Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-08-18


right plumb In the nIidsiie o riIe ugh
half o. the settlement. BinY Wen. the
boss o. the Morelsnds he lives thar
John Moreland. That's whar you want
TO 90. Bill. sence we've got a oncyGr-
able case o. the disease knowed as
coai-oe-the-brain. Isui Gin tell ye
aforehand. you Amt got enough money
10 buy that coaI. don't matter how
much money we've got
Dale was not looking toward John
Aoreland's hofse now. Ills gaze had
wandered To the ether side Of the
river. BY Heck waited a fuII minute
for reply 10 his speech. then he
spoke again:
THE gyuri. ar the Goals that
what's a-boiherin ye. sIuT'
Daies ~ - twinkled. Must I choose
between themT" he laughed.
"ShoreI" by Heck wasn't even srnil-
ing. -ShoreI The Morelands and
Littiefords hates each other wuss nor
q blue-talied hawk hates q crow. The
gyurE or the coal. BillT"
"we'Il go down 10 John MoreIand's."
announced Dale.
The mOuntaineer took up his rife
LET me gi' ye a word or two o. warn
In" he continued seriously. Don't
you offer to pay John R7oreIand TO-
eatin' his grub. nor TO sleepin' Ia hts
bed. nor TO elsawIn' his tobacker. Ef
ye do, yore goose will shore be cooked
with John Moreiand. But ef ye was
to brag on the vittles a little, Johns
wife a-bein' pow'ful handy in the
kitchen. II wouldn't do a DANCED bit
o. harm DO ye understand Il all now,
BIIIT'
Dale nodded. and they began the de-
scent.
John MOreland's house was built OF
whole oak logs. which were chInked
with oak splits and daubed In between
with clay; the roof was OF handmade
boards, and a chimney OF stones and
clay rose at either end.
John Moreland himself sat on the
front porch. and beside him lay a re-
peating rifle, two young squirrels that
had been very neatly shot through the
head. and weary black-and-tan
hound. He was an uncommonIy big
man. and about fOrty-seven; his eyes
were gray and keen; his thick hair
and full beard were n rich brown, with
only q few threads OF white. There
was certain English fineness about
the man. One felt that he could trust
John MoreIand.
AS the moonshiner and his comuan.
ion reached the gate Moreland rose
and pushed his hat back from his fore
head.
Hi, john" grinned Heck. This
here Teller wants TO stay with We a
few days. John. Seems to be all
right"
Come right in" invited the chief
or the Morelands. He indicated the
homemade chair he had just vacated.
'Set down thar and rest, stranger. IN
he back in a minute or sO."
tie FASTENED into the cabin. carrying
the squirrels with him.
Hes went TO tell his wife to hatch
up extry good dinner, BiIl." wills
pered Heck. ''Pepper-cyOred ham.
young chicken. hot biscuits. fresh but
ter. Wild honey. huckieberry pie and
peach pie and strawberry preserves
Biil. cain't hardly stand Il. Blast my
picture ef couldn't eat two whole
raw dawgs right now. I'm that ding.
busted hOngry. Well. got to ramblc
on home. ! live down the river half n
mile. we and my nav. Come TO see
me. Bill, and Wen 20 a-fSshIn.. So
long, BIN old boyi"
John NOreIand returned presently,
The man from the city rose and prof
fered his hand.
My name." he began, old habit
strong upon him, Els Carlyle"
Before he could get any farther with
IL, John MOreland flung the hand from
him as though Il were a thing OF I'M
speakabIe contamination. His bearded
face went deathly white with the
Wilderness of an old and bitter hatred.
His great fists clenched, and every
muscle I'm his giant body trembled.
whats the matter. MANI" Dale
wanted to know.
'Carlyie" Moreland repeated I'm a
hoarse grOwl. "You say yOre name Is
CariyleF