The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-07-28
CHAPTER viii.

stepped from q short passenger train
at the Hallway switch, they were ap-
preached by the moonshiner,. Heck,
and man whom Dale had never seen
before. he was tall. and his bearing
was erect and soldIerlike, though be
was every day Of sixty years old.
bis eyes were blue and twinkling with
everlasting good humor; his gray
mustaches and imperial were exceed.
ingiy wei cared for; his teeth were
his own, and as white as school.
Etri's, and they Dor. out his general
air OF neainess. He was, pluinIy. q
Southerner Of the old type.
who's thatT whispered Dale to
John Moreland.
But Moreland didn't hear. He ran
forward with his right hard out
stretched, and SO did Ben Littleford.
Men could not have greeted q brother
with more gladness, Dale thought.
HI, thar, Major Bradley I" the hill
man cried. "And how dye come on
todayf"
II am very we'll, gentlemen, thank
yeu." said the major. smiling.
He shook their hands heartily. "The
tainmen gave US your message yester-
oay'' he went on, still smiling, and
we we're delighted to learn that tho
yeung woman was cut Of danger. I
trust you are all In good healt.., gen.
tlemen."
They assured him that they were.
Aoreland turned to introduce Bill Dale
and the mining man. From the mo-
nent that Major Bradley gripped
Pale's hand they were friends.
Mighty glad to know you, sir |"
exclaimed the old lawyer. 1--WE been
bearing great deal about ysu, sir,
ever In the valley Of the Doe. They
seem 10 Trims there's nobody just like
Bill Dale! 1t was Bill Dale this,
and Bill Dale that; 1t was Here's
where Bill Dale whipped Black Adam
or. Here's where Bill Dale was stand
Ing when such-and-such happened or,
Here's where Bill Dale cvossed the
fencer"
"Hah-hah-hah! sluggishly laughed
by Heck. who stood leaning on the
muzzle of his rifle. "Bill Dale Is all
right, major; ye've shore got my word
TO that"
The others laughed. Then John
MoreIand said they'd better be movs
Ing, or they'd be late for dinner.
When they bad put hundred yards
Of David Aoreland's mountain behind
them. the old SOutherner tugged slyIy
at Dale's sleeve and whispered:
Let us fall behind q little, II you
please. l want to speak with you
privately"
They began to lag, and soon there
was distance Of several rods be-
tween them and the others.
II heard through Addie Moreland,"
began, Bradley, his friendly hand on
the younger mans arm, "about you
and what you're planning to do for
the Morelands. tell you, sir.
thanked heaven for your coming and
7ar ;HGS count on me tn haln In anv
way / can. The Morelands are quite
friendly to me now. though up to the
middle OF last summer they didn't like
me any too well because I made Ben
Littleford's cabin my home when out
here.
1T was simple thing that brought
rs together. John Moreland's little
nephew was lost in tine woods and his
mother was frantic. There are PAN
theirs, you know, and wildcats, rattlers,
and copperheads. I was fortunate
enough to hnd the boy. and carried
him home. That was all. They're q
hne people, my boy, and so are the
hlttlefords. Good old English blood
that somehow wandered of. There's
no purer, cleaner blood In America,
sir. =.
And now-how are you getting
along with your plans for the opera.
ton Of the coal miner
"Excellently," answered Dale. I'VE
have the necessary finance; q geared
locomotive and cars and light steel
rails have been bargained for"
"Goodl" Bradley gave Dale hearty
slap on the shoulder.
There's something else wanted to
say, Mr.. Dale" he continued, his
voice grave. you're nearly certain
to have . barrel Of trouble with q
shyster coal man named Henderson
Con. He's q villain. sir. II ever there
was one And he's quite the smooth
est article I've ever seen. He can
. make yOp believe black is white. II
only you'll listen to him long enough"
"ls he-has he bten here recentlyT
Dale wanted to know.
Hes here now," answered tile ma.
5or. He's been here for three days,
and he's been working devilment fast.
He was up here last summer, trying
to buy the Moreland coal for song;
he knows all the people. you see. As
soon as he landed here on this pres
ent trip, he found out about your in
tentiOns. Then. at night, he freed
Adam Ball from his tobacco barn pris-
on. and went home with him.
swell, BY Heck followed them and
did some eavesdrOpping-poor BY has
his strong pointsl" the major went
on. "Gonf learned that Adam Balls
father knew about the coal vein long
before David Moreland discovered II
and got lawful possession of the noun