Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1921-08-19

on. "Goff learned that Adam Balls
father knew about the coal vein long
before David Moreland discovered It
and got lawful possession Of the noun
tain. Then Goff made the Balls be-
lieve that they were due big share
of the proceeds of the Moreland coal |!
1t wasn't very hard to do, guess. The
Balls, this set, at least, were originally
lowlanders; they took to the noun
tains, l understand, to keep from be-
ing forced to fight during the Civil
war;"
"Goff's idea," muttered Dale, SIS to
get the Balls to scare me into selling
instead Of developing, eh?"
Exactly" nodded old Bradley.
''Then he would settle with the Balls
by giving them a dollar or two a day
for digging coal; perhaps he would
put them off until the mine was
worked out for half of that, and then
skip. Anyway, Goff would come out
at the big end"
II see," said Dale.
IL
at any time, you won't hesitate to let
me known" said the major.
"You may consider yourself attorney
and legal adviser for the Moreland
Coal company, of which l have the
honor to be general manager" smiled
Dale, ''if you WILL"
Major Bradley's voice came happily,
MY dear boy, l am glad to accept!
And there shall be no charge for any
service that I may render"
They were not long In reaching the
green valley, which lay very beauti-
full and very peaceful In the warm
light Of the early July sun. The soft
murmuring Of the crystal river and
the low, slow tinkling of the cowbells
made music that was sweet and pleas
ing.
Suddenly John Moreland stopped,
uttered a sWearwOrd under his breath,
turned and went back to Dale.
"Thes a man a-waitin' on us ahead
thar, Bill" he drawled, "at ye shore
want to watch like a hawk to keep
him from a-stealin' the eyeteeth out
O yore head. His name is Hender-
son Golf, and he wants coal"
They went on. Soon they met a
man who, in clothing and manner,
made Dale think of stories he had
heard and read Of Mississippi river
steamboat gamblers Of the long ago.
His eyes were black, and as keen as
a pair of spear-points; his mustaches,
too, were black, and they had sharp.
upturned ends like those of a Mephis-
to. The major had said that he was
a smooth article; he certainly looked
it.
He met John Moreland with an oily
smile. and thrust out his hand But
MOreland wouldn't see the hand.
Anything we've got to say about
COAL" he growled, I'VE can say to Bill
Dale thar" pointing with a calloused
thumb. "Bill he's the high light O.
the whole business; and when he
opens his mouth, ye can cock yore
head to one side and listen fO' gaws-
pei"
Golf was delighted to meet Mr.. Dale,
Of whom he had already heard. Dale
had nothing whatever to say. They
walked on toward the cabin of the
Moreland chief, with Golf keeping up
a running fire Of talk concerning the
scenery, the climate-anything but
coal.
At John Moreland's gate, Golf
nudged Dale with an elbow and whis
pered:
Meet me at one o'clock down there
where the big sycamore lies across
the river. I've got something to tell
you that will interest you"
He didn't wait for a reply, but
turned away with By Heck. He went
to the home of the Hecks ostensibly
to have his fortune told--really, to
get his dinner. The old woman didn't
like him, but her inborn spirit of hos
pitality wouldn't permit her to refuse
him a meal. She felt that she was
almost even with him when, after
shuffiing and reading. the cards, she
told him that it would be wise for
him to look out for a big, tall, grey
eyed young man with an oak tree in
one hand and a couple of cliffs in the
other.
Dale told Major Bradley and John
Moreland of that which Golf had said
to him at the gate. The major sug-
gested forthwith that he go to meet
the man; it couldn't possibly do any
HARM and there was a chance that he
would learn something of Goff's In
tentions.
SO Dale went.
Goff was already there, waiting. He
was sitting On a stone on the More
land side of the river, whiting idly.
When he saw Dale approaching, he
smiled and nodded, rose and pOcketed
his knife.
II want to make you an offer for
that COAL" he said at once.
"All right" Dale replied. "If your
offer is big enough, it will be consid-
cred. But no shyster price is going
to get that coal, GOff."
Goff frowned uneasily.
''You don't know coal, Mr.. Dale.
You don't know the business of min