The Pulaskian., 1921-08-11

pdS uONn ana LOOK nm by both ShOuI- ders and told him this:
 Look here, Bobby, I'm going to give you some advice, and you take It. You steal Pat and marry her. Steal Pat and marry her if you have to live in hole in a hillside. You're as good as any of them, and lots better than most of them. You can work your way to a better salary You see,' I told him, we get about what we deserve in this world. Most of us don't deserve much
 T asked him if mother was badly cut up. He said she was; that she had tainted. Dad swore aloud, he said, there in church. I told Bobby good-by and got aboard the train without say ing anything about where 1 was go- ing-but I didn't know myself where 1 was going, at the time.
 Now you've heard it. Every word was truth. If you'll trust me with the coal, I'll make this land my land, your people my people. I'll suffer with you when you suffer, and be happy with you when you're happy; and when you fight, I'll fight with you.a
 The Moreland chief arose. and Bill Dale arose. The hillman put out his hand, and Dale gripped it.
 T believe in ye Bill" said John Moreland. "B'o another thing, I've seed ye fight. You can work the coal"
 He looked toward the closed inner door and called, "Oh, Addie; you and the boys can come back now"
 Out of the night a face appeared at one of the small windows It was feminine face and handsome rather than pretty. Two slender, sunburned hands gripped the window-ledge nerv- ously The face pressed closer to the glass, then disappeared. Soon after ward the outer door of the guests room opened, and Ben Littlefords daughter entered Her skirts were dripping wet
 Mrs. Moreland arose and went to- ward the young woman. She knew that only something of great impor- tance could bring a Littleford into her home in this fashion
 What's the matter, Babe?"
 Babe Littleford gave no attention to Mrs. Moreland She went on to Bill Dale, walking softly on bare feet.
 "Black Adam is a-goin' to kill you tonight, Bill Dale"
 '@Fhat so?" Dale's smile was rather grim. How did you find that out, Miss Littleford?"
 T found it out, all right As he Imade fun of him; and he patted the stock of his rife and said he'd git you through q window He was at our house this evenin' to help fix pap's gun, and when he left he started this way, a-goin' by the blowed-down syca- more. I waded the river at Blue Cat shoals to beat him here. thought you might want to know about it, so's ye could mebbe save other folks the trou- ble O maxim a funeral fo' ye"
 She backed toward the door, her eyes never leaving Dale's face. Another second, and she was gone.
 They were all on their feet now. John Moreland gripped Dale's arm.
 lover thar aside O the chimbley, Bill" he ordered, his native drawl for the moment absent. Out, Addie, honey! Luke, bring my rifle and hat jump keen Gale, bring water and drownd this here fire!
 It was done Moreland took his hat and the repeater and went alone into the night.
 When some fifteen minutes had passed, there came to Dale's ears the sound of shooting. There were ten shots in such rapid succession that they made almost a continuous roar Then came echoes and reverberations, and then silence. Soon John Moreland let himself into the dark room.
 His wife's voice was low and filled with anxiety:
 "What happened, John?"
 A dull thud came through the dark ness as her husbands rife-butt struck the floor.
 "This is what happened, Addie: As I passed the cawner O the house, I got QOWH lIdI llldI OlQ OA6iip u ldhC along. went acrost the road and into the meadow. and thar I seen Adam Bali a-comin. I hid, and when Adam was about to pass me, l jumped up and jerked his rifle from him and busted it ag'in rock. Then lights in and 4hrashes him with the oxwhip ontel he broke and run. And 'en this here happened Addie:
 T was a-watchin' to see ef Adam had reely went off, whenlI seed a man a-comin toward me fast. I thought it was Ball, O course. So I up and tells him to show me how fast he can run and commences a-shootin' over his head to skeer him. But it didn't happen to be Adam Ball-it was Ben Littleford He was a-follerin' Babe to see what she was up to, Q course"
 How do ye know it was Ben, pap?' xl