New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-10-07
CHAPTER VIII.


preached by the mOOnshiner, Heck,
and Il man whom Dale had never seen
before. He was tall. and his bearing
was erect and %sOldierlike, though he
was every day of sixty years old.
His eyes were blue and t%winkling with
everlasting good humOr; his gray
mustaches and imperial were exceed
ingly well cared for; his teeth were
his own, and as white as a school
girls, and they pore out his general
air of neatness. He was, plainly, Il
Southerner of the old type.
who's that?" whispered Dale to
John Moreland.
But Moreland didn't hear. He ran
forward with his right hand out
stretched, and so did Ben Littleford.
Men could not have greeted IA brother
with more gladness, Dale thought.
Hi. thar, Major Bradley. :" the hill
man cried. And how dye come ON
today?"
Il am very well, gentlemen, thank
YOU" said the major. smiling.
He shook their hands heartily. The
.lrainren gave us your message yester-
day" he went on, still smiling, land
We were delighted to learn that the
young woman was out of danger. |
trust YOU are all in good health, gen
tlemen."
They assured him that they were.
turned to introduce Bill Dale
and the mining man. From the mo-
ment that Major Bradley gripped
Dale's hand they We're friends.
Mighty glad to know you, sir"
exclaimed the old lawyer. I've been
hearing II great deal about you, sir.
in the valley of the Doe. They
seem TO think there's nobody just like
Bill Dale. 1t was Bill Dale this,
and Bill Dale that; it was Here's
Bill Dale whipped Black Adam,
or, Here's where Bill Dale was stand
Ing when su~ch-and-such happened or,
Here's where Bill Dale crossed the
"llah-hah-hah !" sluggishly laughed
by Heck, who stood leaning on the
of his rifle. 'Bill Dale is all
right, major; we've shore got my word
fo' that"
The others laughed. Then John
Moreland said they'd better be NOV
Ing, or they'd be late for dinner.
When they had put a hundred yards
IF David Moreland's mountain behind
hem, the old Southerner tugged slyly
At Dale's sleeve and whispered
'l.et US fal, behind Il little, il you
want to speak with you
privately"
They began TO lag. and soon there
vas IA distance of several rods be-
g them and the others.
81 heard through Addie Moreland." |
began Bradley, his friendly hand on
he younger mans arm. about o
md what you're planning TO do for
he Morelands. | tell you, sir. I
banked heaven for your coming. and
-ou may count on me to help in any
way | can. The MOrelands are quite
To me now, though up to the
middle ri last summer they didn't like
ne any too well because | made Ben
.ittleford's cabin my home when out
lere.
ut was n simple thing that brought
Is together. John Moreland's little
was lost in the woods and his
was frantic. There are pan
hers. you know, and Wildcats. rattlers.
nd c~opperheads. was fortunate
fnough to find the boy. and carried
lin home. That was all. They're a
Inc people, my boy. and 81 are the
.ittlefords. Good old English blood
hat somehow wandered of. There's
purer. Seaner blood in America,
ir.
And now-how are you getting
long with your plans for the opera
ion OF the coal miner"
"Excellently." answerot Dale. I'VE
ave the necessary finance. a geared
locomotive and cars and light steel
ails have been bargained for"
Good" Bradley gave Dale a hearty
on the shoulder.
There's something else I wanted TO
ay. Mr.. Dale" he continued. his
oice grave. You're nearly certain
D have a barrel OF trouble with a
coal man named Henderson
of. He's a villain. sir. II ever there
'as one. And he's quite the smooth
VI article I've ever seen. He can
lake you believe black is white. II
My you'll listen to him long enough"
Els he-has he been here ~recentlyY-
wanted TO know.
He's here now" answered the ma
VI. He's been here for three days.
nd he's been working devilment fast.
was up here last summer. trying
buy the Morelsnd coal for n song:
2 knows all the people. you see. AZ
BON a. he landed mere on this pres
1t trip. he found out about your in
Then. at night. he freed
dam Ball from his tobacco barn pris-
d. and wen home with him.
We'll. BY Heck followed them and
ID some eavesdropping-poor BY has
Is strong p%ointsI" the major went
D. '1GOff learned that Adam Balls
Ither knew about the coal vein long
fore David MOreland discovered IL
Id got lawful possession Of the noun
fin. Then COT made the Balls be-
eve that they were due a big share
the proceeds of the MorelsBd cosIi
wasn't very hard to do. / guess. The
ais. this set at least. were originally
they took to the noun |
inns. I understand To kssD from be-