The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-10-07
CHAPTER V--ContiRaed.

Then came a puff OF white smoke
and a report from II of the More
land rifles, then shots from both sides
- and the battle was on. Dale heard
the nasty whine Of a bullet in full
flight he heard the coarse 'zzz" OF q
h~alf-spent ricochet. He knew that he
was in some danger now, and he was
surprised to find that he was not
frightened.
When he halted again it was on his
knees behind the big white sycamore
that sheltered John Moreland.
Back, are ye?" frowned the noun
taineer. And with the grimmest hui
NOR, Il reckon ye had a tinea large
time in C~incinnaty. Yore friend Har-
RIG was well, / hope. Git that money
from him?"
Cut that out" said Bill Dale. ut
doesn't get US anywhere"
A bullet threw particles Of sycamore
bark to his face, interrupting. John
Moreland pointed to a green furrOw in
the side Of the tree.
Ben LittlefOrd hisself," said More
ii L - dlllAu W thut WolCl Oon
acrost thar. Don't stick yore head
out !"
The m~Ountaineer turned his gaze
over 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 I!
She had crept up through the tall
grasses and weeds. In one hand she
carried q white flag made OF q mans
handkerchief and a willow switch. She
halted and sat up.
"Babel |" Dale cried out. what are
you doing here?"
Babe gave him a pale smile. EFF
pap'd shoot me, a-thinkin' l was a
Moreland, mebbe it'd stop the ever
lastin' t%ightin'," she said.
John Moreland stared, and Bill Dale
stared. They were in a Presence, and
they knew it. Babe went On:
I've come to save all O. yore lives;
but ef ! DO 1t, yen hat to make yore
men quit a-tightin' right nOw-jest or
der 'em to stop a-ShoOtjn', and hold
up this here-and | promise ye OF q
Littleford'S word at papll call ye a
better man an him cause we done
st"
She tossed the white flag to him.
THE amt no time TO lose, John More
land hold up the flag! Eff We don't,
yell every one be killed, cause ye're
every one in u trap!'
al DOME baliaua va poha 80 cpanppd
the MOreland chief. "YOre people can
hold up a white rag jest as we'll as
we eanr"
Babe went paler. There was a sud
den burst Of firing from the Moreland
rifles, and she crept Il little nearer TO
John Moreland In order that he might
Aear plainly that which she had TO tell
aim next.
I'm a-goin' 20 tell We o. this dan
GER" she said, land trust to you a-bein'
nan enough TO do what / axed ye to.
Back Adam BAH, he's got a new-fash-
tened rifle and smOkeless cartridges
and steel bullets and in a few min
utes he'll be hid in a cium o. sassafras
back thar in yore meadow, whar he
means to set and pick off you More
lands IN by One-and you and Bill
Dale fuSt, count O the beatin's you
two put on him! But pap had nothln'
to do with 1t, and rickollect that! Now
i've saved all o. yOre lives, cause We
couldn't ha' heerd the sound a bis rifle
IN all O. this noise; and ye couldn't
ha' seed the smoke o. his gun, cause
II don't make no smoke. Hold up the
white flag, John Moreland-hurry"
Babe thouslitiessiy arose TO her feet,
sad one side OF her brown head ap-
veared before the sights Of her fathers
rhe-her father sired quickly, too
suickly for a perfect aim-thc bullet
Asyaed tn way ACROSS her temple AID