moreland, nodding toward the
bowl in his hand. He went over and
pat an arm around Dale's shoulders
and helped him to sit up.
bate drank the stuff with difficulty.
"Aiucl obliged" he muttercd thickly.
"i-ict's see. did | whip-how did it
nnlf He didn't lick me. did he-that
fellow Ball?"
"llc shore didn't" smiled Moreland.
"Not by Il big sight. Tie fell ont fuSt.
Ills " pap wont hardly know him,
Eiil!'
.
News travels rapidly in the hig hills.
Tie Morclands began to gather ~ the
inauc 90 their chief to see the man
who had whipped Black Adam Ball /;
rgrry Morcland able 10 walk came to
seq Biil Dale. For three hours he was
,ionizrd. hut h" didn't enjoy it; the
water had left many pains in his
chest, and his head ached duly, and
his hands sui felt as though the bones
were shattered in them.
came n thunderSiiower that after
noon, aud the mountain evening fell
with n chill. A fire VAS made in the
wide stone fireplace in the guests
room. and when supper was over the
family gathered there with Dale, who
refused to he kept in bed.
After n few minutes of silently
watching grotesque shadows hit across
the iog walls, Dale said to John More
'laud
"ir your brother David could know.
don't You think he'd want you to get
'lr value out Of the coal?"
John Morcland bent forward to rest
his chin IN his hands. His sober grey
eyes stared thoughtfully toward the
Grr.
- amt never looked ut it That
sNay." he said.
THAT'S the right way to look AT IT,"
Declared Dale. "But You shouldn't
srii the property Ms it is"
Thr mountainerr turned an inquir-
Ing face toward his guest.
How IN thunder conld I handle it
ef ( didn't"
"Why not let nae develop it for
t"ii" Date said earnestly. eagerly. Il
w. ~ charge you anything above ex
IrHs'S. aud ! won't he eXtrayagant."
ma take considerable money 10 start
~ usS a-moviu. Have you got itE'
u-sri MuIcland.
"No. but | eau get IL. Almost any
ir,ly would he willing to lend money
"n So good a thing a. this, y'know."
For - little while Moreland sat there
add looked squarely NJ Dale. who re-
turned his gaze without a sign of
niuching. The hillmau was trying to
bud a native.
How comes IL at you. who amt
Lnourd ais but two days. he de
mamlrd. "cau be ~ much interested
IN ust
The ourstion demanded y straight
f"rHard answer. Date realized that
there WAS but one way ia which lac
.,uid give = satisfactory explanation.
and that iliat was by telling the truth
hut not the whole truth. as he
s%urtniscd il. for then his efforts would
Tor uaught.
Morciand was speaking again, and
Dis eyes were brighter now.
y agree at David would want Us
q. develop the coal. ef he could know.
Its like n light a-breakin' to me. But
ti,at coat is sacred to u. Bill Dale.
aud afore We 20 any further I'll haf
." AZ ye to tell me all about yeself.
A city man up here ia the wilderness
d don't hook s'picious. Bill. mebbe.
but-well. 7 hopes we ean pardon me
akin il. ! shore got to be keer-
about Brother David's coal. Addie
and the boys1i 20 "a and leave jest
two In here and when we're atalk-
Iu' to me it's the same as talkin' to a
I ansbstone ~ fer a. fellin' il M
Addie. honey; Luke. you aud
t'aIe-@
Mrs Moreiand aud her sons arose
and left tie rco4n. closing the door be-
iheIa. BM Dale paced the floor.
fOlfied hroWs drawn. Finally lie
! allied before tie MOreland chief.
There's nothing I'm ashamed Of.
he said. 4 don't like to tell il
because I don't like TO tell it,
I;m-IH do H..
He sat down in his s~heepskinIined
lay bark and closed his eyes
a. though to visualize the story. to
live it over !