The Adair County news., 1921-09-06

coal before David MOreland got his
mountain by states grant at few cents
per acre. If you'll take my advice, Mr..
Dale, you'll make friends of these two
sets just as quick as you can"
Dale thrust his hand-aX inside his
belt and turned to the mining expert.
"D'you know, was thinking of that
same thing when you spoke" he re-
piled. "And'I believe l can manage ii,
now that Miss LittlefOrd's accidental
wOunding has given the old feud such
a big blow. I'm fairly sure L can man
age it so far as Ben LittlefOrd is CON
cerned; it's John that's going to be
hard to bring to taw. He should be
home this evening, if he's had good
luck, and I'll tackle him as soon as he
comes"
Together they started across David
Moreland's mountain, walking rapidly,
with Dale leading.
Darkness came down on them when
they had covered half the distance.
The great hemlOckS and pOplars
loOmed spectral and gaunt in the early
starlight. The almost impenetrable
thickets of laurel and ivy whispered
uncanny things, and their seas of pink
and snowy bloom looked somehow
ghOstly. Now and then there was the
pattering of some little animals feet
on the dry, hard leaves of bygOne
years. \ solitary brown owl poured
out its heart in weird and melancholy
cries to the night it loved. There was
the faint, far-off baying of a hound,
and the soft swish of a nighthawk's
wings.
Men from the core of civilization
must feel these things of the wilder
Suddenly Dale drew back and stood
still. In the trail ahead, standing as
mOtiOnless as the trees about him, was
the tall figure of man. 1t was almost
as though he were there to bar the
way.
The two went on slowly. The figure
didn't move. Dale spoke, and the form
came to life. 1t was By Heck; he was
leaning on the muzzle of his rifle.
It's you, is it, Bill, old bOy?" He
yawned sIuggishly. Il was a-waitin'
here fo' you. l reckon 1 must ha'
went to sleep a-standin' here on my
feet! I've got news, BILL
Out with it,"
i've been a-trailin' Henderson Con
all day." Heck said in guarded tones.
He's shore got them lOwdOwn Balls
to believin' they're already million
hairs"
Il knew that" said Dale. That's
not news"
"But that amt ALL" By Heck went
on. "GOffs got Saul LittlefOrd, too
lock, stock, barI and sights. He owns
Saul jest the same as L own my old
spotted coon dawg Dime. Saul he
gifts him job a-bein' mine boss, and
what other LittlefOrdS at will stick
gifts jobs a-diggin' the black dimont at
two dollars a day. Asides, all of 'em
is to have a big lot O. money when
the dividin'up time comes, says GOff."
Much obliged to you, By" Dale ac-
knOwledged. Let's go; bout face,
By! I'm goin' to tie a hard knot in
that villainOus game of Henderson
GOff's."
They reached John MOreland's cabin
less than an hour later. MOreland
and his son had just returned from
Gainesville, and Dale learned through
Hayes that the two hillmen had shown
good judgment and some business
sense in making their purchases.
When the evening meal was over
Dale drew John MoreIand out to the
cabin yard, where the many Old-fash-
iOned flowers made the night air sweet
with their blended OdOrS. For a mo-
ment Dale stood looking toward the
very bright stars and thinking; then
he told the big man at his side Of
GofTs plan concerning the LittIefOrdS,
and strongly urged the making of
friendship between the two clans.
1.-The snake mumbled John More
land.
He appeared 10 be worried about it.
He folded his arms, walked to the gate
and back TO Dale without uttering an
other word. 1t was hard for him 10
throw down completely the hatred of
years upon years. Had it been any
other person than Bill Dale, a fighter
after his own heart. who had asked
it, he never would have even cOnsid-
cred it; he would have said quickly {:
Wen thrash the Balls and the Lit
tlefOrds, too"
The younger man read something of
the others thoughts.
With the help of the law" said he.
I'VE might whip them all. But it
would mean a great deal of blOOdShed
at best. The Littlefords are Babes
people, y'knOw. | like Babe. You
~2=~E- E0yNfE&A
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