The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-10-21

country?s
where did you get thiss. Dale re
peated.
do ye think" drawled the other.
sat I'm plumb fool enough to give
my find away TO- nothin'7 been pore
all o. my life, misterl"
''How ain to know" frowned Dale,
shat you've really got flndT
"Ye'd believe yore own two eyes,
wouldn't YET"
YES" Dale agreed, "Td believe my
own two eyes, Of course. What's your
name, and where are You fromT'
What do git outen it, ] don't
own the mountain it's In, but it shore
can be bought TO fifteen cents acre.
And nobody knows about 1t but Jest
me. 1t lays closer to the railroad AN
this here Moreland vein, too. What
do ! git outen IL, misterr
The mountaineer seemed more hon
est than ever, but Dale was still on
his guard. He asked again:
whats your name. and where are
you from7"
This time the answer came readily:
my name It's Walt Turner, and I'm
from Turner's Laurel. Madison county,
state o. Nawth Caliner. But my find
It ain't nowhars ciost to home. "Tain't
no more'r about two hours o, walkin'
from right here, mister. Eff you'd Jest
up and so along WI me. I'd show 1t to
ye."
Dale considered. There might be a
considerable vein OF this new coal.
Even IL he was sent to the state peni-
Tertiary for a term OF years, Hayes
was entirely capable Of carrying on the
mining operations.
srd like to take my mining man.
Hayes"
"Noi" 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, eff I'm treated
crooked I'll know edzactly who done 1t
and I'll shore git you But I heerd
tell at You was pow'ful square, mis-
| ter"
''Could get back here before night
| fallrn
Turner's eyes lighted. "Shorei"
"Then lead the way" ordered Dale.
Walt Turner from Turner'S Laurel,
Madison county, state OF North Caro-
lima, crossed the little creek on stones
and went straight to the northeast,
missing the Ball settlement by good
mile, and hard on his heels followed
the Moreland Coal company's 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 stretch Of woods where the
hemlocks, poplars and hickories stood
| so thickly that the interlacing branches
| overhead shut out completely the light
of the sun and half the light OF day.
Fearing panther, or wildcat, Dale
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 1t by killing
a 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 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 solitary big and gnarled
black walnut tree.
They entered at the point at which
the creek ran In, and went to the wal
nut tree. There Turner halted and
faced Bill Dale with peculiar glint
In his eyes. Dale was looking at the
rugged walls Of stone, and at the
thick green forest that rose above
them; he was marveling, as only c
true lover of beauty can marvel, a
the wonderful grandeur of 1t all.
Walt Turner, Of Turner'S Laurel
opened his slit Of mouth and spake
Here's the kittyp
Dale was brought out or his en-
joyment most rudely. From behlnt
clumps of laurel and huckleberl,
bushes, from the tall grasses. iron
everywhere-it seemed from nowher'
there sprang dozens of Balls ant
Torreys with rifles in their hands
Bill Dale had walked, as gently as
kitten, straight into a trap.
His right hand moved toward tn
butt Of his revolver, then droppe,
at his side. 1t was foolish, wors
than useless, to show fight; dozen
of rifles were staring at him with thei
frowning, murderous eyes, and thei
bullets would riddle him If he shove
fight. He glanced toward Walt Tu
ner, kinsman Of the Balls.
Turner was laughing openly. "Por
LA