The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1921-07-27

over the gentle roar or the
waters above
Then the watchers saw Adam Ball
lunge AZ his man, saw Dale stumble
out of sheer weakness saw Balls
mighty blood-streaked arms close
about the beautiful white body ans
hug II close to his great and hairy
chest. A moment, and Ball was bend.
ing Dale slowly backward and down.
ward more by reason of weight than
of strength; another moment, and Ball
der the surface
Babe Littleford gave a smothered
cry. John Moreland stepped toward
the water and shouted hoarsely:
Don't We drowned him Adam! Ef
We do. yen answer TO me -
Dale had gathered himself for last
move. He slipped downward suddenly
immersing himself completely, and
shot one arm around Balls thigh
then. by great effort he rose with
the giant and overthrow him, and
staggered free
first. Dale fought back the pain OF
the water In his lungs, and the pain
as of sharp and Jagged slivers of steel
In his hands, and struck madly. half
bIindly, ar the hateful face. He kept
il down, but IL wouldn't go under the
water completely.
Adam Ball began 10 drift as though
lifeless down the stream. Bill Dale
followed, still fighting weakly, choking
as he breathed. But soon he ceased
70 strike. Tie saw, instead of the beast
like face, flashes as of distant summer
lightning. and red blotches against
thick blackness. The blotcies faded,
and all became dark 10 him: he
pitched forward, gasping, and began
TO drift down the stream with the
vanquished Ball.
Babe Lftteford was standing in the
water TO her knees. When Dale sue
cumbed to utter exhaustion, she start
ed toward him, TO save him from
drowning. She felt strangely drawn
toward the big. white, clean man who
had whipped the Goliath she had al
ways dreaded. But she had gone only
a few yards toward the center of the
river when John Moreand and Sam
Heck reached the unconscious figures.
Heck dragged Ball to the Littleford
bank and left him lying there, face
downward, ON the sand. Moreland half
carried, half dragged Bill Dale TO the
other bank. Babe Littleford waded
out. She paid absolutely no attention
10 the worsted bully. She stood in
tently watching the limp form of Dale.
rs he dead. John Moreland?" she
called TREMENDOUSLY.
No. Babe" Moreland answered. his
voice not unkind; 'he amt anyways
nigh dead"
He and Sam Heck took up Dale's
dripping figure and bore il away. Babe
Littleford ran 10 higher ground, hid
herself behind clunp of sassafras
and watched them.
Granny Heck followed with Dale's
coat and hat. Sue shattered all the
way across the meadow
Now what did tell We, John and
Sam? What did / tell ye7 La, la |
Wasn't II a master fight, like said
now wasn't It'll"
Sometimes We make me little
tired, granny-woman," Moreland re-
monstrated gently. "The' amt nothln'
In forchune-tellin'. You've jest been
here TO- so long at you know how to
jedge the future by the past. And
you're topable good guesser, too,
reckon"
Granny Heck fared up quickly:
Amt nothin' In forchune-tellin'
Now don't go and fool yeself, John
Moreland. You listen to me about
half minute, John. seed more In the
cup AN I told Mr.. Bill. seed blood
and death. / seed big fight atwixt
the Morelands and the Littlefordsi"
That's easy to guess at" John
Moreland replied. "You know, o.
course, at Black Adam will do all he
can to bring trouble to Us on account
O. Bill Dale a-stayin' with us. And
you know II amt never impossible to
hatch up war atween us and the Lit
tlefords. Jest run on ahead, Granny
Heck, and tell my wife TO hunt up
some kind o. good Iiniment 70 Bits
bruises Tell her she needn't to waste
time a-lookin' up any bandages. This
man here il like me he wouldn't wear
bandages, cause they look bad"
When Dale. came back to a state Of
consciousness. he WAS hinG undAs