The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1921-09-16

snort Deafu was CURED Ike the nan
between a bulls horns. In one hand
he carried a repeating rifle as lightly
as though it were Il mere straw.
One OF his great arms suddenly
Strengthened toward Dale, and a voice
as gruff as the grOwl Of a bear said
hotly:
What was you a-doin' here a-talkin'
to my gyurl?'
Babe Littleford looked angry. Dale
flushed, then went pale.
II have a habit of talking with
whom l please" he said evenly.
Spoke like a man." drawled the
lanky Heck in a very low tone.
Goliath Of the hills stared unbeliev-
ingly. Dale said in an undertone to
John Moreland: us it that Ball fell
low?'
YES" answered the hillman; "it's
Black Adam Ball"
Ball dropped his rifle to the
%viOlets, slowly clenched his huge and
hairy hands, and thrust his bearded
jaw out aggressively. y
Il ddIS yc ONGI Hcle, We PINK cow
ard !" he challenged.
IF you have any business with me,
come over here and transact it," Dale
retorted. Il won't rum"
That's Moreland TERRITORY" Bali
objected. But I'll meet we half way,
and dare we to take me up, We lace
trimmed pink mollycoddle"
Halfway would be the middle Of the
river, and no place for a fight, surely.
But Dale was nettled. His temper,
the temper that he had never been
able to keep wholly under control, was
rising fast. He threw Off his coat and
hat and rolled the sleeves of his soft
shirt to his elbows. Then he waded
into the pool. The slowly moving
water was up TO his waist at the half
way point, and the bottom was Of
Eard-packed sand.
The Goliath stared ~unbelievingly.
He was not accustomed to having his
challenges thus accepted. He threw,
off his hat and went to meet the 1.-the
young stranger.
Bill Dale squared himself and put
up his guard. Adam Ball came on,
and he was scowling wickedly.
Ball rushed, the clear water swirling
in his wake, and let out with a power
full right. 1t was a blow to crush IN
ordinary mans chest in but, to Balls
surprise, 1t failed to land. Dale evaded
1t cleverly, and at the same time sent
a swift left uppercut to the others
bull-like jaw. Adam Ball muttered two
wicked words and steadied himself /;
he had caught a tartar. A moment,
and he led out again, and he missed
again; but he followed 1t with a blow
that made a red mark on Bill Dale's
shoulder.
"How's that, we pink cowardY' he
crowed.
"All right-how's this?"
And Dale sent on a mighty blow
that rebounded duly from the giants
chest and elected only a harsh laugh
Of contempt. There was little to be
gained by striking a man like Adam
Ball on the chest; Dale knew now
that he must reach a more vulnerable
spot.
Then he tented with his left and
drove his right to Balls mouth, bring
ing blood. Ball roared in his blind
rage and dashed toward his antagonist,
resolved to get a clinch. But Dale
eluded the terrible arms, although in
so doing he received a blow on the
temple that made him dizzy for a few
seconds.
While Ball was again engaged in
trying to gain the advantage Of a
clinch, Granny Heck made her appear
ance on the Moreland bank. She
promptly launched her sympathies in
a manner that pleased both her gaping
| son and the watchful and silent John
Moreland.
Hit him In the stummick, Mr.. Bill !"
she cried over and over. Hit him
whar he lives att"
The combat grew hotter and hotter.
Both landed frequently now. The faces
Of both were bleeding, and each spat
red now and then. Their clothing had
been torn away to the belt, and their
magnificent wet bodies glOwed in the
morning sunlight. Dale had seriously
damaged his soft hands; they felt as
though they were filed with slivers Of
! steel. But still he fought on doggedly,
determinedly, desperately, minute aft
er minute.
Those on the two banks watched 1t
all with suppressed excitement. Babe
Littleford stood in the edge Of the
water, with her hands clasped below
Ter throat, her face was pale. John
Moreland, who had witnessed many
other great fights, himself a fighting
man, had never before beheld such a
contest Of strength and endurance as
this; Bill Dale had won John More
lands heart for all time to come.
But the blows of the fighters were
growing weaker now. The sound of
their labored breathing rose distinctly
over the gentle roar of the sparkling
waters above.
Then the watchers saw Adam Ball