The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-07-14
ll1t.stsatioi,s by :.
Irwin Myers -

John Moreland called Dale aside
and said to him:
You're high on the good side O.
them thar trifiin' Hecks, and, so fer
as they know, you amt interested In
the feud. I wisht you'd 20 down thar
and see BY and his mother, and see
ef We can find out whar our rifles
went"
When Dale had gone Off down the
dusty oxwagon road, Caleb Moreland
climbed tall ash that grew hehtnd
his fathers cabin and kept watch
toward the Littleford side Of the river.
lie saw a group of men standing In
Ben Littlefords cabin yard, and noth-
Ing else.
little more than a quarter of nm
hour after Dale left John MoreIand
ne entered ny the gateless gateway at
the cabin OF the Hecks. 1t was d.
iapidated place, and 1t stood not far
from the river. BY sat In the front
doorway; he was lazily cutting a new
midday sun mark In the place of the
worn old one. Behind him sat his
mother, who was busily knitting n
gray yarn stocking.
The moonshiner looked up and start
ed 4:li'...iy to his feet.
Hi, thar, Bill, old boyI" he greeted
cordially. My gosh, but we've coma
at the right time, shore. Were i-goin'
to have young squirrels To- dinner. and
q billed hamshank with string beans,
and cawnbread made with the yeller
o hen aigs. Live whilst ye do live.
says |. Come right In, Bill, old boy"
LA, la, " cried Granny Heck.
looking over the brass rims Of her
spectacles. How glad | am to see ye,
MIR, Bill! Come right in and tell us
the news"
Bill Dale crossed the threshold and
accepted creaking chair. His eyes
took in at sweeping glance the home
made dining table with its cover of red
oilcloth, the broken cast-iron stove, the
strings of dried peppers hanging OH
lying III the corner.
THE Littlefords," satd Daie, have
declared war"
'Sakesi" laughed the old woman.
I'VE knowed that last night when we
heered them ten shots"
And all the Moreland rifles are
missing" Dale watched the effect OF
his words.
"Whatl" the Hecks cried in one
voice.
Their surprise seemed genuine.
Dale pressed the subject further and
learned only that II they knew any
thing concerning the disappearance
OF the rifles they were not going to
tell. Then he started homeward by way
Of the pool above the blOwn-down syc.
amore.
There was chance that Ben Little
fora's daughter would be there fishing,
Dale told himself, and 1t was barely
possible that she could throw some
light on the mystery OF the rifles.
He crossed the river by means of
the PROSTATE tree. Babe was there
she sat on the stone on which she had
been sitting the morning before; her
back was to him, and her bare feet
were In the water to her ankles. Dale
went up close, stopped and gathered
q handful of viOlets ana dropped them
ever her shoulder and into her lap.
Babe looked around and smiled
What luck, Miss Littleford2"
. "Noth!n'. ! don't much want to
ketch anything" she said slowly,
spirit of sadness In her musical voice.
II jest come Off down here to be
whar It's quiet. You ought to hear the
noise at pap and the rest OF 'em IL
a-makinl"
Dale narrowed his eyes. Are they
er, making q noise7 And what about7"
MY goodness gracious alivei You'd
think so ef ye could hear 'emI Y'ought
to hear pap cuss John Morefund |"
She shrugged her pretty shoulders,
lifted the small end of her rod to its
proper place, and went on, IL never
did see pap half as mad as he was
when he got home last night from
a-fOllerin' me-"
"Mad at yOu3" asked Dala