The Glenwood post., 1921-11-05
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Last Fight.

A~sA DAAS haA JAot N'llt AUi Dch
ford. The hiiiman hurried to the Of
dee. for ne believed he knew what
was In the air. He had already gone
to work at the mine, and his thick
beard, his face and his hands were
black with the dust Of coal
"Sit down. Ben" said the general
manager, Were going to hold a
council of war"
Littleford took a chair and crossed
his legs.
lis it the Ball outfitT he drawled.
Yes" answered the younger man,
and forthwith he told the other of the
news that BY Heck had brought him
few days before he had not given
the matter really serious considera-
ton until that morning. "Now," he
finished, 81 want to know whether you
think there's any danger7"
Attleford tugged at his hlackened
beard and frowned
'Biii," he said soberiy, do you
rickoliect what John Moreland told
you oncet about them Balls! He told
We at you wasn't safe, and at he
'fasn't safe. ontel they was dead and
buried, didn't he7 believe he did.
By Heck says the's whole big passed
o them Nawth Ca'liner Turner's; he's
shore them and the Balls'n outnum-
her u more'n two to one. Yes. the's
danger. Bul, and specially to you.
They think 1t was you killed Adam,
and they don't think the law handed
'ano = Suuoeo dool NJ ho
Then listen to this plan" said
Dale.
I'll keep By Heck up the river
watching for them. He will have
three sticks of dynamite tied together
and capped and fitted with fuse II
he sees them coming this way in any
thing like force, he will fire of the
dynamite as signal to us. Our men
will gather here in the upstairs of this
building, and bar the doors"
oh, BILL" moaned the old fighter,
you shoreIy don't think we'd ever let
EN- git to the doors!'
II hope they don't certainly"
smiled Dale. where are your rifles,
BilIr
AT the NINE" said Littleford. "Ye
see, Bill. we've been a-lOOkin' TO
trouble"
Dale went on: Eat By Hecks sig
nal. I'll get on my horse and ride to
the lowlands for the Morelands. 1 can
get them lot quicker than can get
competent help from the law. What
do you think Of it,"
, 0Tf'R Oond Milan
grow,ed Ben Littleford, "only don't
cotton very easy to the idee o. Us
,a-runnin' from the mine to this here
buiidln. never did like to run from
any man wo'th a durn, Bill"
But that wouldn't be cowardly,"
Dale protested. ut would be purely
4 strategic move, and It would save
lives for Us. For. when the Balls and
their kinsmen come, you'u have to de-
liver me into their hands or you'll
have to dght like the very devil, that's
sure; and. according to By Heck's fig
nres, they outnumber you more than
1--WE to one"
All right" Littleford replied, with
shrug Of his nuge shoulders. what
ever you say. that same we'll do"
So By Heck was sent for, and short
iy afterward he sneaked into the lau-
refs and went of toward the settle
rnent Of the Balls. In the crook of his
srn, he carried his rife. and inside his
shirt he carried three pieces Of dyna-
mite all ready for the match-and he ,
chose every step with great care for
fear of jarrinE the explosive too much. !
He had not been gone an hour when
Bill Dale heard dun. smothcred roar
from somewhere to the northwhrd.
Dale sprang up from his desk, ran to
his ready and waiting horse mounted
and rode like q streak toward the
lowland.
Date arrived at John Moreland's big
white farmhouse little before the
middle of the day, and hallOed Justify
at the gate. John Moreland and his
two sons hurried out in response to
the call. Dale waved aside all greet
ings and Inquiries after his health.
and told that which he Ind come to
tell. The elder Moreland turned quick
Iy to his two staIwart SONS
Gums and bosses, boys! It'll be
our last fight. and les be at 1t and
make II n good fight"
Less than five minutes later the
three erstwhiie mountaiEeers rode out
at the barnyard gate with fun belts OF
cartridges around their waists and
with repeating rifles across the pom
meis Of their saddles, and joined
Dale. The four hastened to the homes
Of the other MOrelands and not long
afterwurd the old clan, In full
strength, rode toward the big. din'-
blue hills with Bill Dale acting rs its
leader. II was. to he the clans last
Aeht, and . Night tos q 0ved cause.
and every man Of 1t was enger for