The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1921-07-08
THE CLAN CALL
lcontInued from page 81

through knothole; a awful big man
with curly black hair and curly blscl
beard. and with eyes like a cliff.
hawks; and l see you, too. Mr.. Bill
and l see fight, n master fight-Lort
Ia mussy. what a fight But you'll
marry the gyurl after all. Mr.. Bill"
Dale laughed. The old woman had
described Babe Littleford. But who
was the big, dark man. Some Eel
low who had lost bis heart to the
mountain girl, perhaps
When the Hecks had gone, John
Mereland leaned forwsrd and touched
his guest on the knee.
'.That thar big man mentioned in
tsllin' yore forchune. he said, might
M been Black Adam Ball. Black Adam,
-ha lives with his pap and mother q
lew mile up the river. As big IA
. skinned boss, he lie, and plumb on.
gsdly strong Hes been a-begEin' Babe
Lttleford to marry him 70 year or
two, and she won't listen to HIM.
"Ef ever We do haf 10 fight Black
Adam" John Moreland went on, we
want TO fght him with a two-eyed
sAotgun and buckshot. Hes the mean
est man on earth; snake-broth and
pizen vine Is religious aside o. him
Dpt ontel We begin a-makiD' love to
Babe Littleford, reckon the amt no
danger o. you a-havin' trouble with
Black Adam; and you Rln't likely, J
take II, TO make love 10 Babe"
''But Babes the best one o. the Lit
tlefords," declared Luke.
John Moreland reached for the
Battle-Ground old family Bible. he
opened the Book at random.
Its about time we was n-goin' To
our rest, and wen 20 Jest ~ soon ~
we've had prayers, Mr.. Dale"
When half chapter from 81 Mat
thew had been laboriously but rever.
emily read. The Morelands kpelt nj
their chairs. and so did Bill Dale. John
xoreland's bedtime prayer was very
simple, and very earnest, and II hsd
IN II more OF thanksgiving than OF
suppllcation. And a part % II certain.
ly was uncommon
"Bless the stranger with ne here to
night, and all o. our kinfolks. and all
O. our frlesds, and our inimies the
Littlefords-'speclally the Llttlefords
Aymen !"
Dale was deeply impressed. he
heard Mrs Msreland dimly when she
told him to let her knUw-she would
hear him II he called-if there wasn't
enough cover for his bed. Then he
found himself alone with the stalwsr
chief OF the Morelsnds.
He stepped forward aud put bic
hand on the mountalnee shoulder.
How a man can 20 down on his
knees and pray for h,, enemies,
smiled Dale, lis entirely beyond me.
DO you really mean tn"
81 try hard TO-" MorelnDd said quick I
ly. "In a-doln' that" he went ON, u
20 Ben Llttleford one better Beu
Litrleford's The bell sheep o. the PEG. /
pie who lives acrost The river from .
us, people we've hated 20 years and
years. Ben. he holds family prayers .
too, every night. He'd ~ the blessu 4
o. the Lord on the stranger onder hi,
roof, but not on his ir.mies. The More. r
lands. Yes, try hard 20 mean i. Bill
Dale"
"And that other enemy murmureo
Dale-and he wondered why thar
should bother him 90 much why be
should feel that vague responsibility
about 1.-THE man Who KILLED your
brother, David"
81 don't never pray 70 him. inter
rupted the mouniHIneer going little
pale. 81 hain't that nigh juHect. A
man don't git so good 9; be- axes The
Almighty To bless the de,ii-ur the
RATHER IN The laureis. or the copper.
head at waits Onder hush 70 iht
pnssin' o some bare-lefged child"
Dale WINGED, hut Murel8nd DIDN'T
notice H. Dale let his hand fHil from
the others shoulder Moreinnd began
TO speak again:
81 didn't tell We afore. E.ll Dale NJ
brother David. he was the hope q his
people. He was beitern the rest Of
us. The one big aim q h.s lie was
10 educate us all, the ber.ghted. Yes.
we're benlghted, and We snow Ii. h.
meant 10 do IL with the coal ned
found As I've done told ye, ". amt
never had the heart 10 seIl the coal.
] hope ven have bne yest, Bill
Dale. | amt s.goin to cnll ys Mister
no more. Bill Dslei"
DON'T" smlIIDgly ssld the younger
nan. "'Pul Dale 10 right. y'know.
Goodnight, John horelsns r.
Dale removed bis shees and outer
<isthfnE, blew out tbs siGht, snd ~nent
- bed I'm the best rson's bond essvsd
eiAek walnut t0prpostsr.
Ter q Tong time he ley there Gwske,
end st4rsd through . il,tle window 10
card o bright ster EhAt burned like .
eeaepa Gre ahtst the pln<-fJinEe.l
]Best Of David MOrsianG's nonUtaio.
4s believed he understood now why
~ father had turned q sye<nish Ggsy
when this coal properly was mentioned
a Him Ma bAlIAv%d kA unSlerakoo.