The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-08-18

lowed Henderson Goff, and Henderson
Con had followed Dale to the, little
basin. Con had returned to the Big
Pine Mountain country only that day
ana he knew nothing OF the plans Of
the Ball-Torrey faction until he wit.
messed the mockery Of q trial. Goff
was now crouching In the darkness on
the low line OF cliffs to the eastward
from the walnut tree; and not far
behind him, well hidden In the black
laurels, watching him and WATCHING
Bill Dale. crouched BY Heck.
Dale's guardian had not gone for
help, because he feared to leave Dale
utterly unprotected In the hands OF
the gang Of cutthroats. He believed
that he could rescue Dale himself
When the first watch became q little
more drowsy. he would steal up be-
hind the tree and cut the cotton rope
Then he realized that Goff had dis.
appeared entirely. He crept forward
silently, his eyes alert, and a moment
later he saw Goff stealing toward the
walnut tree. He climbed noiselessly
down over the face Of the cliff and
Sollowed Goff like a shadow. When
Goffs hands touched the tree, BY Heck
was within ten feet Of 1t. Heck made
sure his rife was ready and took an
other step forward. watching, listen
ing.
The shyster coal man leaned around
the tree to the left. In the glow Of
the low-burned fire the blade Of q
small knife In his hand cleaned dull
red. He whispered cautiously:
"Youre In tx. Dale. And IT'S
none of my doing, either. Give mo
your word that I'll get that coal prop
erty for fifteen thousand, and I'll slash
the rope. How about it7 Sick OF
this country, aren't your"
There came few seconds Of silence
save for the Iusty snoring of the sleep
ers and the musical tinkle Of the little
creek, after which Goff muttered dis
sppointedly:
"Well, then. hangi"
And Heck knew, that Dale had 70
fused to sell the Moreland coal for O
song even to save his life. As Con-
stepped backward. the muzzle Of the
tall hillman's rifle went against the
small Of his back. and the tall hillman
"SAopSASu hOuioCiys lutOuBu tcSNu
tightly clenched:
"Slash at rope, d-n yore soul
Slash at rope, or wisht may drap
dead ef I don't shoot yore backbone
into four thousand pieces. igodi Slash
-stp',. ;-.,-.- ~ r-, - ...-., !.
Goff Strengthened In surprise. The
rihe's muzzle went harder against his
back and he knew II for exactly what
II was. He moved hand upward,
then downward ana the cotton rope
was severed In half a dozen places.
"Stiddy thar, nowi" whispered By
Heck, and he began to back away
Come along WI me. ye dadslatted.
ban5er-bellied skunk. Bill he'll follsr."
The three Of them hurried into the
deeper shadows. Soon Heck halted
Gsff and turned to Dale.
"S'arch him TO q gun, Bill. old boy"
Dale lifted from Henderson Gofrs
righthand coat-pocket a blued and
stub-nosed magazine pistol.
"Dang my eyes and blast my for.
rardi" Heck exclaimed In q muffied
ve!ce. "He's plumb death on them
little popguns, ain't he1 Say. Con,
Of ever We shoots me with o thing like
that and And II out. DANCED ef don't
spank ye ontel yore nose bloods Now,
lea 60. you'uns. And ef ye Jest cheep
out q noise, Mister Con-, the buzzards
will pick the meat often yore bones
afore tomorrer night"
"Move, shyneri" frowned Bill
Dale.
BY Heck led the way to the line of
cliffs to the westward. They had
climbed the rugged wall and were
about to set out through the pitchy
dark woodland, when q voice that
they knew we'll hailed them softly
from the laurels to their left:
"HOld on, thari"
"John Moreland, by jlggersr' NUT.
tered Heck.
Moreland FASTENED soundlessly to
them. II reckon ye didn't mean no
harm. By" he said In tones that ex-
pressed deep regret, "but yit shore
wisht We hadn't ha' done It."
Samuel Heck cas- very proud Of
himself. He Strengthened there In the
darkness.
"What'n the name O. the devil makes
ye wisht sech a thing as that, Johnr'
he demanded In half angry voice.
"'Cause," growled the big hiliman.
"you went and spilled HI out O. the
main big picnic. We meant to wipe
out all O. them thar lowdown Balls
and Torreys, By. When they went to
hang Bill Dale In the mornin', we'd ha'
had good reason 70 a-killin' 'em every.
0ne-the weaselsi Ye see. BY, every
man Moreland but Caleb, and every
man o. the Littlefords. IL hid here In
these laurels, and has been ever sense
that thar fool trial begun. We was
Jest a-waitin. How did we happen
to know 1T
",At's easy, By. Ne and Zen Lit.
tieford was on our way after more
dynamite, when We seed BIN Dale
a-foilerin' that stranger man. and Con