American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-12-30
PAGE THREE

tlale was silent. The very air was
nlled with the spirit of tragedy. The
farof tinkle of a cowbell seemed
tragic: tragic. too sounded h song
OF a bird somewhere in h tree
branches overhead.
ibid ye hear me, Bilif"
II think" Dale muttered. that I'd
better not go away until tomorrow
| can't leave matters like this. Do
you know OF any way to stop that
down therer"
BY Heck shrugged his shoulders.
ado you know o any why to stop
the risin' and settin' o. the sum-" he
grlnned.
They went ZACH to John Moreland's
cabin.
1t was altogether by accident that
the Littleford chief round his weapons
lie had dropped n small coin through
a crack In the floor. Babe was quick
to say tina she would crawl under the
house and look for the coin, although
she had Just put on a freshly aun-
dered blue-and-white calico dress. Her
anxiety showed plainly In her face
Her father questioned her sharply, and
she stammered In spite of herself. ben
L%ittleford's suspicious We're aroused
so he came out from under the cabin
tioor with his hands full of the steel
of rifle barrels. and with the money
forgotten. lie placed the rifles care
fully on the tloor OF he porch, turned
n caught his daughter by the arm.
"Who hid 'emT' he demanded grufiy.
Il hid 'em," was the ready answer.
defiant and bitter-"l, me- What'ro
you a-goln' to do about III"
Littleford flung his daughters arm
from him. lie was king, even us John
Moreland was king, Ills keen eyes
stared at the young woman's face az
though they would wlther II.
"What made you hide 'emf' he
growled. "Say, what made ye do itr'
"To try and save human lives. ats
why |" Babe answered. THAT man
from the city-what'n he think o. M
a-doin' thls-away, ~a'hghtin' like crazy
wildcatsr
"Ef he don't like the way we DO
here, he can go back home" retorted
the angry mountnineer. "He amt tied.
Is he2"
Babe smiled a smile that was some
how pitiful, and turned Off.
"rhe' amt no use In n-argyin' with
you, pap" she said hopelessly. IL
might nigh wisht was dead.
Al that instant the gate creaised
open. Babe glanced toward II and saw
coming that black beast OF a man,
Adam Ball the Goliath, and no was
armed heavily In one hand he carried
a new high-power repeating rifle, n
around his great waist there was "A
new belt brlstllng with long, bright
smokeiess cartridges lifted with steel
jacketed bullets.
When Dale n his companion
reached the cabin, Addie Moreland met
them. Anxiety was breaking her
heart.
mir. Dale" she pleaded. Il want you
20 20 down thar to tha river and SEQ
er the's anything ye can do TO stop
II afore II begins. You Jest walk out
bold In the open and ye won't be shot
Mt. and III be obleeged TO ye. On. !
know the amt but one chanst In ten
thousand, but I'm a'prayin' yen strike
] that one chanst."
Dale knew that he could 10 nothing
: toward bringing peace, and he knew
that John Moreland would be angry
NJ his interfering. But he nodded and
? went toward the river. lie didn't hnv,
he henri In him TO refuse.
Theu there came the Keen thunder Of
.ile shot.
Dule htlted Tor a moment. ijetweer
two sycnmores on the nearer side ol
; the river be saw a pun OF smoke rls
ing lnzily from behind n water oak on
7. the farther side a Littleford had hret
: first. Dale went on, moving rapid,
and trying TO keep himself always II
: plain view.
I Then came n pun OF white smok'
and o report from one OF the More
" land rifles, then shots from both side
- and the battle wal on. Dale hear'
the nasty whine OF a buliet In full
flight he heard the coarse 'zzz" OF
h~nlf-spent ricochet. lie knew that h'
was In some danger now, and he wal
- surprised 10 ind that he was no
frightened.
When he halted again II WINS on hi
knees behind the big white sycamore
that sheltered John MOreland.
Back. are ye2" rrowned b noun
talneer. And with the grimInest hu
NOR, II reckon ye had n ine. larg
A time IN C%iDcinnaty. Yore friend Han
y ris was well. 1 hope. Git that none.
D. from hlm7"
n Cut that ont" said Biil Date. Il
doesn't got US anywhere"
A bullet TIRES particles 81 ~syeainor
| bark 10 his face, interrupting. job
X Morelnnd pointed 10 a green furrow !
the side OF the tree.
. "BeD Littieford hisseif." said Mor'
D. land. lies ahlnd o. that water oa
3 acrOst thar. Don't stick yore hea
q outf"