The Belding banner-news., 1921-11-23

was steady. and seemed very limo
cent
where did you get thisg" Dale
asked
The alert eyes narrowed do We
think this here vein you're a-fixin' 10
mine is the only vein in the whole
country"
where did you get this?" Dale re-
peated.
DO We think" drawled the other.
"'at Pm plumb fool enough to give
my fnd away 70 nothin'? | been pore
all o. my life. mister!''
"How am | TO know" frowned Dale,
that you've really got find?"
"Ye'd believe yore own two eyes.
wouldn't ye?'
Yes" Dale agreed, I'D believe my
own two eyes. OF course What's your
name, and where are you from?"
what do git outen it? don't
own the mountain it's In. but ii shore
can be bought 70 fifteen cents a acre.
And nobody knows about 1t but jest
me. IL lays closer to the railroad an
this here Moreland vein. too. What
do | cit 0uten II. mister?"
The mountaineer seemed more hon
esl than ever. but Dale was still on
his guard. lie asked again
whats, your name and where are
you from?"
This time the answer came readily :
my name it's Walt Turner, aud I'm
from Turner'S Laurel. Madison county,
state o. Nawth Ca'liner. But my find
IL amt nOwhars clost 10 home. 'Tain't
no more'n about TWO hours % walkin'
from right here. mister. Ef you'd jest
up and 60 along wi me, Id show II 10
ye."
Dale considered. There might he a
considerable vein OF this new coal.
Even IL he was sent TO the state peni-
tentiary for term of years. Hayes
was entirely capable of carrying on the
mining operations.
I'D like to take my mining man,
Hayes"
NO" quickly objected Walt Tur-
ner II don't want nobody else To
know whar it's at but jest you and
me. That away, We see, ef I'm treated
crooked I'll know edZactly who done IL
and III shore git you! Bur | heerd
tell AT You was pow'ful square. mis-
ter"
''CouId get back here before night
fall?"
Turner's eyes lighted. "Shore!"
Then lead the way" ordered Dale.
Walt Turner from Turner's Laurel.
Madison county Stale of North Caro-
lima. crossed the little creek on stones
and weni straight Ia the northeast.
missing the Ball settlement by good
mile. and hard on his heels followed
the Moreland Coal company stalwart
general manager
The way was exceedingly rough.
The two men climbed rugged cliffs.
threaded dense thickets OF great laurel.
mountain laurel. sheep laurel. and
huckleberry bushes. They were one
hour in a stretch OF woods where the
hemlocks. poplars and hickories stood
50 thickiy that the interlacing branches
overhead shut out completely the light
OF the sun and half the light OF day.
Fearing panther. or wildcat. Dale
r kept his revolver loosened and ready in
its holster Walt Turner armed him
self with long staff-for snakes, he
said; and then he proved it by killing
rattler that had eight rattles TO its
tail.
But they travelled rapidly. notwith-
standing the fact that the going was
difficult: and two hours after the be-
ginning Of the little journey Dale saw
before him a small and almost circular,
level-bottomed basin walled in by low
cliffs. A small creek ran through this
basin and made two easy ways of en-
trance. In the hollow they saw clumps
OF laurel and huckleberry bushes. and
wild grasses knee-high; toward the
center stood a solitary big and gnsrled
black walnut tree.
They entered at the point st which
the creek ran in and went TO the wal
nut tree. There Turner halted and
faced Bill Dale with a peculiar CLINT
in his eyes. Dale was looking at the
rugged walls Of stone, and at the
thick green forest that rose above
them; he was msrveling, as only a
true lover OF beauty can marvel, At
the wonderful grandeur OF II all.
Walt Turner. Of Turner'S Laurel.
opened his slit OF mouth and spake,
Here's the kitty"
Dale was brought out OF his en-
joyment most rudely. From behind
clumps Of laurel and huckleberry
bushes, from the tall grasses, from
everywhere-it seemed from nowhere
there sprsng dozens Of Balls and
Torreys with rifles In their hands
Bill Dale had walked, as gently as q
kitten, straight into trap.
His right hand moved toward the
butt Of his revolver, then dropped
al his side. II was foolish, worse
than useless, to show fight; dozens
of rifles were staring at him with their
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