The Belding banner-news., 1921-09-21

land side of the river, whiting ldiy
When he saw Dale approaching, he
smiled and nodded, rose and pocketed
his knife.
81 want to make you an offer for
that coal" he said at once.
"All right" Dale replied. IF your
offer is big enough, it will be consid-
cred. But no shyster price is going
10 get that coal Con.
Con- frowned uneasily.
you don't know coal, Mr.. Dale.
You don't know the business of min
ing-or I've got you sized up wronS'
Thousands of men have gone busted
trying to do things they weren't used
10 doing. There's big chance, TOO,
that the coal isn't what ii looks 10 be
on the surface You'd better take a
sure thing and avoid a possibility of
loss. I'll give you five thousand, spot
cash. for that coal"
Dale shook his head. You'll have
TO come heavier than that, y'know, II
YOU get the Moreland coal"
And an extra thousand for your
SELF"
Dale laughed low. queer laugh.
"You amuse me. Goff." said he.
+ "Seems TO me you've missed your call
I ing i'm life. What a peach OF king
villain you'd make in melodrama You
wouldn't have to act, either; youd
have to he Just your natural self. And
YOU make me mad. too, Con. Because
I'm on the square with the More
lands and everybody else-now. ger
that"
The corners of the Shyster coal mans
4 mouth came down.
"Oh. hoSh-don't pass me thar vir-
tue stuff. Every man has his price,
high or low You've got yours. and
I've got mine I'll give YOU five thou
sand. spot cash. if you'll persuade
John Moreland TO sell 10 me for five
thousand and nobody'll ever know
YOU rot q rakedown from me. It's all
the coal is worth. that ten thousand.
Wen. yes?'
Dale was of the type that goes pale
with anger. and he was pale now. He
,lenched his hands.
"You can't insult me like that and
get away with It. Goif.' he clipped.
"We're going 10 fight. Goff. and I'm
going 10 put licking on you that
fifteen horses can't pull Off. Get meg
He threw aside his coat and rolled
his sleeves 10 his elbows. Henderson
Con ran his right hand quickly to a
rear trouser pocket and brought back
a stuh-nosed automatic pistol which
he turned threateningly toward Bill
Dale.
Go easy. friend" Goff said yer,
complacently. There's no use In
getting sore want the coal, that's
all. II can't get IL by fair means
I'll get n i'm another way. oh, dom
mind telling you; one mans oath Is a.
good i'm court as another mans Il
you don't take me up at ten thousand
TIL give You so much trouble that
youll he glad 10 sell II 10 me later
: tor half that amount. The Balls thinS
they own big interest," in that coal
There's "A lot of them. TOO. and they
: can keep you from working the mine
Well, can't waste time in dickerlni
with YOU What do you sayI"
IL say" and Dale smiled an odd liz
4 tie smile, "that your plan appears Y
A be perfect. except that you've over
), looked one or two important details
a For instance. there's the law, y'know.
= "1he law-pow don't 20 and foo
:. yourself I" exclaimed Con-. THE stat
couldn't afford to keep hundred mel
, here. month in and month out. just Z
10 protect your little mine. My patienc
is about gone. Dale-for the last time
. what do you sayr
= IL say that Ill beat you at an
. game you put up against me- yer
!, quietly. Furthermore, ! say tina. yo
are coward and scoundrei, an
A. that you haven't got the insides in yo
to fight me a fair mans fight IL you
only pocket that thing you've got
your hand, I'll NOW down half an acr
of meadow bush with your body"
~ The other turned red, then whit
then red again. Bill Dale's words ha
:, lashed him keenly. His eyes becam
. like hard block beads. and he hega
!" 70 raise me wicKed-IoOKIng pistU
= though he meant to fire.
- Then there was the sound of
- breaking twig. behind him, and vol
drawled out
- s''Drap IL, Mister-drap the fun
20 little gun, or the middle o. Tarme
= 10 yore potion right nowv'
" II was the moonshiner, BY Hec
VI and his rifle was leveled. Goff drops
y the pistol. Heck grinned, advanc
~ slowly. took up the weapon that q
Nv hilIfolk call towards gun" al
tossed IL into the river.
"Now git-cut the mustard-light
~ ~ rag away from here" he ordert
'u "afore l let Bill Dale loose on ye J.
w Goff went away rapidly.
'et IL wonder II you heard him 8
ny anything that would make you va
I've able as Witness" muttered Da
'"- "in the event we want to have him
rested"