The Glenwood post., 1921-09-10

to raptures over the Moreland coal.
1t was, he declared. one of the best
propositions he had ever seen. 1t
was no wonder that Henderson Gotf
was determined to get possession of
it, he said.
Then they went to work.
BY sundown two days later they had
chosen the route for the narrow gauge
railroad and set stakes accordingly.
Hayes told his general manager that
with IL good force of men the last rail
could be put down within two months.
During those two days they had
several times seen Henderson Goff in
company with Black Adam Ball and
some of his relatives. Once they had
come upon Goif talking earnestly with
Saul LittlefOrd, the big, bearded, gaunt
brother of the Littieford chief. Hayes
reminded Dale of this, and said to
him further:
"Gor will have the Littlefords on
his side the first thing you know
Maybe some of the LittlefOrds as well
as some of the Balls, knew about this
coal before David Moreland got MS
mountain by states grant al few cents
per acre. II you'll take my advice, MIR.
Dale, you'll make friends of these two
sets just as quick as you can.
Dale thrust his hnnd-ay inside his
belt and turned to the mining expert
"D'you know, ! was thinking OF that
same thing when you spoke, he re-
piled. And believe l can manage ii.
now that Miss LittlefOrd's accidental
wounding has given the old feud such
u big blow. I'm fairly sure can man
age it so far as Ben Littleford is con
cerned; it's John that's going to be
hard to bring to taw. He should be
home this evening. If he's had good
luck, and I'll tackle him as soon as he
comes"
Together they started across David
Morelands mountain. walking rapidly.
with Dale leading.
Darkness came down on them when
they had covered half the distance.
The great hemlocks and poplars
loomed spectral and gaunt in the early
starlight. The almost impenetrable
thickets OF laurel and ivy whispered
uncanny things, and their seas of pink
and snowy bloom looked somehow
ghostly. Now and then there was the
pattering of some little animals feet
on the dry. hard leaves of bygone
years. A solitary brown owl poured
out its heart in weird and melancholy
cries to the night it loved. There was
the faint, far-ofr baying of hound,
and the soft swish OF nighthawk's
wings.
Men from the core OF civilization
must feel these things OF the wilder
Suddenly Dale drew back and stood
still. In the trail ahead, standing as
mOtiOnless as the trees about him, was
the tall figure Of n man. 1t was almost
Ms though lie were there to bar the
way. -I-r
The two went on slowly. The figure
didn't move. Dale spoke. and the form
came to life. 1t was BY Heck ; he was
leaning on the muzzie of his rine.
"lts you, is it, Bill, old boyT He
yawned siuggishly. Il was a-waitin'
here 70 you. reckon must ha'
went to sleep a-standin' here On my
feet! I've got news, BILL.
"Out with It,"
1--WE been a-traiIin' Henderson Con
all day" Heck said In guarded tones.
Hes shore got them lOwdown Balls
to believin' they're already millieo-
hairs."
81 knew that" said Dale. That's
not news"
But that amt aH." BY Heck went
on. "Gons got Saul Littleford, too
lock. stock bari and sights. He owns
Saul Jest the same MS | own my old
spotted coon dawg Dime. Saul he
gifts him 5eb n-bein mine boss. and
what other LittlefordS at Will stick
gifts jobs a-digein' the black di'mont at
Two dollars i aay. Asides. MI OF EN-
Is to have big lot o. money when
the dividin-up time comes. says Con-"
much obliged to you, BY" Dale &C
knowledged. Lets go; bout face,
BY! I'm goin' to tie q hard knot In
that viliainous game OF henderson
GofY's."
They reached John MOreland's cabin
less than an hour later. Moreland
anu MS SOn Hhu Just Ietuiueu lEoh
Cartersville, and Dale learned through
Hayes that the two hlllmen had shown
good judgment and some business
sense In making their purchases.
When the evening meal was ever
Dale drew John MOreland out to the
cabin yard. where the many old-fash-
ioned flowers mnde the night air sweet
with their blended odOrs. For mo-
ment Dnic stood looking toward the
very bright stars and thinking: then
he told tire big man at his side OF
Cons plan concerning the Littlef0rds.
and strongly urged the making Of
friendship between the two clans.
'"rhe snnke!" mumbled John More
land.