The Adair County news., 1921-08-30
Littlefora ran to higher ground hid
herself behind a cluInp of sassafras

Granny Heck followed with Dale's
coat and hat. She chattered all the
way ACROSS the meadow
Now what did l tell We, John and
Sam? What did l tell ye? La, lal
Wasn't it master fight, like I said
now wasn't it?"
Sometimes We make me a little
tired, granny-woman," Moreland re-
mOnstrated gently "The' amt nOthin'
in forchune-tellin'. You've jest been
here fo'- so long at you know how to
jedge the future by the past. And
you're a tol'able good guesser too, L
reckon
Granny Heck f1ared up quickly:
"Ain't nothin' in fOrchune-tellin'
Now don't go and fool yeself, John
MOreland. You listen to me about a
half minute, John. l seed more in the
cup AN l told Mr.. Bill. seed blood
and death. l seed a big fight atwiXt
the Morelands and the Littlefords!'
That's easy to guess at" John
Moreland replied. You know, O
course, at Black Adam will do all he
can to bring trouble to us on account
o Bill Dale a-stayip' with US. And
you know it amt never OnpOssible to
hatch up war atween us and the Lit
tlefOrds. Jest run on ahead, Granny
Heck, and tell my wife to hunt up
some kind O good liniment fO' Bills
bruises. Tell her she needn't to waste
time a-lOOkin' Up any bandages. This
man here is like me-: he wouldn't wear
bandageS, cause they look bad"
When Dale came back to state of
covers in the carved black walnut bed.
Beside him stood John MOreland, who
held in one hand bowl containing a
hot herb brew that his wife had pre-
pared. Granny Heck. her son BY, and
Mrs. MOreland stood not far away.
"This here'l be good fo' We, l think"
! said Moreland. nodding toward the
BOWL in his hand. He went over and
put an arm around Dale's shoulders
and helped him to sit up.
Dale drank the stuff with difficulty
Much obliged" he muttered thickly.
lCl sOC' vi" "hip hiu IL
/ end? He didn't lick me, did he-that
fellow BaIl?'
He shore didn't" smiled Moreland
Not by big sight. He fell out fust.
| His own pap won't hardly know him,
Bnlw
News travels rapidly in the big hills.
The MOrelands began to gather at the
home of their chief to see the man
every Moreland able to walk came to
| see Bill Dale. For three hours he was
lionized, but he didn't enjoy it; the
water had left many pains in his
chest, and his head ached duly, and
his hands still felt as though the bones
were shattered in them.
! Came a thunderShOwer that after
noon, and the mountain evening fell
with a chill. A fire was made in the
wide stone fireplace in the guests
: room, and when supper was over the
family gathered there with Dale, who
refused to be kept in bed.
After a few minutes of silently
watching grotesque shadows fit across
the log walls, Dale said to John More
land:
IF your brother David could know,
don't you think he'd want you to get
the value out of the coal?"
John MOreland bent forward to rest
his chin in his hands. His sober grey
eyes stared thoughtfully toward the
fire.
Il amt never looked at it that,
away" he said.
That's the right way to look at it,
declared Dale. But you shouldn't
sell the property as it is"
The mountaineer turned an inquir-
ing face toward his guest.
How in thunder could l handle il
eff 1 didn't?"
why not let me develop it for
yOu?" Dale said earnestly, eagerly. 81
won't charge you anything above ex,
penses. and l won't be eXtravagant.
It'd take considerable money to start
things a-movin'. Have you got itT
asked MOreland.
''NO, but l can get it. Almost any
body would be willing to lend money
on so good a thing as this, y'knOw.'
For a little while Moreland sat there
and looked Squarely at Dale, who re
turned his gaze without a sign OF
fiinching. The hillman was trying to
find a motive.
How. comes it at you, who amt
knowed us but two days." he de
manded, ''can be so much interested
| in us?"
The question demanded q straight
! forward answer. Dale realized that
there was but one way in which he
could give a satisfactory explanation,
and that that was by telling the truth
] but not the whole truth, as he
surmised it, for then his efforts would
go for naught.
MOreland was speaking again, and
his eyes were brighter now.
81 agree at David would want US
to develop the coal, eff he could know.
It's like a light a-breakin' to me. But
that coal is sacred to us, Bill Dale,
and afore ye go any fu'ther I'll haf
n